SCOTLAND THE BRAVE

Lots of places in the US have what they call a Renaissance Faire. The conceit is that an area is supposed to be converted into a slice of 15th or 16th Century Europe. The one here is loosely based on our sister city relationship with Lyon, France.

But that all falls apart quickly. People dress up as faeries, pirates, elves, monsters or whatever suits their fancy. There are lots of shows and they don't necessarily have a thing to do with the Renaissance. This bunch of make believe Bravehearts call themselves Pictus, probably after the people who inhabited eastern and northern Scotland a long time ago. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picts ). It's a bagpipe and drums with a pretend fierce attitude. For all I know they could be pussycats at home.

Have you ever listened to bagpipes for an extended period of time? I have. It is either A) an acquired taste or B) the road to madness.          

Highland Mist

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Highland Mist is the name of a cheap brand of scotch sold in the US. If you have more than a wee dram, you may see visions like the one above if you drive through Forest Park on a chill autumn evening.

Just more stuff from the Friday night prelude to the Scottish Games. Below, a couple more strutting clan leaders. (I think they are called tribes everywhere else). The gentleman in the bottom picture was one of their number. There's nothing like a bagpipe to aid digestion and promote inner peace. I didn't get his name but his daughter standing with him is Shannon. Not very Scottish, since that's a beautiful, winding river in Ireland. He taught her to play the bagpipes. Was it a paternal curse or blessing?