Afghanistan: Kabul – Around the City

Kabul is a sprawling city with dense clusters of houses spread over many hills. It has a massive population of about 4.7 million people, nestled in a high valley at 5,900 feet, surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountains. It’s one of the world’s highest capitals, with a history stretching back over 3,500 years, given its strategic position on ancient trade routes like the Silk Route. There are old parts of the city as well as some areas with newer buildings, there is even a city block built by the Soviets and looks exactly like apartment block in the USSR – grey simple buildings. There are many ornate wedding halls, new and shiny, as wedding ate a big thing in Afghanistan with thousands of guests at any given one and days of celebrations. Interesting, all the shops have to display mannequins and posters without heads – in masks or headless or head obscured – according to Taliban rules. Even the pedestrian crossing sign is headless!