Baku, Azerbaijan.. the gem of the Caucasus

What a gem of an airport..
remnant of minaret
Baku is beguiling because of its trading past  as part of the Silk Road, its recent wealth from oil exploration in the Caspian sea, its mixed ancestry of peoples of Turk, Russian, Iranian. It is an Islamic stronghold with both Sunni and Shiite followers living in relative harmony.
Inside Old City, Maiden tower 

main shopping street


Best way to see Baku .. pickup a free tour

My tour guide with the great haircut, is a 27 year old Sunni whose family members are Shiites and apart from doctrinal differences, they all love happily together.

my favourite building... ever !

With so much wealth in the hands of the ruling elite, whose penchant seems to be in real estate development, Baku's skyline is getting crowded with ever more offices and apartments being built. Whether or not the supply tips the demand balance is anyone's guess. Nonetheless, visitors get to enjoy architectural wonders like the Heydar Aliyev Centre by Zaha Hadid and the iconic Flame Towers, inspired by Baku's long history of fire worshipping.

The Landmark hotel where i stayed had a viewing deck on the 19th floor, giving a bird's eye view of Baku and the Caspian sea. Apart from a mist that perpetually hangs over the sea, this is home to sturgeons where we get the delicious caviar from. That said, each time caviar is extracted, the fish dies, which is such a waste of resource. Thankfully, i've been told that there are new methods of extraction, where the fish doesn't have to be sacrificed. Also they are now farmed in a more sustainable way across the USA, Russia and China, supplying most of the caviar in the world.


Aside from caviar, one can eat the world in Baku, ranging from Japanese, Thai and Indian to Georgian. The answer to a thriving trove of restaurants popped when two burly British lads with heavy duty boots and petroleum smeared overalls stepped into the hotel lobby. Yes, the oil and gas workers need their rest and recreation too!

incredible food at Firuze restaurant
Sylvia... the cat
Some of the best buys are carpets and tea infusions. Make a beeline along the esplanade and end up at the Carpet Museum, it will fire your imagination with its intricate weaves, colors and designs.

As a city, Baku city is compact, ancient and modern all in the same breath. The old walled city, with its UNESCO recognition, still stands and attracts tourists, but is slowly being encroached by new buildings.

Sylvia, the cat still lives in the old city, but the last time I saw her, she looked quite ragged. I think age is creeping up on her.  Hmmm.. hurry up and visit her soon !

play with props at Firuze restaurant

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