Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009
Stroll Along Kabul's Great Wall
Legend has it that a 6th century Afghan king was so worried about the security of his city, Kabul, that he forced all his male subjects to build a wall on the hilltops surrounding the town. Those that were too lazy, tired or sick to work would be buried in the wall's foundations. The peasants eventually revolted, killing the king and burying his remains along with the commoners he persecuted. These days Afghanistan's capital has spilled far beyond the old wall's perimeter, but a hike along its heights is still one of the best ways to see the city. And unlike 1,500 years ago, taking a rest among the ramparts is encouraged, not punished.
— By Aryn Baker