Long weekend

Eid el-fitr fell on a Friday, resulting in a 3-day weekend. My Friday saw a sizeable family feasting.

Saturday, attended a wedding ceremony at St Joseph Cathedral. About 15 weddings were being carried out at the same time, therefore it at one time came down to plain boredom. "Do you take so-and-so to be your husband---" repeated 30 times is no little feat. I saw a couple or so brides concealing yawns.

Eventually it came to the end, and lo, outside there were 10 or so brass bands, each going full blast and each doing own tune, own rythm: cymbals clashing, drums banging! I started getting a fairly good picture what happened to the walls of Jecicho, so cautiously stepped away from wall that might give to the volley of misdirected decibels.

And limousines, decorated for the occassion. All this in a country where an average person lives on less than a dollar per day. And not just this church and not just this Saturday...