There was a man, a legend really, in Afghanistan who was killed on September 9th, 2001, by an assassin posing as a photographer from Belgium. This man's name is Massoud, and if you ever go to Afghanistan, his image will be burned into your brain. Ahmed Shah Massoud was an engineering student turned military leader who was responsible for driving the Soviet army out of Afghanistan, earning him the nickname "Lion of Panjshir". There are gigantic posters of him everywhere in Afghanistan. Taxicabs have his photo pasted on their windscreens. To Afghans, especially those who live in the Panjshir valley, this lion is their king.

The Panjshir Valley is famous for its martyr Massoud, but it has other characteristics that make it a an absolutey stunning day trip from Kabul, especially during the autumn weather. We made our way up to the Panjshir on a gorgeous day in October. The sun was shining and the leaves were changing color. The opportunities for photo taking were overlwhelming, and we were stopping every few kilometres to document this stunning landscape.

It was while we were stopped in a photographic stupor, that an old man came hobbling up to us. We immediately thought he was a beggar, looking for some money from the foreigners. But when we motioned to give him some money, he shook his head and beckoned us to come with him. "Angor?" "Angor?" (The Farsi word for grape).

We decided to follow him to his vineyard that he was so adamant aobut sharing with us. We looked up onto the mountain side and saw the lush greenery and decided that picking some plump juicy grapes would satisfy our mid morning hunger.

Once we climbed the hill like mountain goats, we ducked into the small metal door and were immediate surrounded by an abundance of lusciousness. The grapes were dripping off of the vines, and he encouraged us to feast and pick to our heart's content.

After lolling about in the vineyard, feasting like Egyptians, we decided that we should purchase some of these delicious delights, and bring them back to the city with us. Our grape vendor was more than happy to measure out the bunches and send us on our way with a great little story and our bellies full of Afghanistan's finest angor!