I think that if you really want to get immersed into the medieval world you should consider hanging out with some folks from the Society for Creative Anachronism. You can check them out at www.sca.org. They have organized elements all around the world and don't eat newcomers until they get to know you better.My whole family are members and we go to an event about once a month. There are more events we could attend, even weekly ones. Most of the big events are weekend ones and involve camping. Everyone dresses up in period garb and there are tournaments where guys (and gals) beat the stuffing out of each other, in full armor, for the right to rule. There are merchants who will sell you garb, weapons, jewelry, etc.
Many of the members are true experts in weapons and tactics of the era and would be happy to explain it until you are bored to tears. They even have workshops on all sorts of subjects like food prep, brewing, spinning and weaving, calligraphy, money making, armor making, (I can even make a bit of chain mail myself ) and many more.
You might have to pay a small site fee for the camping events or a materials fee at a workshop but on the most part it is run totally on a non profit basis. And besides that it is a blast.
If you don't have an outfit, they will usually lend you one for the day. The idea is to get immersed into life in the middle ages the way it should have been.
[This message has been edited by MrWhipple (edited July 11, 2002).]
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. Though we were regulars before we went to Germany.
