[Leica] IMG: Lovely Day in the Neighborhood

[hewthompson at mac.com (Hugh Thompson)]

Today it was beautiful in Kabul.  There was a wind which dispersed the  
usual heavy pollution, and the sun was singing out of a clear sky.   
Also I was able to go out today ...... that was a good break.

This photo, looking north, shows a local police station with the  
yellow gates, and a guard outside.  When there was the recent bombing,  
all those balconies and the roof was manned with armed men.  In  
addition, if you look above the two parked cars in the centre of the  
picture, you will see a sandbagged gun emplacement, where they set up  
the heavy machine gun.  There are other locations too, to provide a  
"box" and crossfire.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Hugh+Thompson/Afghanistan/Neighborhood/DSC01137.jpg.html
 
 >

Looking west, we recently had snow, the street is wet, with very large  
potholes.  The streets are very poorly maintained, notwithstanding  
that this local area has offices and residences for many foreign  
companies.  I was told the building with the eagle is owned by a  
wealthy Chinese company.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Hugh+Thompson/Afghanistan/Neighborhood/DSC01141.jpg.html
 
 >

This is our local street, because it is a Friday morning, it is quiet,  
but usually very busy.  This is also deceptive, because there are many  
large potholes.  You will see the gates which shut off the outside  
world.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Hugh+Thompson/Afghanistan/Neighborhood/DSC01146.jpg.html
 
 >

Young BBQer.  Children do a lot of work here, often at risk to  
themselves.  They run around the roads, begging, selling all sorts of  
things to make a few Afghanis.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Hugh+Thompson/Afghanistan/Neighborhood/DSC01148.jpg.html
 
 >

Ah, the bakery.  Here are a few problems.  The Afghan bread,  
particularly the long style, is very crispy and quite delicious.  I  
have to tell cook to only give me a quarter, but he still insists on  
giving me a half ...... sigh!

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Hugh+Thompson/Afghanistan/Neighborhood/DSC01149.jpg.html
 
 >


Camera:  Sony DSC-S950 processing in iPhoto

C&Cs welcomed

Hugh