Last week I visited Azerbaijan. This country is situated on the western part of Caspian sea, south of the border with Russia. Northern part of Azerbaijan is surrounded by Caucasus, and the capital - Baku, located on Absheron peninsula, surrounded by Caspian sea on three sides. Southern part of Azerbaijan borders with Iran.
It wasn’t my first time in this country - I have often been there before, as it’s the birthplace of my father. Unfortunately, I had only 4 days at this time in Azerbaijan - I think, it’s a very short time to explore this wonderful country, and I visited only few places: Baku and southern part of Azerbaijan.
Baku
This city is one of the most unusual places where have I ever been. As the capital of the oil producing country, Baku dynamically developing. You can think, that you have studied this city well, but if you’ll come in Baku next year, you can not recognize it, as every year a lot of new parks, buildings and roads are build. Meanwhile, Baku preserves historical heritage and national traditions of Azerbaijan. I like this contrast, when after walking of the streets of Baku, that look like the streets in European cities, I can get to typically eastern district. One of the best places in Baku is Boulevard near the sea cost. It’s stretches for several kilometers along the seashore. Here you can see some exotical plants and a lot of palms - during the grey and gloomy winter it’s good relaxation. In December it’s look like the middle of autumn in Russia. After walking on Boulevard, you can go to Ichery Shaher, or Historical town. Active trade takes place on the narrow streets of this area, and the buildings are still populated. Also there are a lot of restaurants in historical part of Baku, many famous Soviet films were filmed here. You can also visit the gallery of Ali Shamsi - famous Azerbaijani artist and buy one of his paintings.
Lenkaran and Astara districts
Towns of Lenkaran and Astara are located in the southern part of Azerbaijan, near Iranian border. Astara town is divided into two parts by border with Iran. This area is famous for it’s nature: Talysh mountains are come close to Caspian sea and form wet suptropical climate with green forests and a lot of rivers and waterfalls. For last year Lenkaran is actively developing like sea resort. Also, thist part of Azerbaijan is famous for the world longest life span: Shirali Muslimov, who died at the age of 168 years, lived in Talysh mountains. And today there are many peoples, who reached 100 or more years old, living in this area.
Azerbaijani cousine
It’s impossible to imagine Azerbaijan without it’s cousine. If you visit somebody here, you will never be hungry. Lamb cebab, dolma, ayran and bozbash are only a few dishes, that you can enjoy there. Also there are a lot of fruits, that are growths in warm Azerbaijani climate. As for me, my favorite fruit is pomegranate: I like eat it, drink a juice with it. Even you can drink wonderful pomegranate vine in Azerbaijan. Another part of Azerbaijani culture is tea drinking: Azerbaijanis can drink it for several hours! Tea drinking looks like a serious ceremony. My favorite places for drink tea in Azerbaijan are teahouses, or Chaikhanas on the Boulevard in Baku, where you can drink tea with sweet pakhlava - Azerbaijany dessert, which is made by milled clove, cardamon, hazelnut and saffron.
Generally, Azerbaijan can conquer everybody. I think, it’s the country, that necessairy must be visited. As the locals told me, the most interesting places in Azerbaijan are in the northwest of the country: towns of Shaki, Gakh and Gabala, and the best months for visiting are April, May, September and October, when the Sun is bright, wheather is warm but not so hot like in the Summer. I had never been there, despite the fact, that I regullary visit this country: most of all I get there in winter, before and after the New Year, and haven’t enough time to go out of Baku. But I hope I’ll explore new parts of Azerbaijan soon.