YE OLDE RENAISSANCE FAIR 2013..
There's some magic in the air today.....

Some fairy queens from yesteryear bid thee a safe journey to the Renaissance Fair.......

 The cast of characters:  King Dwight, The Lionhearted........

 The Black Queen, Diana, the Benevolent.....

 The comely Princess of Romania--the Fair Maid Chiara......

 Waymundo--the Sheriff of Nottingham,,,,

 The Village Wench--Sylvia the Lily Maid of Astolat.......

 So join our merry gang of vagabonds as we travel to the fair--in far off La Cienega...........

 As royalty, we never go anywhere without our "Secret Service"..........

 Everyone is checked in by these loyal knights..........

 And welcomed by this merry man....

 And Princess Royale.......

And lots of other folks anxious to join in the spirit of the day.........

 Like this fascinating trio--all friends of Sisi's.............

And Sisi and her cohorts are ready to enjoy the food, fun and finery available at this large fair.....

 Like a fairy band.....

 And a gorgeous fairy blowing giant bubbles.....

 And the Escapologist who will be performing his Houdini-like act on one of the many stages.....

 Besides the stages featuring music, Irish dancing, harps etc, there are also arenas for tournaments for swordsmanship and jousting.......

 These folks are loving all of it--not to mention enjoying libations in their very own cups.....

 The menfolk get in tune with their gentler side--admiring blossoms........

 And beautiful costumes truly abound.....

 Like this flock of gorgeous fairies.....

Or these ladies getting corseted up in the spirit of the fair....

 Can you say "sexy pirate"?................

 More classy folks sporting their own drinking ware.............

 The landscaping at Rancho de las Golondrinas is spectacular.....

Another group of costumed enthusiasts..............

 When you wish upon a star....................

 A family enjoys the cutout photo op............

 Yup, Dwight has another broken bone in his foot............

 The "sheriff" rides again......

 A Spanish grandee?..........

 And the tournament continues...........

 And the girlies are looking for fun...................

 In the Falcon booth, these two birds are hooded to avoid distractions.....

 But their buddy is strutting his stuff..........

 The fairest of the fair..................

 Game, point, match...............

 A radiant Queen.................

Ann Boleyn looking for her Henry.............

 The Warrior Princess.....

 And her escort--with the many, many gents at the fair in kilts, this seems to be the only skirted fellow I photographed.......

 Wardrobe malfunction.....

 Joy!  Joy!  Fun!  Fun!..............

 Welcome to my castle............

 The Royal Family.................

 Oh boy, oh boy--It's the belly dancers...............

 With all the exoticism of the East.....

 "Hey, I think I can do that!"...............

 But it DOES look better on them......

 A very beautiful face.......

And yet another............

 Even a holy nun needs a bit of ye olde libation once in a while.....

 And a competing band of belly dancers in another corner of the Market.....

 And the beat goes on.....by the way, the black knight is a woman.................

 A fairy princess..............

 And a fairy QUEEN!..............

 A smile can light the deepest mystic forest............

 Why, it's His Eminence, the Cardinal!

 And this was his actual blessing to Sisi:  "God bless you, my dear.  And do go on sinning because otherwise, I might not have a job!".

 On the stage in one of the large tents, this troupe performed both flamenco and opera.........

 The grand finale to CARMEN!

And the crowd went wild..................

 A totally dramatic toreador dance...........

 And the "Yankee girl" brings down the house......

 A very good sport enjoys the fair.......

 And she's totally beloved as well.....

 The University of Art at the College of Santa Fe Madrigal Singers..........

 Not all of the pretty faces at the fair belong to females....

 But a lot of them do........

 A lovely minstrel melody......

"Have I stayed too long at the fair?"...............

 The end of a lovely day..............

 Time to pass the castle gate for the last time.....

 Goodbye Sexy Pirate.....

And brave knight who spent all day cooking in armor.....

And last guy we met who was coming in as we were going out--representing some mythical beast, I believe.....

AND A MYSTICAL, MAGICAL, GRAND TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!!