We recently attended the Medieval Times jousting tournament with our grandkids. The venue is located in Buena Park close to Knotts Berry Farm. We’d read about the knights of old in the The Knight at Dawn, the second book in the Magic Tree House series, which was set in a14th-century British castle during the medieval times. The series is fun and educational. Kids learn about other countries and historical facts while being entertained by the storyline. The Knight at Dawn shared facts about how castles were built and boys were trained to be knights. And it gave a peek into the weapons and suits of armor in the armory.
Before the doors opened, guests were allowed to wander around the lobby and examine the knight’s fancy royal garb and weaponry. Majestic Andalusian horses with braided manes were on impressive display. A Peregrine falcon, like those sometimes seen at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego, could also be seen. The show consisted of knights clad in armor mounted on regal steeds, jousting and clashing swords. A falconer guided a well-trained bird to fly across the open expanse and swoop low over the heads of the audience. We could feel the whoosh of air as it flew overhead. The kids loved the fact that they got to eat the royal feast with their hands.
As we waited in line to enter the show, we noticed a steady stream of individuals trekking across the street and then returning with large bakery bags. We followed the people and our noses after the show, and discovered Porto’s Bakery. The bakery is a family owned business that was founded in the 70’s by Rosa Porto, a Cuban immigrant. It offers Cuban cakes and pastries and other international sweet and savory items. Over the years, the business received high acclaim and expanded into multiple locations in Los Angeles and Orange County. We enjoyed a sampling of their offerings (my favorite was their guava and cheese strudel), and ended the day on a sweet note.
