At the beginning of my second road trip, which took me initially from Kansas City to Lake Villa, Illinois, I stayed along the way in Chicago with friend Neil and his family. Over the weekend, we decided to head up North of Chicago and visit the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Renaissance festivals have always been something I have enjoyed attending, especially since Kansas City has a prominent one. But I have never been to another city's version of this.

Virtually everything was the same, down to the procession of ecclectic characters. The only thing missing were the fairies and mystical woods-folk. But there was no shortage of Middle-Ages attire, nor nobility, knights, scoundrals, musicians, magicians, jugglers and fare maidens. Plus all the turkey legs one can eat. And all the usual shops where one can buy dragon-related accessories.