Tales from the Crypt

....of medieval manuscripts.

I went to the Nottingham University Library of Manuscripts and Special Collections today.

which is

Party Central.

...mmmmmkay not really. But it was really quiet and really cool and in the middle of NOWHERE. I mean NOOOOOWHERE. I think maybe they're afraid if they keep the pretty things too close to civilization they will melt. Which I suppose is good. Plus, everyone there was really friendly and I had this giant room all to myself because I was the only one in the library.

So I'm sitting there, leafing through a mid- to late-13th century manuscript and I realize:

this is really fucking awesome.

I mean, okay, I got a little bored staring at Old French, like I usually do. But then I realized that not only was this Old French but it was OLD French. Like REALLY OLD. You could see where the scribe had ruled out a grid to make his writing all nice and pretty and where his pen dried up so he had to re-dip it and start over. So cool.

And I got to look at pictures like this:

Have no clue what that is? Especially on the right? Neither do I. But I'mma gonna find out....

Me, happy in the Nottingham Library:

Also, kind of sleepy from getting up way too early. But whatever. It was worth it.

Plus, VENICE IN ONE WEEK! WOOOOOOT!