Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
I just stopped in to say, @Hi@. I will begin the return trip tomorrow. 
Hello from Afghanistan
- Thread starter Nelson Atwell
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Bob McDonald
Well-Known Member
Have you by any chance kept a count of all the countries you have visited since your posting to Poland? You sure seem to be getting to a lot of places.
Shaun Tucker
Well-Known Member
How is it over there Nelson? I heard that place is a sh!t hole from a returning vet. Those guys have some pretty grusome stories.
David Griffith 2
Well-Known Member
Glad to hear you're doing well Nelson.
Alex Marchenko
Member
Yeah, not much changed there for last 500 years or so. Here's some recollections of soviet Afghan war veteran:
<a href="http://artofwar.ru/w/woronin_a_j/dookh.shtml"> http://artofwar.ru/w/woronin_a_j/dookh.shtml</a>
A few american vets that read it, found oh so many similarities between realities of that war and current.
<a href="http://artofwar.ru/w/woronin_a_j/dookh.shtml"> http://artofwar.ru/w/woronin_a_j/dookh.shtml</a>
A few american vets that read it, found oh so many similarities between realities of that war and current.
Bud Williams
Well-Known Member
As Ensign Pulver would say...
"Be Careful, buddy boy"
"Be Careful, buddy boy"
EddieS'04
In Memoriam 1950-2022
Hello, hope your well and stay safe..
Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
Ok. I am back home in Poland. Shaun T., your friend is pretty much on the mark. I only saw the base, but it may as well be Mars, because there is almost no vegetation there where I was. The dirt is like talcum powder, and the slightest breeze picks up the dust and makes it miserable. My allergies started going crazy the last day. I will be better prepared the next trip.
There were few Americans there and most of them were USAF. I spent almost all my time with the NATO troops that went with me and the Canadians and Brits that worked in the office I visited. I flew into Kandahar with the Canadians, and received my gear (including helmet and flak jacket) from them. I returned home with the Dutch. They had a really cool reception last night in Eindhoven, with Santa, small children singing a Christmas song, and roses and a gift for all the Dutch soldiers returning home. It was St Nicholas Day and all the press was there for them.
I added some libraries of photos to my website if you are interested in seeing.
<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/NelsonOKC/20081202PhotosFromKandaharDec08#"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_AqRxwS0tgJg/STq3xw9W_EE/AAAAAAAALbQ/eI6ty22asJk/s160-c/20081202PhotosFromKandaharDec08.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/NelsonOKC/20081202PhotosFromKandaharDec08#" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">2008-12-02 Photos from Kandahar (Dec '08)</a></td></tr></table>
There were few Americans there and most of them were USAF. I spent almost all my time with the NATO troops that went with me and the Canadians and Brits that worked in the office I visited. I flew into Kandahar with the Canadians, and received my gear (including helmet and flak jacket) from them. I returned home with the Dutch. They had a really cool reception last night in Eindhoven, with Santa, small children singing a Christmas song, and roses and a gift for all the Dutch soldiers returning home. It was St Nicholas Day and all the press was there for them.
I added some libraries of photos to my website if you are interested in seeing.
<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/NelsonOKC/20081202PhotosFromKandaharDec08#"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_AqRxwS0tgJg/STq3xw9W_EE/AAAAAAAALbQ/eI6ty22asJk/s160-c/20081202PhotosFromKandaharDec08.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/NelsonOKC/20081202PhotosFromKandaharDec08#" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">2008-12-02 Photos from Kandahar (Dec '08)</a></td></tr></table>
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Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
Uncle Bob,
Since arriving in Jan 2007, here is the list of places I have been:
Latina and Rome, Italy
Vatican City
London, England
Prague, Czech Republic
Bratislava, Slovakia
Vienna, Austria
Budapest, Hungary
Numerous Places in Germany and Poland
Vilnius, Lithuania
Stavanger, Norway
Luxembourg
Dubai, UAE
Kandahar, Afghanistan
I didn't count places where I only saw the inside of the airport. If I did that, the list would be twice as long.
My daughter and I will go to Dublin, Ireland during the holidays. She chose the place, and we will ring in the new year together there.
Shaun Tucker
Well-Known Member
NelsonOKC thanks for the pics!
