26 and 27 May - Baku (Azerbaijan)

It took about 90 minutes to travel from the mud volcanoes to Baku with the evidence of the oil industry getting more obvious as we neared Baku. There were miles of above ground pipework of all sizes and the installation of underground pipework to be seen everywhere. Nearing Baku there were building yards for oil rigs and repair yards for ships and engines. On arrival in Baku we went straight to the Empire Hotel, Helen and Rogan went to the port to see if we could get on a ferry to Turkmenistan while we were told to be back at the hotel at 4pm to find out if there was a ferry available and what was to happen. In the event no ferry was available until the following day (maybe) so we had a night in the hotel, go exploring (and time to do some washing).

Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and is 28 metres below sea level making it the lowest capital city in the world. No-wonder the promenade has a substantial sea wall. There were many very expensive shops here (not counting Debenhams); high quality and cars; lots of new building and signs indicating that they will be new cities; kerb stones either of polished stone or marble; road underpasses in marble and escalators; very clean everywhere; a very prosperous place indeed.

Old Baku (1861)

I hotfooted it down to Old Baku Town where there was the Maiden Tower and restored old houses and the old city wall, a really enjoyable few hours to myself. The Maiden Tower was part of the city walls built in the 12th century though the foundations date back to the 4th to 6th centuries, the building having Persian, Arabic and Ottoman influence in the decorations. The tower was supposed to have been named after the sister or daughter of the King of Baku who was imprisoned there by a relative and jumped to her death into the sea below. Or it could have been named because it had never been taken by force and thus the reference to ‘virgin’ and then ‘maiden.’   

Views of the Old City

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Maiden Tower

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Baths

Top of the mosque minaret

Old City wall

Tree trimming

Near Baku

Ferris wheel

Baku

See the pretend tree with the cameras

We find them everywhere

Baku Old Town

Promenade

New buildings

Ian was stopped by the police when taking photos of buildings (no-one knew that we could not do this) and they checked what was in his camera when he was told to delete certain photos. 

We were told not to leave the hotel in the morning until we heard from Helen as there was a ferry available in the port and they would try to get us on it in the morning, possibly having to move in a hurry if necessary.

Restaurant entrance

Baku (London) taxis

Old street