First time traveling with a travbuddy.
May 25, 2008
I have met several people from this site, but today was the first time i actually traveled with one. I met Eric aka sergionegro a few weeks ago. He is in Baku working with journalists. We met for some drinks...well, i drank a few beers, he did not...and talked. A few days ago he sent me a message and asked if i wanted to get out of town for a day trip. I had Sunday free for the first time in a long time and thought "Why not?" Baku has been very nice with warm weather and blue skies. Plus, my time here is coming to an end so i need to get out and see more of this country while i can.
We met at 10:30 at the Nizami statue close to fountain Square. Eric being almost fluent in russian was able to get a cab driver for us at a decent price. We headed off to Absheron Pennisula. Absheron is the area right outside of Baku that is home to most of the oil dwelling going on here. If you listen to some of the people here and i am not talking about those in powerful positions or doing adminstrative work but the working class stiff in the area, you will find a lot of resentment towards oil companies. Many came, got their oil , made their money and left a mess behind. Some of the land masses here are virtual graveyards with motionless oil wells as tombstones. It is easy to see how the locals resent the oil companies as there are very few local people if any who are getting rich off of the oil which they are living on top of. In fact, most of the local people in the area live in areas that would not be considered adequate for even the poorest of the poor in the Western world.
We hit a few of the must see sights in the areas. (see my reviews) Afterwards, Eric, the driver and i went for a traditional Azeri dinner in a traditional Azeri diner with our own room. It was interesting as Eric was asking the driver many questions in Russian and translating them to me. In the mid afternoon we return to Baku.
Overall, i had a good time talking and traveling with Eric even if it was only a day trip, but I might not have had the chance to see the places we saw if he had not called me and asked me to go.
We met at 10:30 at the Nizami statue close to fountain Square. Eric being almost fluent in russian was able to get a cab driver for us at a decent price. We headed off to Absheron Pennisula. Absheron is the area right outside of Baku that is home to most of the oil dwelling going on here. If you listen to some of the people here and i am not talking about those in powerful positions or doing adminstrative work but the working class stiff in the area, you will find a lot of resentment towards oil companies. Many came, got their oil , made their money and left a mess behind. Some of the land masses here are virtual graveyards with motionless oil wells as tombstones. It is easy to see how the locals resent the oil companies as there are very few local people if any who are getting rich off of the oil which they are living on top of. In fact, most of the local people in the area live in areas that would not be considered adequate for even the poorest of the poor in the Western world.
We hit a few of the must see sights in the areas. (see my reviews) Afterwards, Eric, the driver and i went for a traditional Azeri dinner in a traditional Azeri diner with our own room. It was interesting as Eric was asking the driver many questions in Russian and translating them to me. In the mid afternoon we return to Baku.
Overall, i had a good time talking and traveling with Eric even if it was only a day trip, but I might not have had the chance to see the places we saw if he had not called me and asked me to go.
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An Eternal Flame? Yanar Dag
In 1958, seeping subterranean gases were accidentally caught on fire and continued to burn day and night. Fifty years later and the fire still burns.
When Eric and I headed out to Yanar Dag, I had Metallica's Jump in the Fire and the Bangles' "Eternal Flame" playing in my head. Needless to say my head is a weird place to be. Still, i was looking forward to seeing this place. Our driver missed where it was but turning around we soon found it. It is not clearly marked. Most guide books talk about how the eternally burning flames are behind the Yanar Dag Tea House, but the tea house is no longer open. Actually it looks like the teahouse might have caught on fire ironically.
Upon first seeing the flames, there is a truly surreal feeling. There are just these flames burning on a side of a hill. They are not spreading they merely are. in fact these flames have been on the Earth longer than I have.
On the other hand, I had to resist the urge to do my best Beavis imitation and start screaming, "FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!"
There are some steps to side that allow for a decent view of the surrounding Absheron Peninsula. I would like to return here in the late evening sometime as i think that it would be a little freaky with the quiet surroundings and also when it is raining.
While Yanar Dag is not a reason in and of itself to visit Azerbaijan, if you are already here it is worth the short trip from Baku to visit it if you are exploring Absheron.
When Eric and I headed out to Yanar Dag, I had Metallica's Jump in the Fire and the Bangles' "Eternal Flame" playing in my head. Needless to say my head is a weird place to be. Still, i was looking forward to seeing this place. Our driver missed where it was but turning around we soon found it. It is not clearly marked. Most guide books talk about how the eternally burning flames are behind the Yanar Dag Tea House, but the tea house is no longer open. Actually it looks like the teahouse might have caught on fire ironically.
Upon first seeing the flames, there is a truly surreal feeling. There are just these flames burning on a side of a hill. They are not spreading they merely are. in fact these flames have been on the Earth longer than I have.
On the other hand, I had to resist the urge to do my best Beavis imitation and start screaming, "FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!"
There are some steps to side that allow for a decent view of the surrounding Absheron Peninsula. I would like to return here in the late evening sometime as i think that it would be a little freaky with the quiet surroundings and also when it is raining.
While Yanar Dag is not a reason in and of itself to visit Azerbaijan, if you are already here it is worth the short trip from Baku to visit it if you are exploring Absheron.
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