Hirat

The citadel in Hirat about 600 years old. Undergoing major renovations (think it's funded by the Aga Khan but not sure), we saw our first camel in the garden here

view from top of the citadel

Minaret and tiles from the Blue Mosque

Me in the carpet shop

View from the mental health projhect we went to see just outside hirat

Rickshaws in the city, don't see these in Kabul

Very hot here in Hirat, been bitten by mozzies. We also went to the blue glass shop. Hirat is renowned for it's blue glass, a very thin rugged old man sits in a very small shop dripping sweat, and blowing the glass, it was incredibly hot in there with the ovens going! Poor thing. He learnt it from his dad.
Carpet shopping was fun, you have to take time over it!because of the whole method of buying, bargianing etc
We have met some of the team here and been looked after very well. Last night we had dinner with an old friend from London who has worked here for many years.

We fly back to Kabul on Kam air (reputed to be owned by a warlord) hopefully this afternoon. The next few days are quite busy, seeing some of the projects in Kabul, visiting the International school, a midwife run clinic, various meetings, .......

Food: we went to the 1001 nights restaurant where you sit on carpet and what seems to be a bedstand to eat. It was kebabs, but more iranian type of food becasue we are very near the border.