Tuesday 11^th November

Up early but not so the bank staff who, because of Ramadan (festival) start at 10 and finish at 1.00. We therefore left Heart with no Afghani money. 

No matter filled with petrol, drove past Park Hotel (on main road) and saw people camping in grounds. On the way two petrol people offered us 50 Afg for $1 – ha, cheek! Eventually got 70 (still 3 less than we should!). At about Farah discovered oil dripping from left oil seal – trouble. After much debate (no VW agent except in Kabul to drive the 650 miles in one day.

Shot through Kandahan (camping behind main hotel is allowed) and on through dusk and then darkness to Kabul arriving (after dinner by roadside at 8.00) about 10.15. But for the superb roads I don’t imagine for a moment that I could have driven for that long. Plus so little traffic.

Slept very well in hotel found for us by an Afghani we met outside Kabul Restaurant. We had to pay 15/- because it was so late – we could not bargain – and we woke the owner up. Not a good start to bargaining.