Wednesday 12^th November

Car first priority – after changing some DM’s in Afgh’s. found main VW dealer who gave us a fair price to repair oil seal. We said we would return in half an hour after finding hotel. No luck – everyone we called at wanted too much money. Back to garage, off came wheel to discover that “horrors” the bearings had gone on the left rear wheel. Ah well, more money so we gave the garage the go-ahead. Because it’s Ramadan, the car would not be ready till tomorrow – ugh. 

We talked to some Americans and were told of good clean cheap hotel for 8/- a night! Someone from the garage gave us a lift and sure enough a good clean room, with wash basin and razor point, was quickly booked by us. 

The afternoon was spent sounding our people re exchange rates, and new tyres for the car. (Two have gone bald – bad as only gone 10,000 miles and will be contacting Firestone re this). Got the exchange rates and after walking round a very muddy bazaar (the road to the hotel is terrible – thick, wet mud) retired to hotel to calculate what we need in India and Pakistan rupees. In the evening we set out down the muddy road for an evening meal at the Kyber Restaurant. Here it seems most of the Europeans in Kabul met. It very cheap and self-service.

We had just finished our meal when up came the Afghani who found us the hotel last night plus two friends (a lawyer and businessman). After talking we went back to a house belonging to the businessman (son of ex Finance Minister – so very rich). Here in the centre of town was his house and a vineyard. He [not us!!] spent the evening smoking hashish and showing us very clever tricks with cards. The rest of us just eat hundreds of super tasting grapes. We were driven back to the hotel and on the way the Afghani kept on making passes at Anne – cheek!!