It's not every day you have lunch with a MIG jet fighter pilot

Well yesterday was an interesting day!

Remember I mentioned that we had a noise coming from the transmission of our rental car? Well on Friday, we did a switch and they gave us a temporary car until they can figure out what's going on with the other one. So we were talking to the guys at Go Rent Albania about the great time we've been having here, and Zeni suggests that we should have lunch together during our time in Shkodra. Of course we agreed. Then on Saturday, he called and invited us to his family home for lunch! He said we would have a real traditional Albanian experience. And boy, was he right!

We walked around downtown before arriving at his place.

Fancy mosque.

A beautiful day, and lots of people were out enjoying it.

Weird statue.

Ruth and the Shkodra sign.

So we arrived at Zeni's place, but this is not actually where he lives. It turns out that this is the historical home belonging to his family. It's located right in the center of the city, and the 300 year old property has been in the family for about 180 years. In fact, his great grandfather was the mayor of Schodra and lived in this home.

Including us, there were 15 people at lunch! And what an interesting group of people!

The patriarch of the family is Zeni's grandfather. He was an eye surgeon in his working days, and his wife was a pediatrician. He was one of 13 children, 8 of whom made it to adulthood. He was the youngest, and is now the only one left. He is in his 90's, although wouldn't give an exact age.

Zeni's grandmother and his grandfather.

We can't remember most of the names!

What an interesting man. He only learned English when he was in his 70's! And, he has a hearing problem, so that made it even more difficult. But he was pretty good. He had to think about every word, but he could communicate with us quite well. And he can keep up with the best of them when it comes to drinking raki!

Then there was Zeni's cousin, also a doctor. He is just a young guy, and specializes in abdominal surgery.

And Zeni's mother (also a pediatrician) and father (chemical engineer) and wife and young son. And another cousin and his wife and son. Most of them could speak English quite well, except for his father and another uncle, the guy who was a MIG jet fighter pilot during the communist era!

Lots of food.

The guy in the striped shirt is the fighter pilot.

He is the one who lives in the house now.

Somebody must have said something funny!

Yet another toast!

We had fish for lunch.

Yes, you guessed it...lake carp!

Starters.

My piece of fish!

A few too many bones for my liking, but Ruth said her piece didn't have many bones. The meat itself was quite good though. I had read the one of the problems with carp is that if you don't cook it right, it has a fishy taste, but this must have been cooked properly. They made it with a type of homemade sweet and sour plum sauce.

Dessert.

Throughout all of this, we were drinking raki, the traditional Albanian booze. Too much raki! Lots of laughs and conversation, and of course lots of toasts.

The kids were singing the Albanian national anthem for us!

After lunch, we were taken for a tour of the home.

Amazing history in this home.

Lots of carved wood.

Ruth, heading into the original bathroom.

They kept the old entranceway, but once inside it is a modern bathroom.

Then we went and sat outside for more conversation.

And more raki!

We felt really privileged to have been invited to this family gathering. We met some interesting people, learned more about Albania customs, and we feel like when we return to Albania in our motorhome, we will have to return to Shkodra to see them all again.

I think today will be a day of rest. Did I mention too much raki?!!

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