Kitchy, Wonderful, Awkward, and Foreign

Being stuck in traffic is pretty normal in Beirut, especially if you have to commute to school or work. Turns out most everyone else in the city had to get somewhere too.

So, recent bad traffic had me stopped next to this little statuette, camera at the ready. It's Mary, gazing out over the highway. I feel quite conflicted about roadside shrines. For me they're at once kitchy, wonderful, awkward, and foreign. It's complicated.

I'm fond of this one, though I'm sure a big part of that feeling comes from the candy striped awning below.

For most people, there's neither school nor work tomorrow. It's Ashoura, wikipedia can teach you about it if you're curious.