Eid mubarak - happy holidays!

Our landlord’s wife sent us some interesting homemade sweets with raisins and nuts. It is a local tradition because of the end of Ramadan. I cook a pizza and navigate slowly through the garden – because there is no city power and our garden is without lights – to their door. Our landlord seems to be satisfied with my baking. Actually, he has told me a number of times how much he likes pizza.
Today there is the first day of Eid holidays. There has been the feeling of upcoming holidays for some weeks already. Numerous ladies are shopping because there is a tradition that everyone must have new clothes for Eid. There are some other traditions as well: relatives are visiting each other, a lot of eating and gifts for poor people.
Today I go to ramble around the streets with Viiu, our friend who is working for Swedish Committee fo Afghanistan. She lives in Sweden, but she was born in Estonia. During Second World War many Estonians fled over sea in little boats. Many of those boats wrecked, but 6-month old Viiu survived. Until recently it was our only possibility to talk in Estonian: there are our military forces in Lashkar Gah, but no other civilians. Just one month ago the first Estonian diplomat arrived here, but unfortunately he was sent to the south as well.
Today the city is quiet and peaceful: shops are closed and streets are empty. First time I see that there is no sign of life even in “tourist trap” of Kabul, Chicken Street. Only some dusty carpets hang on a mud brick wall. The families wearing beautiful new clothes pack themselves into cars. Boys are running around, brandishing their new toy guns. Innocent bangs are being heard when boys are testing the maroons.
Eid Mubarak – happy holidays, we say to passing people. Almost all answer politely, too. Only beggars seem to be working hard: it is best time for asking alms.