Stopped at a roadblock because of hair conditioner

Driving in from the airport to the city we are stopped at a barrier. Police are everywhere, because legislative elections are scheduled for tomorrow 5/17 and today bombs went off in two places killing a policemen and injuring others. Bombs on April 11 – note the date which is supposed to be an echo – went off of in the prime ministers’ office – killing 23 people and injuring 160.

People here say this was their first suicide bombing. Even during the Algerian war for independence from France, being shot at was a danger but not the guy next to you blowing up himself and you.

Gas deliveries to stations were halted for two days before the election, according to one reporter working on the elections, out of fear of explosions.

Do you have any cosmetics, they wanted to know of us. “Of course, she is a woman,” said Don, but he spoke in English, even though he knows French because he knows the police don’t like dealing with foreigners.