Saturday - Saints and Weddings
This morning was our first quiz, almost the equivalent of a midterm. In an intense summer course like this one, every day is worth a week on campus.
A beautiful day right across Europe, we ate lunch outside...
... in time to catch the royal wedding on TV.
...or enjoy the sun.
The pageantry of a royal wedding is quite a medieval event, and the formality is something foreign to modern customs. The students recognized new words they had learned in the past week - both church and castle terminology. St George's Chapel, Windsor, was founded in the 14th c. and extensively enlarged in the 15th in late Gothic style.
And we were all aware that history was being made as we watched.
It was then time to go to the abbey and to learn more about the saints who are important to Burgundy.
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Megan told us the story of St Mary, probably the best known Christian saint, while standing under a statue of the "Madonna of Mercy" in Pontigny's church.
Elizabeth recounted the history of Thomas Becket, who spent two years of his exile from the English king in Pontigny (1164-1166). He was martyred in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, the story is sculpted on the front of the altar here.
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With the wonderful spring weather, the students were finally about to bring out the sports equipment and take advantage of the warm afternoon.
Before supper we gathered at the pond for an apéritif, a before-dinner drink, which coincides with the weekend theme of medieval medicine.
Both hypocras and coulindrum are medieval drinks, probably brought back from the Middle East during the Crusades, and both have medicinal properties.
Coulindrum is a maceration of red currants in white wine with a touch of raspberry juice and honey, and is slightly sparkling (the name comes from an ancient word for currants).
Hypocras has a red wine base and is slightly sweeter with heavy overtones of cinnamon. (Recipes available on the web; prepare now in time to celebrate the students' return - the ingredients must steep for a week.)
Nice to see your having nice weather, still cold and rain here. Ken & Stella say hello to Jenna B
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Hello to everyone! The blog has been a wonderful window into your trip. Thank you for all the posts! Macky and Scott.
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Hope your presentation went well. Bought a bottle of wine from Yonne in a little shop in New Rochelle. A Chardonnay . Not sure how to pronounce Yonne