An Albanian Wedding

23.09.2007 28 °C

High in the Albanian mountains close to the Kosova border is a drab industrial city that is on absolutely no tourist map. The winding road through the mountain passes is picturesque enough but the lakeside city of Kukes has little going for it except a vast second-hand market where almost anything goes for a few Albanian Lek...

There are, of course, plenty of disused Soviet concrete bunkers that look like giant mushrooms. There is talk of turning them into a tourist attraction...

However, the surrounding mountain pastures appear to provide good grazing for sheep and whole spit-roasted lambs were on the menu...

But, we are not here for the views or the food, (despite being offered the lamb's eyes and brain - local delicacies). We are here for a wedding...

The local musicians were certainly musical and, with the exception of the foreigners, everyone danced...

A good time was had by everyone apart from the groom's elderly aunt who was miffed that she was bumped off the top table by a couple of Canadians on the bride's side. And here is the happy couple...