Baku, Azerbaijan (Mon 28th April)

I'll cut to the quick. Each of the daily blogs will be shorter and more factual than my usual ramblings. I'm writing these about 10 days after the event using my barely legible notes. In fact, this one is being written in Utrecht. If it seems a bit a dry, it's because I've not tried any of the local herbal cigarettes!

Anyway, back to Baku (sounds like a song title!). Today my tour starts in earnest. A late afternoon "welcome meeting", where I meet the rest of our group, and Tour Leader. Cate asked me if I find this somewhat nerve-wracking. Put simply, "no I don't". If, in the unlikely event, I find everyone not to my liking I'll just keep myself to myself. I'm not here to make friends for life, but if I do, well that's great.

all the highlights from room 306..............


A kettle that doubles as a strike bomber!


Purely medicinal to help me sleep


Pretty blooming tidy!


Executive luncheon for one (from Spar)

With the welcome meeting set for 17.30, I've got the best part of an entire day to kill, plus a chance to catch up on the lost sleep from the overnight flight. The day starts well - I wake up at about 10am, having slept for ten hours - that is a very rare event indeed. There's a slight downward turn as I can't seem to get any hot water in the shower, and the TV doesn't work. Admittedly, I only ran the water for about 2 minutes. And after all, if I was meant to have patience I'd have been a Doctor! (not that I have the brains!)

With both issues duly reported to reception I set out on my strut around Baku. My initial target was to get over to the Flame Towers, and go up to the viewing platform. As per the previous evening, the wind was absolutely howling - really seriously blowing. I later learned that Baku is known as "the city of winds". And boy, does it deserve it! Whilst in the territory of technical stuff, you may wish to know that Baku is the "lowest capital city in the world" at 92 feet below sea level.

 

Weird stuff outside a restaurant


Approaching the Flame Towers

I got to the Flame towers in about 20 minutes, and did a circumnavigation to try and find the entrance to the viewing platform. Nowt! Oh well, I wasn't sure I wanted to be up that high in this gale in any case. I just wandered around the nearby Martyrs Park, and took in the excellent views down over Baku. There was also a a nice Mosque tucked almost underneath the Towers. It certainly made for some contrasting photos.

 

 





I walked down the steps and headed for the Old Town. As I descended I reflected on how it must have been for the Race Across The World contestants who, for the most part, ran up them carrying backpacks. For one pair of contestants it was to be worthless, as they were eliminated for being last to reach the checkpoint at the Towers. Poor sods!

 


It didn't take too long to reach the Old Town. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much; maybe a couple of Mosques and a load of old Soviet style monstrosities. How wrong was I! It really was a genuinely old part of the city - significantly pre-dating the Soviet era. With narrow streets, City Walls, Caravanserai's, Mosques and a Palace, it had the lot. Highlights were the Juma Mosque, Maiden Tower, Double Gates and the Baylar Mosque. It had a really nice chilled vibe. I even managed to find some post cards, which rendered my previous day's venture to the Post Office worthwhile. (The only place I saw cards in my 6 days in Azerbaijan).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




On my return to the hotel I was informed that my water was fine - I just needed to give it time to allow the hot water to run through. Oh, and the TV was fine too. Well I did eventually get hot water, but I didn't expect to have to wait around for 10 minutes in my birthday suit for it. As for the TV, bloody marvelous! Programmes from around the globe, even San frigging Marino, but nothing in English. I therefore took in some new on Iranian TV, followed by live action from the Saudi Premier League, featuring ex-Fulham Alexander Mitrovic, who was not "on fire".


I already wanted to go to Iran, but the quality of their TV entices me even more

Fully buffed up and replete I headed for the Welcome meeting which went off without incident. Here's the all-star line up (the ages are complete guesswork and probably have no bearing to the person's real age!):-

Tour Leader - Giorgi (A Georgian)

Daria - Australia, Melbourne (where Intrepid Travel was founded) (c40)

Laine - Melbourne (c71)

Al - daughter of Laine (above), Melbourne (mid 30's?)

Mark - Sydney, Australia. Retired Military man (c lates 60's)

Sharon - wife of Mark (above), Sydney. Just finished doing the "5 Stan's tour"

Robin - a lady currently living in Ohio, USA (c50)

Keith - a Brit (c69 years old) who had been resident in Thailand for over a decade

Greg - a New Zealander taking 6 months out from work (c50)

Alyssa - a Canadian (early 30's?) Quit her job way up north in the Arctic, to go on tour

Mel - Another Kiwi, but travelling on a UK passport. Lived and worked in London for c 20 years. (looked c35, but must have been older to have worked for 20 years!)

Robert - Polish, but lived in Vienna. Ran "high end events" and travelled extensively as a result (mid 40's0

Me - Brit aged 21. Ex civil-servant who collects paper clips, and used tissues

Later we headed out for the first meal together. This took place within the walls of the Old City, so we got to have a walk about to see what it looked like after dark. Rather fine, I might add. More importantly, we got to see the Flame Towers in all their glory - with spectacular illuminations. And that was it. We'd got lift off!


 







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