We all left Tbilisi today, Mike with a 6.00 am taxi to the group hotel and a bike ride of 160 km, us with a late breakfast at 9.00 am and air conditioned car at 10.00 am. We drove through wine country so I bought some wine for the group and said no thanks to seeing any more churches. We all stayed at the only “hotel” in town, more a guest house. We had the only rooms, which was a bit embarrassing. Our wine was lovely which is more than can be said of the wine Henry was sold. I declined after I realized he had bought the same wine I had just seen the owners of the hotel watering down from their outside tap. Had some great ice cream from the local shop but you had to move the uncovered frozen chickens aside to make your selection.
The border crossing for Mike was very eventful with all sorts of local dignitaries greeting them at the border with singing and dancing girls. Everyone had to listen to welcoming speeches and were given bunches of flowers and local flags. The kids and I followed later and were ushered through quite speedily as we were tourists. The last thing our guide said was “there are no trees in Azerbaijan”.
We met our new guide and travelled through the most beautiful tree lined roads to Seki a lovely village just at the base of the Causaus mountains between two river valleys. We were all staying at the Caravansaray Hotel with was lovely. We enjoyed a great lunch and then went to the garden. Looking up the sky looked very dark and soon the heavens opened and huge rain drops started falling along with claps of thunder in the distance. We had great fun watching the previously empty fountains fill with water and seeing how much rain was cascading off the rood. I then went outside and saw that the road to the hotel was now a river and the cyclists would have to cycle up a steep 2km hill to reach us. We got some great pictures as they arrived. Their version of events was different with Mike saying the rain drops were so big they hurt, the water coming over people’s pedals, the sewers overflowing and dead rats floating past them. We had a great meal laid on by the Tourism Minister at the hotel.
While Mike and the group continued the next day we took a tour of Seki. We went a mere 5 minutes up the road to the most beautiful palace with glorious painting and stained glass that would have been a must see on anyone’s itinerary but such is this type of touring no-one in the group except us saw it. We also saw a local wolf man who had raised a wolf from a puppy. When the wolf died he had him stuffed and visitors charged to see it. The best part was when he fiddled around a bit and the eyes lit up.
We then moved to Qabala and joined Mike and the group, but declined to stay at the hotel on offer at the next stop. It was truly disgusting. Instead we headed to Baku for 3 nights. Mike had a dusty and dry ride in being chased by wild dogs and assauled by mad drivers. The driving is insane..
Baku has 4 million people all sprawled beside the caspian. An oil boom town in from 1870s to 1918 the soviets then got their hands on it and milked it for they could. The boom has started again with a big pipeline just completed to the Med via Georgia and Turkey pumping 1 million barrells a day to supply America etc. The city is 2,000 years old with a wonderful old medival town of castles and mosques and a huge towe, The Madiens Tower from the 6th Century. Then there all the mansions of the first oil boom recreating baroque, georgian god any architecture just as long as it wass impressive, and it is. Then the soviets surronded the old town with ugly concerete and now the current oil boom is putting up skyscrapers and filling the streets with Mercedes and the shops with gucci! The kids left this morning with was so sad to say good bye for 3 months but they seemed to have fun. We are on the ferry tomorrow to Turkmenistan. Lets hope it leaves! 14 hours it is suppose to take. Communications will be tough but the blog will be updated when possibe. Mike is also posting more pictures on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drumearn/collections/72157601008135369/
So check that out.
The border crossing for Mike was very eventful with all sorts of local dignitaries greeting them at the border with singing and dancing girls. Everyone had to listen to welcoming speeches and were given bunches of flowers and local flags. The kids and I followed later and were ushered through quite speedily as we were tourists. The last thing our guide said was “there are no trees in Azerbaijan”.
We met our new guide and travelled through the most beautiful tree lined roads to Seki a lovely village just at the base of the Causaus mountains between two river valleys. We were all staying at the Caravansaray Hotel with was lovely. We enjoyed a great lunch and then went to the garden. Looking up the sky looked very dark and soon the heavens opened and huge rain drops started falling along with claps of thunder in the distance. We had great fun watching the previously empty fountains fill with water and seeing how much rain was cascading off the rood. I then went outside and saw that the road to the hotel was now a river and the cyclists would have to cycle up a steep 2km hill to reach us. We got some great pictures as they arrived. Their version of events was different with Mike saying the rain drops were so big they hurt, the water coming over people’s pedals, the sewers overflowing and dead rats floating past them. We had a great meal laid on by the Tourism Minister at the hotel.
While Mike and the group continued the next day we took a tour of Seki. We went a mere 5 minutes up the road to the most beautiful palace with glorious painting and stained glass that would have been a must see on anyone’s itinerary but such is this type of touring no-one in the group except us saw it. We also saw a local wolf man who had raised a wolf from a puppy. When the wolf died he had him stuffed and visitors charged to see it. The best part was when he fiddled around a bit and the eyes lit up.
We then moved to Qabala and joined Mike and the group, but declined to stay at the hotel on offer at the next stop. It was truly disgusting. Instead we headed to Baku for 3 nights. Mike had a dusty and dry ride in being chased by wild dogs and assauled by mad drivers. The driving is insane..
Baku has 4 million people all sprawled beside the caspian. An oil boom town in from 1870s to 1918 the soviets then got their hands on it and milked it for they could. The boom has started again with a big pipeline just completed to the Med via Georgia and Turkey pumping 1 million barrells a day to supply America etc. The city is 2,000 years old with a wonderful old medival town of castles and mosques and a huge towe, The Madiens Tower from the 6th Century. Then there all the mansions of the first oil boom recreating baroque, georgian god any architecture just as long as it wass impressive, and it is. Then the soviets surronded the old town with ugly concerete and now the current oil boom is putting up skyscrapers and filling the streets with Mercedes and the shops with gucci! The kids left this morning with was so sad to say good bye for 3 months but they seemed to have fun. We are on the ferry tomorrow to Turkmenistan. Lets hope it leaves! 14 hours it is suppose to take. Communications will be tough but the blog will be updated when possibe. Mike is also posting more pictures on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drumearn/collections/72157601008135369/
So check that out.
1 comment:
hi catriona, all hail to you both for enduring the trip. I so admire both of you. Laughed my head off at the bit where you inform a member of your party that it had taken years of marriage before you and Mike discussed your bodily functions! gail
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