Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan and the largest in the Caucasus, has plenty of money from the oil boom, certainly you would need plenty of money to live here what with all the designer shops and prices of food etc. Oh, how I would have loved to go shopping, getting a little tired of the same old trekking gear, just to be able to wear a dress and shoes again!
Had a manic taxi ride from the port, Mercedes and Ladas compete for space on the road, traffic cops trying to keep some order here. Outside of the city though it is entirely different as you drive through villages, you only see Ladas, men hanging round the streets, our taxi driver in Sheki told one woman to get out of the taxi in the rain so he could take our fare!
Walking along the promenade, courting couples on the benches, gazing out across the Caspian and them inland to views of the TV tower, the flames buildings (apparently will be a hotel), the modern buildings mixed in with the old Russian buildings, restaurants, bars, internet cafes galore and getting a decent cup of coffee for a change, this is certainly a cosmopolitan city.
A little tired of touristy but still the old city had to be seen, the Shirvanshah's Palace was interesting with it's own mosque, minaret and mausoleums. Maybe a bath at the old hamman or then again maybe I won't!
There's lots of restoration work going on which meant some of the other main sights of the old city were not so easy to view including the maiden tower and Quadrangular Tower.
There was a miniature books museum I would have loved to browse but unfortunately it shuts on Thursdays.
Reunited with Simon and our truck we set off to bush camp near Qobustan, our camp spot was just down the hill from the mud volcanoes which were bubbling, gurgling and one even had flatulence! Quite dramatic scenery!
Our route along the way took us past the 'James Bond Oil Fields' which featured in the opening scene of 'The World is Not Enough'.
Driving NW, the landscape really is quite drab and flat, a smattering of green fields. On the lower slopes of the 'Lesser Caucasus' mountains an oil pipeline runs along the length, the railway line on the other side of the road.
A little while later a glimpse of them in the far far distance.
We arrived at Sheki where our hotel was a converted Caravanserai.
The main site to see is the 18th century Khan's Palace, restored in parts particularly the sash stained glass windows which open onto balconies, the ladies' room to one side, the lords' to the other with guests in the centre.
Elaborate decoration on all the walls and ceilings, unfortunately no internal photographs allowed!
It is now 11th November and we head for the border crossing to Georgia, the scenery is very green and lots of trees, buffalo, cattle and sheep in the fields.
Had a manic taxi ride from the port, Mercedes and Ladas compete for space on the road, traffic cops trying to keep some order here. Outside of the city though it is entirely different as you drive through villages, you only see Ladas, men hanging round the streets, our taxi driver in Sheki told one woman to get out of the taxi in the rain so he could take our fare!
A little tired of touristy but still the old city had to be seen, the Shirvanshah's Palace was interesting with it's own mosque, minaret and mausoleums. Maybe a bath at the old hamman or then again maybe I won't! There's lots of restoration work going on which meant some of the other main sights of the old city were not so easy to view including the maiden tower and Quadrangular Tower.
There was a miniature books museum I would have loved to browse but unfortunately it shuts on Thursdays.
Reunited with Simon and our truck we set off to bush camp near Qobustan, our camp spot was just down the hill from the mud volcanoes which were bubbling, gurgling and one even had flatulence! Quite dramatic scenery!Our route along the way took us past the 'James Bond Oil Fields' which featured in the opening scene of 'The World is Not Enough'.
Where are the 'Greater Caucasus mountains?
We arrived at Sheki where our hotel was a converted Caravanserai.
The main site to see is the 18th century Khan's Palace, restored in parts particularly the sash stained glass windows which open onto balconies, the ladies' room to one side, the lords' to the other with guests in the centre.
Elaborate decoration on all the walls and ceilings, unfortunately no internal photographs allowed!
It is now 11th November and we head for the border crossing to Georgia, the scenery is very green and lots of trees, buffalo, cattle and sheep in the fields.
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