Baku, Azerbaycan ( Travel )

Baku, Azerbaycan is a beautiful country with a new hope.  I didn't know where I was going when I agreed to go with Terry on this business trip.  It wasn't until we were at the trade show, when I saw a map, did I really have a concept of our location.  This country is rich in natural resources.  Actually, the first oil well in the world was drilled here in 1946.  Coming under Russian rule in 1920 these resources were virtually untapped to the fullest potential.  In 1991, they regained their independence and along with it a new hope for their country and it's people.

Mixing the traditional with the modern, construction in this city of 5,000,000, is organized and tasteful.  Keeping the flavor of the culture and bringing in the new modern look.  The country is on the shore of the Caspian Sea.  A salt water "lake" of sorts, rich in oil.  The symbol of the country are "flames"so the project of building this complex with shopping, hotels and offices is the pride and joy of the citizens.

This is an example of one of the little shops in the "old city" area.  Much of the original interior wall still stands.  It really does look like what you would see in the movies. 

 This is a pier that we could see from a restaurant roof.  The gentleman we were with said that he had been down to this area.  The grey ships in the center left area are the Navel Ships.  The funny thing about these ships is they never move and only the side you see (from this angle) is painted.  

While we were walking after dinner, we walked into an area where this old fashioned "Merry-Go-Round" was working.  I couldn't resist the shot of the hot air balloon.  The pedestrian areas are wonderful and families come and enjoy the evenings together.  You see children with there toys ("go goes" as Shana would have called it) and roller blades.  What really struck me was the families were together, no matter what age.  Even though the statics say this is a highly muslim population, there was no call or huge mosques and very few women were covered.  I felt safe and very comfortable even on dimly lit streets.  One thing I did notice -- the young men were into "Fashion Horns" on their cars.  They would actually play stanzas of songs that I could recognize.  

I do look forward to going back and watching the progress of the "city plan" they expect to have finished in 2016.  A huge project which they have quite a huge start on.  

Thanks for stopping by --