Part 2. After the Chruch....

Well, after the church ceremony was over, we were supposed to do family shots, but the rain wasnt letting up! It was a wet cold as well, and just not condusive to standing outside and posing.

Like all good weddings, there was mass confusion, and no one knew where to go and what was happening next. OH! One thing I forgot to mention. On the way to Elena, the congregation stopped in the town square of Migouftsi, and everyone got out of their cars and started dancing in the square to the live three piece band. There was a gang of motorcycle thugs in their Harley look-alikes (Russian knock offs) and they came out onto the veranda of the tavern, and watched the spectacle. It seemed to me that they didnt find it particularly unusual! I, on the other hand...LOVED IT!

We did manage to find our rides and cars, and even our way back to Migouftsi. The hall was an old and musty space with faded wooden floors, and a stage at the back. Well I guess the Bulgarians dont do seating arrangements because it was a mad dash to get seats, and I was suddenly reminded of being very unpopular in grade one! Fortunately some of Petyas friends took pity on the poor confused foreigner and seated me at the back, directly in front of the stage where all the "younger" people were sitting!

Now my friends and family know there are 2 things I cannot stand too much of; perfume (actually smells in general), and extra noise. Sitting in front of the stage was going to be a stretch for me but there was really nowhere else to go. I already had a mild fatigue headache, and add to this the granted, lovely Bulgarian music, and the cigarette smoke from every single guest but myself and the bride and groom, and I was dying by 8pm.

Before 8, I did manage to have a lot of fun though. I found out that the dances are almost identical to ours. I managed to amaze everyone with my quick learning abilities and joined the line dances most of the night. Petya's grandparents were also up dancing, and even with her bowlegs, Petyas grandmom was keeping up better than most half her age could.

The highlights of the evening included Ivan having to drink champagne out of Petyas shoe, which he did without a single word of complaint, and the presentstion of the grandparents gift. The grandmom was obviously waiting for this moment all day, because as the bride and groom approached their table to collect their gift, she began to beam, and I could tell she was about to burst with excitement! She had Ivan and Petya hold out their arms and grab each others hands, then she began throwing things across their arms. She began with a carpet, then blankets, then linen, then towels, and on and on and on. She furnished the fabric needs of their home from the floor right up to the dishrags, and with each piece she threw on, she giggled like a child, till they could hold their hands together no more. The grandmother, being a woman of 4 foot nothing, had to stretch to get the pieces thrown on, and with each item, she jumped up a bit to reach. The scene was too cute for words, and had I not been photographing, I would have been crying for sure! What can I say? I am a sap!

The food was another funny thing for me. It was marvelous fo course, but as once before I was fooled! When we arrived there was Shopska salad on the table. The Bulgarian equivalent to a greek salad, with minor variations. I ate it deliciously, as I was a sheep in a past life. The came a plate of food I assumes was the main course, with cheeses, salamis, and egg salad etc. I ate it slowly while sipping Rakia cautiously, and thought that was that.

Then came dinner! About a kilo of meat in various kebob forms, and boiled potatoes and veggies. This I did not expect and began laughing when i saw it appear in front of me. I didnt get through it all, but they was well cooked kebobs and there was a lot there!

OH! Need to stop. I guess there will be a third installation.