Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan been for 2 days during my trip across Caucasus and Central Asia in 2015. Been only in Baku, the capital.
So in Tbilisi took overnight train to Baku. Before boarding changed a rest of Georgian money as I was not planing to come back. After a short while we passed Georgian immigration, then Azeri. I was given couple questions about my previous visit to Armenia in this trip as Azerbaijan in state of war with them, but after all passed immigration, got stamped my passport and I entered new country for me - # 64 - Azerbaijan.
So, on 15th day of my trip (02.09) in the morning at 8.a.m local time(1 hour ahead of Georgia) arrived at Baku train station which was under reconstruction at that moment, then withdrew money, had coffee with pahlava and went to the Caspian Hostel in the old town.
It was difficult to find, because it is hidden in the yard on the second floor. It's actually apartment changed as a hostel with double beds and owners living on the same floor. The price was 16 Manats (15 USD). The rate is 1.05 Manat for 1 USD. Had breakfast and went to hang around the city. Been around old town first.
Maiden Tower was the first site to see, then been at the place where ''Briliantova Ruka'' movie scene was shot here Nikulin felt down and broke his arm.
But there is no sign, nothing. The girl from information desk told me where is that.
Then walked along promenade, which is nice and quite long, but the stones are covered with the oil.
Generally, very clean, and posh, all the underground crossing are made of marbles and have escalators and there is nobody selling different stuff like at the other capitals.
Then went on top of the hill by funicular(for free, not like in Tbilisi). Then had a nice view over the city from there.
Then met some group of bank lawyers who had a local guide making a tour around the city and telling a lot of interesting information, so I stuck to them for a while.
Then moved with them to the other object and then went again to the old town, where met one local girl asking me take a pictures for her. She behaved very straingly and reminded me another scene from ''Briliantova Ruka'' movie with the prostitute trying to pick up Nikulin while hanging around the old town.
But at the end in my case, she left and nothing happened. Then had a conversation at the hostel with the one guy from Australia - Karl, who travelling already for 1 year and 5 months by motorbike and some black guy from Sierra-Leone who tried to get student visa to Ukraine and was going next day to Ukrainian embassy to get visa (but not successfully).
When it got dark I went to see 3 Towers show. It was amazing.
Next day (03.09) woke up bit late, had a good sleep and was waken up by newly arrived by train from Tbilisi two Georgian girls - Tina and Teana, 23 years old, who came to see Baku for few days. Then all of us had breakfast and I packed my stuff and went to walk around the old town with them before they were about to meet with their friend from Baku. We seen many other interesting places in the center.
So walked around old town, then around the center and met their friend in the center on the Fountain square, then we met another guy.
Then they decided to pop in to other friend who works in expensive kind of jewelry or gift shop. They had a lot of interesting, but not cheap stuff.
Then they took car and decided to go to the beach and went first to the hostel to get swimming suites and for me to get my backpack. Then we drove across the city center, which is very posh and beautiful and all the way to the beach which is around 30 km north of the city.
Then we had a swim in the Caspian Sea, for the first time for me. The water was clean and calm.
Then I took a taxi to the Heidar Aliev Airport, which is very modern structure. Taxi cost 10 Manat. Then after spending a little while in the airport, boarded my flight to Aktau (117 USD) at 21.00 and arrived there around 22.30 with some delay.
Azerbaijan is a place where all historical monuments are well preserved and are in good shape. But police presence are visible everywhere and sometimes you don’t feel really comfortable while walking around. Country rich thanks to their big gas deposits, but it made Azerbaijan expensive country to travel around.
Nov 2015
So in Tbilisi took overnight train to Baku. Before boarding changed a rest of Georgian money as I was not planing to come back. After a short while we passed Georgian immigration, then Azeri. I was given couple questions about my previous visit to Armenia in this trip as Azerbaijan in state of war with them, but after all passed immigration, got stamped my passport and I entered new country for me - # 64 - Azerbaijan.
So, on 15th day of my trip (02.09) in the morning at 8.a.m local time(1 hour ahead of Georgia) arrived at Baku train station which was under reconstruction at that moment, then withdrew money, had coffee with pahlava and went to the Caspian Hostel in the old town.
It was difficult to find, because it is hidden in the yard on the second floor. It's actually apartment changed as a hostel with double beds and owners living on the same floor. The price was 16 Manats (15 USD). The rate is 1.05 Manat for 1 USD. Had breakfast and went to hang around the city. Been around old town first.
Maiden Tower was the first site to see, then been at the place where ''Briliantova Ruka'' movie scene was shot here Nikulin felt down and broke his arm.
But there is no sign, nothing. The girl from information desk told me where is that.
Then walked along promenade, which is nice and quite long, but the stones are covered with the oil.
Generally, very clean, and posh, all the underground crossing are made of marbles and have escalators and there is nobody selling different stuff like at the other capitals.
Then went on top of the hill by funicular(for free, not like in Tbilisi). Then had a nice view over the city from there.
Then met some group of bank lawyers who had a local guide making a tour around the city and telling a lot of interesting information, so I stuck to them for a while.
Then moved with them to the other object and then went again to the old town, where met one local girl asking me take a pictures for her. She behaved very straingly and reminded me another scene from ''Briliantova Ruka'' movie with the prostitute trying to pick up Nikulin while hanging around the old town.
But at the end in my case, she left and nothing happened. Then had a conversation at the hostel with the one guy from Australia - Karl, who travelling already for 1 year and 5 months by motorbike and some black guy from Sierra-Leone who tried to get student visa to Ukraine and was going next day to Ukrainian embassy to get visa (but not successfully).
When it got dark I went to see 3 Towers show. It was amazing.
Next day (03.09) woke up bit late, had a good sleep and was waken up by newly arrived by train from Tbilisi two Georgian girls - Tina and Teana, 23 years old, who came to see Baku for few days. Then all of us had breakfast and I packed my stuff and went to walk around the old town with them before they were about to meet with their friend from Baku. We seen many other interesting places in the center.
So walked around old town, then around the center and met their friend in the center on the Fountain square, then we met another guy.
Then they decided to pop in to other friend who works in expensive kind of jewelry or gift shop. They had a lot of interesting, but not cheap stuff.
Then they took car and decided to go to the beach and went first to the hostel to get swimming suites and for me to get my backpack. Then we drove across the city center, which is very posh and beautiful and all the way to the beach which is around 30 km north of the city.
Then we had a swim in the Caspian Sea, for the first time for me. The water was clean and calm.
Then I took a taxi to the Heidar Aliev Airport, which is very modern structure. Taxi cost 10 Manat. Then after spending a little while in the airport, boarded my flight to Aktau (117 USD) at 21.00 and arrived there around 22.30 with some delay.
Azerbaijan is a place where all historical monuments are well preserved and are in good shape. But police presence are visible everywhere and sometimes you don’t feel really comfortable while walking around. Country rich thanks to their big gas deposits, but it made Azerbaijan expensive country to travel around.
Click to viewNov 2015