Almaty's "new square" was closed off to traffic (a smog free day finally!) in honor of Independence Day. Lots of Kazakh families wandered around the main square, munching on shashlik (kind of like meat shish kebabs), drinking beer and listening to the free concerts. I'm heading off to New Zealand the day after tomorrow so this is likely my last blog entry before I go. I'll be sure to post lots of pictures on my return to Kazakhstan on January 10th.