This Associated Press photo gets high marks from me. This is a look down Darul Aman Road about the time of the opening of this session of National Assembly, 23 January. None of the hallmarks of a country recovering from war, the barricades and high concrete walls, show up in this winter land scene. The photo is ready for use by the Kabul Tourism office.

The image also reminds me how nice it is to have put away my winter jacket now that all the snow has left. I am told that this winter was unusually cold. I had not seen snow in Afghanistan before. My earlier trips happened in the middle of the summer.