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Friday 2004-06-11 - Mashhad, Iran
Hajj
On arrival in Mashhad, one of the three holy cities of Iran, it suddenly becomes clear why we couldn’t get a direct flight here: Everything must have been solidly booked because it’s ‘Hajj time’ — there are many, many pilgrims already here and more arriving; many families are camping out everywhere in the open in the parks, with nothing but a blanket, sometimes a little gas burner to make tea or cook some food. Our bus at the parking lot before the airport is blocked, there are so many cars; some have to be literally shoved aside before we can leave for our hotel.