Nice to see those guys have a rink on base over there. :lol:
the maple leaf is plastered all over it!
Nice to see those guys have a rink on base over there. :lol:
the maple leaf is plastered all over it!
Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
shaun ,
Di you notice the guys enjoying Tim Horton's coffee. It is a favourite at Kandahar.
Di you notice the guys enjoying Tim Horton's coffee. It is a favourite at Kandahar.
Shaun Tucker
Well-Known Member
NelsonOKC,
I didn't, but on second pass I sure as heck noticed those cups.
I guess its become second-nature for me now, as Tim Horton's is about as common as the snow up here. I just kind of pass-over the logo on first glances now.
Again, thanks for sharing your pics
I didn't, but on second pass I sure as heck noticed those cups.
I guess its become second-nature for me now, as Tim Horton's is about as common as the snow up here. I just kind of pass-over the logo on first glances now.
Again, thanks for sharing your pics
JerryW Gilliland
Well-Known Member
Hey Nelson, Loved the pics but I have two questions:
What is the significance of the Tim Horton coffee?
What kind of trucks are those in the Housing pics? They're white.
What is the significance of the Tim Horton coffee?
What kind of trucks are those in the Housing pics? They're white.
Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
Jerry G,
Tim Horton's is what I'd call the "Starbucks of Canada". However, the comparison is bad, since to me Starbucks is toilet water...I never liked their burned and bitter coffee. Tim Horton's coffee is some of the best I ever tasted, and I have drank coffee all over the World.
The pickups are all Toyotas. I don't remeber the model, but that model is very popular overseas. I saw no Fords there.
Tim Horton's is what I'd call the "Starbucks of Canada". However, the comparison is bad, since to me Starbucks is toilet water...I never liked their burned and bitter coffee. Tim Horton's coffee is some of the best I ever tasted, and I have drank coffee all over the World.
The pickups are all Toyotas. I don't remeber the model, but that model is very popular overseas. I saw no Fords there.
Shaun Tucker
Well-Known Member
NelsonOKC,
Agreed. Tim Horton's is just about the best coffee one can find up here. There was a rumor a while back that they were putting crack (or some sort of equivalent) in the coffee to get people addicted to it. :lol:
Starbucks has become increasingly popular here recently, but tends to cater to the "well off" crowd. Come Saturday morning all the prissy girls, with their hideous UGG boots and bleached blonde hair and their douche-bag boyfriends clog up the lines of starbucks for a "venti caramel machiato." Not my scene in the least.
Tim Horton's caters more to the blue-collar crowd. You dont have to re-mortgage your house to get a large coffee. And you can say "Large Coffee" and they dont ask you to rephrase it using their stupid sizing terms. "grande, venti, etc"
Agreed. Tim Horton's is just about the best coffee one can find up here. There was a rumor a while back that they were putting crack (or some sort of equivalent) in the coffee to get people addicted to it. :lol:
Starbucks has become increasingly popular here recently, but tends to cater to the "well off" crowd. Come Saturday morning all the prissy girls, with their hideous UGG boots and bleached blonde hair and their douche-bag boyfriends clog up the lines of starbucks for a "venti caramel machiato." Not my scene in the least.
Tim Horton's caters more to the blue-collar crowd. You dont have to re-mortgage your house to get a large coffee. And you can say "Large Coffee" and they dont ask you to rephrase it using their stupid sizing terms. "grande, venti, etc"
Nelson Atwell
Well-Known Member
shaun t.,
Yeah, there is always a line at Tim Horton's in Kandahar. The coffee is cheap...just $1.50 for a large french vanilla coffee. An iced capuccino was $3.50. Pretty awesome I think, and the donuts and chocolate chip cookies were great! I am glad they don't have one here, otherwise I would be fatter than I am.
Starbucks is more image, than substance...just like the people that frequent them.
Yeah, there is always a line at Tim Horton's in Kandahar. The coffee is cheap...just $1.50 for a large french vanilla coffee. An iced capuccino was $3.50. Pretty awesome I think, and the donuts and chocolate chip cookies were great! I am glad they don't have one here, otherwise I would be fatter than I am.
Starbucks is more image, than substance...just like the people that frequent them.
