California dreaming in the middle of Kabul

I had more conversations today. One was over lunch, and as the other person had been in Kabul longer I asked her to decide where to meet. Flower Street Cafe she says. Well like anything in Kabul it's an interesting place to find. Most places where expats can go are behind locked doors and gates. So thankfully my driver knew where to go, he points out the gate I need to knock on and a guy with an automatic rifle opens the door. I'm ushered into a kind of waiting area, not outside but not in the cafe either. Another guy is there with a rifle, and another man asks to search my bag. He chats away to me in Dari, and then jokingly says, "no guns inside", I smile back and without trying to make too much eye contact say "no guns", I finally get ushered through another gate into what looks like a view from California hippyville. Turns out its a Californian who owns the restaurant. You get given a menu with salads, brunch, sandwiches, wraps and paninis as well as some tex-mex dishes and can choose what you like. Of course everything as a bit of an Afghan tilt to it, but its like a little slice of peace, albeit being guarded with automatic weapons. This is the case all over Kabul. You drive down a street and see high walls, barbed wire and gates, but behind these are homes, offices, cafes and even bars. It is truly a unique experience.