Middle Earth Comes to Costa Rica

A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hynan uben tanatha le faelas.

THOSE of you unable to understand these words of battle wisdom, spoken by Aragorn ere the Battle of Helm’s Deep, would surely have died quick and grisly deaths at the hands of blood-thirsty orcs.

But never fear; a remedy is at hand in the form of a Workshop on Basic Elvish, just one of the highlights in store this weekend at the 2005 Tolkien Festival being held at San José’s National Cultural Center (CENAC).

Organized by the Tolkien Society of Costa Rica, the festival will feature workshops, film and documentary showings, archery exhibitions, a Tolkien-themed market, a host of kids’ activities and a variety of games, including a Tolkien-based trivia contest.

Concerts by Celtic-music groups Medieval and Peregrino Gris are also on the program.

Activities commence at 11 a.m. tomorrow and Sunday. Admission costs ¢1,000 ($2); free for kids under 10. Proceeds will benefit the San José Orphanage.

To see a full schedule of festival activities, visit the Tolkien Society’s Web site at www.sociedadtolkiencr.com. For more info, e-mail comunidad_del_anillo_stcr@yahoo.es or call 388-9120 or 369-9767.