Today is a public holiday in Kazakhstan, celebrating the signing of their constitution in 1991. Actually the holiday is August 30, but since that fell on a weekend, today is a day off. There was a small fireworks display out over the Caspian on the 30th, maybe there will be more tonight.

I feel sort of bad for my new interpreter. The old one had to leave on Saturday for another assignment, so they brought out a new one Sunday afternoon. Now she has to sit here for a day with nothing to do, and on what should be a day off.