Very cute
Love is … trying to elope to Africa with your sweetheart for a wedding under the burning sun – when you are still at primary school.
That was the quest of two children aged six and seven who had thought of almost everything – right down to suntan lotion, sunglasses and the five-year-old sister of the bride-to-be, who was brought along to “witness” their nuptials on the other side of the world.
With their suitcases on wheels and sandwiches of chicken paste and processed cheese, the trio – sensibly bundled up against the minus-six temperature in their homeland – travelled from Langenhagen, near Hanover, in Germany, in their bid to reach the airport more than 50 kilometres away.
It was barely light on New Year’s Day when, fuelled by passion and a documentary they had seen about the wildlife of Kenya the night before, the lovebirds and the witness set out on mission impossible. They had no passports, no tickets and no idea really where Africa was.
“The two children were determined to tie the knot under the African sun after seeing a nature documentary together,” said police spokesman Holger Jureczko in Hanover. The pair, identified only as Mika and Anna-Lena, “are very much in love and decided to get married in Africa, where it is warm, taking with them as a witness Anna-Lena’s little sister, aged five”.
The idea for the romantic trip began when Mika told the two girls about his holiday in Italy while their families celebrated New Year’s Eve together. As the adults drank champagne, Mika and Anna-Lena watched the lions cavorting on the Serengeti and hatched their plan.
As the first dawn of 2009 broke, and while their parents slept, they left their house and walked a kilometre up the road to a tram stop, from where they travelled to Hanover’s central station. Waiting for a train to the airport, they attracted the attention of a guard, who contacted police.
That’s adorable. I bet you as they get older that story wil be told time and time again to embarrass them. Bringing the sister as a witness was good planning.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Ahh, the epitomy of the infant jet-set: get hitched, lie in the sun and eat chicken. Their parents will be proud.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
As someone who is celebrating her 20th wedding anniversary today – I can highly recommend the institution of
marriage.
Refreshing to to see a “young couple” deciding to get married rather than just living together.
I got engaged 3 months after meeting my husband – so can definitely attest to “love at first sight” and married at 22
(Before that had no intention of marrying ever. )
My advice get married young and grow up together. A great marriage is a gift of a life time!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Congratulations democracymum! My 39th anniversary coming up. I agree with your sentiment.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Thanks bharmer, wow 39 years that is a great innings! Well done!
My parents had their 50th last year, and my husband’s parents will have their 50th this year.
The great thing about marriage is being able to celebrate your anniversaries.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Congratulations democracymum!
20th anniversary is your “china” anniversary – have you treated yourself to some new china (Royal Doulton, Wedgwood should be good buying now!)…a Chinese restaurant meal tonight? Or anything from the Warehouse would probably qualify
January 7th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Thanks 3-coil
Yes democracydad has had to stump up for some china pieces for my collection. Being Scottish, this no easy ask of him!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
“Refreshing to to see a “young couple” deciding to get married rather than just living together”
Good point!! I haven’t attended a wedding in literally years…..
January 7th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Good on ‘em. With initiative like that, if they’d made it all the way perhaps they could have sorted out Zimbabwe, since the adults seem at a complete loss as to how to deal with one puffed-up little dictator.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
democracymum
That means you are about the same age as I am………ever fancied an affair?, I just could not handle an affair with a pinko….lol
January 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
big bruv
did I say Scottish and a Black Belt …lol?
January 7th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
“My advice get married young and grow up together. A great marriage is a gift of a life time!”
Agreed, Demomum. The moment it is legal for me to marry my civil union partner, the better.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
In NZ not so cute. The family would probably have social workers and cops all over them, charges laid and the kids placed in foster care where they are possibly more likely to suffer abuse than if they remained with their real parents. Perhaps exaggerated, but I am rather cynical.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
democracymum
I didna ken you’re fae Scotland, whoo did a bonnie lass like yersell git ah the wae down here?, it cudna ha been fae the wither surely?
January 7th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
peterwn
I was thinking the same thing until I realised Lilly-bing Karatiana-Matiana, Mereana Edmonds, Tamati Pokai, Coral-Ellen Burrows, Tangaroa Matiu, Ngatikaura Ngata and the Kahui twins to name a few couldn’t find a social worker or cop to save them
January 7th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
LOVE KIWI STYLE = “The deaths of most of the 357 children who died after being brought to Child Youth and Family’s attention since 2000″ spews the fembot CC !!!
Edit – HOW CUTE, proud to be kiwi – YEAH RIGHT !!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
big bruv
It is democracydad who heralds from Scotland – love your accent though!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
mum
And he is a tory?….I did not know that they existed in Scotland.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Hey Dad, This Father Burns guy…………………………(no relation?)
January 7th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
@Matty Smith-
Hopefully you do not have to wait too long before you get to enjoy such a right. Although with extremists attacking civil unions there will sadly be some resistance.
January 8th, 2009 at 7:40 am
What a great pick-up story for the boy whe he gets older. He gonna have the chicks eating out of his hand with that one.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Yes it is an amusing story, but why is there such warm fuzzies for these little kids out on the street without their parents being aware of it, yet the parents of the kids in Sth Auckland are being accused (in some sectors) of negligence when their much older progeny got up and cooked a feed at home. Double standards perhaps.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:17 am
The parents were not aware of it because it happened while the parents slept. I see no double standard – it is a different situation.