I visited Afghanistan twice in the 1970s and these slides were taken on my first visit in 1975. When I returned three years later Russian tanks were on the streets. The main invasion took place in 1979 but troops were already there in 1978. I would like to have shown you photos but I wasn't foolish enough to start photographing an invading force.
The second photo is disturbing. From what I have learnt over time is that in the 70s it was a great place for young people travelling. Cheap, hospitable and friendly people, good food, hash, maybe no alcohol.
ReplyDeleteNot a tourist destination today, maybe one day. When I lived in Istanbul in 1969 my friend and her grandma traveled through the Kyber Pass as tourists. Nice to see your photos.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the many places I have on my bucket list, I've seen that the scenery once you get out of the cities is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love how that funfair looks. And I bet the father of that child didn't think that shooting at balloons was going to lead to something much worse.
ReplyDeleteBut it is nice to see how a country looked before. It would be even nicer if the photos would show today in a similarly peaceful setting.
Wow, amazing photos. It is not a place I would even think of visiting.
ReplyDeleteI am glad there were happier times for the people and country. Wishing you a great day and a happy new week!
Wonderful to see people in Afghanistan living their lives in happier times. I hope those times will return to the people still living in the area.
ReplyDeleteYou wonder how many of them are still around today.
ReplyDeleteWow ~ wonderful life scenes ~ rather that than the Russian invasive photos that you were smart not to take ~
ReplyDeleteLive each moment with love,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Wow - fascinating insight into more peaceful times.
ReplyDeleteI think you were very adventurous going to Afghanistan at any time. It seems to have become a complete no no now.
ReplyDeleteThe wooden Ferris wheel looks like so much fun and grown men not too shy to swing on another creative device. We all want to enjoy life in peace, if only invaders and zealots would let us.
ReplyDeleteAh the good old days.
ReplyDeleteMuch happier times, for sure. How the world has changed since we began traveling. You were brave to travel there in the later ‘70s.
ReplyDeleteHow did you land in Afganistan ?? When I only hear the name I think of war and terrible things which happened there ! And it had been a holiday destination ? hard to believe but it is also quite a while ago.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, interesting photos of a time before Afghanistan plunged into chaos and warfare.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see these photographs, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Wow you are so well traveled!
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