Bicycle Buying Trip

There are a couple of boys that hang out around the south gate of Camp Eggers that peddle their wares for U.S. Personnel -- bracelets, scarves, and maps. I asked them where they lived and they said they walked to school (German School next to Camp Eggers) and it took them 1 and 1/2 hours. They went to school and then peddled their wares till late at night and then walked home. I volunteered to buy them bicycles for their birthdays but found out their birthdays were in the Fall/Winter, so I decided to buy them bicycles during the Summer so they could get some use out of them. So we all went bicycle shopping yesterday in downtown Kabul. Wow was traffic a bear. There are no stop lights so everyone pushes their way into the intersection and whoever gets his car nose in wins. People stand along the side of the street waiting for rides -- anyone that wants to give them a ride for a charge. Also, vans come by and guys will pile into the van with people heads sticking out of the sunroof and hanging out of the sliding doors. What an experience. Everyone was out shopping for Ramadan. They have a big meal the night before the start their month of fasting.