An Hour Outside of Prison

After days of being stuck on the compound, I was given the opportunity to get out and see Kabul.  So far Afghanistan has been the mountains above the razor-wire wall, some Afghan workers walking around and the Afghan mess hall for lunch.  So, I escaped for a moment to experience a little bit of Kabul (and, yes, it is sad that "experience" is looking out the window of an armored vehicle, but it is a war zone after all).  The gentlemen who escorted me around said they would never ever walk around the city alone.

We went to King Nadir Shah's Mausoleum.  A USAID worker I met said she has been trying to get there for over two years, so I feel lucky.  From there we saw a good view of the city.  After that, we passed by the Olympic Stadium, where the Taliban held public executions, and the awe-inspiring Eid Gah mosque.  Also on the route was the Ministry of Finance and the Serena Hotel, both which were attacked.  And there was the Mosque of the King of the Two Swords.

The tour has a second half.  I'll post them soon.