Jib

Any truth to the rumor that the skull and cross bones was the mark of plague ships?

So I take it that the Fantasy Fest is the wild one? PiP is just like a typical Ren Faire?

1000 and 1 pardons Black John. it won't happen again that I suggest a topic that has been done to death! If I do I will permantly remove myself from the boards!

At the Ren Faires I work at I often give out trinket to the kiddies. Good idea at PiP? Bad idea at PiP? No kids at PiP?

Fenced Foil, Epee, and Sabre in college. I liked Sabre best, Spanish style with a very upright posture. Very pirate-like. What I enjoyed recently was stage combat! I took both a Rapier and Dagger class followed by a Broadsword class. Very flashy and fun and a great work out too! Don Preston was the instructor. "They Fight" is his group (you can use this for a web search). The only problem I had with the stage combat was my training in fencing. Ok, that wasn't my only problem but Don had to keep reminding me not to point my blade at the other persons vitals.

For those of you who have been to PiP how would you say the average plain clothes patrons are? In my expereince at Ren Faires some people are very engaging and enjoy direct intereaction with anyone in a costume (unable to tell cast from 'playtrons'). Others are fearful and like to watch but don't want direct interaction. Having never been to Key West I wouldn't even begin to guess how your average family in plain clothes out for the day would react. i have heard that Key West is very open minded and creative. About what percentage of people garb up as pirates and get involved?

Anyone know the French for "pretty red" from which the term Jolly Roger is rumored to have come? Funny that pirate flags are almost never red (or were they?)

I would imagine that lots of families attend the event?

I few items I have found handy include: A leather 'jack' strap to hold a drinking vessel on the belt. A pouch for items like treasure, spy glass, astrolabe, and pirate related items that I let patrons see. I also keep a second pouch for car keys, sun block, cash, and other personal items. A baldric to keep the weight of the cutlass off my hip and on my shoulder. A spare bandanna. When one gets nasty I can switch. Also handy for a quick clean up on hot sweaty days. Ornamentation: Big ear rings, pins, rings, gold chains, ribbions, favors, etc.

I'm a novice, what is a belt hook? When did they start being used. I guess most images I think of are from the English Civil War and showed long, almost sheaths for fire arms, attached to saddles.

I heard the Cat of Nine Tails is also from this time period. Hense the tern the cat is out of the bag!

So just how bawdy is PiP? If you were to rate it like a movie (G, PG, PG 13, R, X, XXX) Just curious...

Found treasure and booked the Key Lime! Know I'll have a place to rest my rum sodden head!

We often hear of the brutality of pirates. Keel Hauling and the like. Just what did these tortures involve? How common where they? And are these action used to keep order in the ranks or create fear?

Looks like much of Key West is booked tight for the weekend. Thinking about trying a B&B. Other 'Keys' as a location for hotel space has alos been suggested. I would like to stay within 30 minutes of the Key if not on KW.

Jack and Bess, Next time you are attending the MRF you'll have to give me a yell. I am part of a pirate crew that makes its home at the MRF. Minnesota has tons of pirates, both on cast like myself, or as playtrons, such as my good friends in The Bloodwake. Oh Jack, by the way, I was one of the judges in the "Perfect Pirate Contest". We certainly would have let you try to out do the countless children who put on the eye patch and said 'Yarrr!" You could have earned yourself a fine piece of candy for just trying out!

It also seems that most of the activities center arround the weekend of December 3 & 4... Is this a good assumption?

Can anyone give me any information on the Pirates of Japan? Wako?

Friends this isn't gospel but I believe the heavy neck pieces you speak of are called 'stocks'. The term Leathernecks goes back to the Spanish American war. If I remember correctly the leather was used to limit the use of knives in melee by Malay and Phillipino natives against the US Marines. Perhaps a former Marine can confirm/ or explain?

Anyone know how bad Wilma smashed up KW?

Friends, I have never been to Pirates in Paradise but I am going to make the attempt this year. I have thousands of questions and I'm looking for help and advice. Any details you can share, no matter how small, would be fantastic! I always find that you learn a certain 'culture' that follows a festival. Until you do you can end up looking foolish. Any details on places to stay in Key West and the other nearby Keys would be wonderful. I've read those already posted on the list and I'm taking them into consideration. If you had a good experience at a certain hotel let me know. If you can suggest a B&B share the wealth. If you know of any deals feel free to give me the high lights. Food: What would you suggest? Cheap eats are great but I'm not going to eat BK every day either. A good meal at fair price is a treasure indeed. What have you enjoyed? What is available at the Fort? Every Pirate needs an adult beverage. What can I find at the Fort? My wife drinks red wine and red wine alone, is she out of luck? What sort of prices can we find. Happy hour? Pubs, clubs, and bars that embrace the pirate theme and serve a hearty drink? Anything off the beach? Parking is rumored to be a nightmare. Can anyone shed some light on this? I know that some hotels offer parking in my home port. I don't mind a walk but I would hate to be parking 3 or 4 miles to the entrance. What do you pay for parking? Does the Fort have parking? What about the events at the Fort? It seem that the Thieves Market and the Fort are the focal point for the festival... Is this true or just me? What is the cost to enter? Are there events within that require an additional fare? I assume that performers do a hat pass but if I wanted to see another event how much will it set me back? What times to things kick off? If you can suggest 3 things not miss, what would they be? What would suggest I not waste my time and money on? What is the Pirates in Paradise High Point? Weapons, costumes, theme realted items: Should I bring it all? One of worst experiences was attending a Ren Faire without knowing that they had a no weapons policy. I entered and was roughly grabbed and pushed back out with a minimal explaination. A simple "Don't bring it" works for me. Can you think of a few items that I should bring (serious please). I assume sun block is a must but do I need to bring my own water? Bug spray? How about the interaction between cast and patron? Smooth and seemless or defined? From most fo the pictures I have seen it looks like most people travel in pretty big crews and stick to themselves. Of course, not having attended before this could be just my impression. Do people just come together in small groups for meals and drinks, small bonfires or beach parties, or is this pretty much an event where things are invitation only? Either way is fine. i just don't want walk into anything with egg in my beard and make a bigger fool of myself than I already do. How about the people in Key West, do they embrace the Festival or ignore it? Is it safe to say that the entire island is over run with pirates or is this just restricted to the Fort and environs? How bawdy is the Pirates in Paradise Festival on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being nude pole dancing!). And for the record, I'm no prude. Thanks to all. Remember that no detail is too trival. Perhaps we'll meet at the Festival, and if we do I would be willing buy you a drink for your advice!