Another Kaz Holiday

Today was Nauryz (Nor-eeze), which we have since learned is not so much a Muslim new year celebration, but more of an ancient Oriental holiday that has something to do with a new year. The truth is that the only thing that attending the celebration taught us was that our original information was incorrect. So while we don’t really know what it is, we know what it ain’t.

The festival itself is quite … festive. They closed off some of the major streets so that horses and donkeys and people could run amok. On the main square, they erected a couple dozen yurts and another street was filled with kabob stands. Mee and I had some scrum-dilly-icious lamb kabob. It may have been the best we’ve tasted so far.

We also made our way to the green market or bazaar. It’s the bazaar that really illustrates that you are in a completely different country with a completely different culture. It’s a colorful, raucous, raw, unadulterated three ring circus of activity. In one section you can purchase Russian pop CDs and just across the way, a whole pigs head (freshly butchered), fresh fish from the back of a Lada, or knock-off Calvin Kleins from a tent. There are old ladies selling fresh milk (possibly horse milk!), eggs, pickles and plastic shopping bags.

There was no visit with the niblet today. I found myself suffering from CWD (Chloe Withdrawal Syndrome). I have no idea how we are going to function for the couple of weeks that we will be away from her. I may need a shot or two and something to bite down on.