Trolling Around Town

Today was our first real chance to go out and explore. We decided to head out from the office and walk through the area known as the "Old City" down by the Caspian Sea. This is a beautiful area filled with tiny cobble stone streets and amazing architecture. Being out among the locals reiterated the fact that while Baku is very different in some regards, people in general are the same. The locals were out doing the same activities you would find families anywhere in the U.S. doing.

One of the most prominent landmarks near the shore in the Old City is the Maiden Tower. The story behind the tower is somewhat unclear but it was supposedly built in the 12th or 13th century. The cool thing about the tower is that you're able to climb to the top of it and get a great view of the rest of the city. One thing to note here is there are a lot stairs to climb and the individuals that built it weren't very tall. This resulted in me being hunched over for most of the ascent and descent. I still had a great time.

Sampling the Local Grub

I finished my first full day of work on about 4 hours of sleep over the last two days and I'm still not tired. I don't know what's keeping me moving but, I'm going to use that energy while it lasts. One of the first things I noticed while we were driving around town was that even though this is a predominantly Muslim country the people here seem very liberal. They dress and interact in a manner very similar to the way we do. I was a little apprehensive about what I would encounter during my stay here due to my preconceived notions of Muslim society. However, those notions have been washed away and I already feel very comfortable here. Well, as comfortable as a giant western can feel in any foreign country.

After Dr. Blackburn and I returned to the hotel we decided to explore a little and see if we could find a local place to eat. We asked for directions to a restaurant in walking distance and ended up getting a little turned around. I think that part of the fun in exploring new places is getting lost, just a little, because often you will find hidden gems that you may have otherwise passed by. Regardless we found the restaurant which was a small wooden building built along a quite neighborhood street away from the busy thoroughfare.
While their culture and ours may have some similarities the found is rather different. We opened the menu to find a vast assortment of selections, so many that we asked our waiter to assist in the selection. In the end we decided on the cow tail, ostrich, and assorted meat platter. The assorted meat platter consisted of what I think was cube steak, kidneys, and liver mixed in with some potatoes. The platter was served on an enormous sizzling wok with hot coals underneath it to keep it warm. It was quite impressive. We also order an assorted cheese plate with bread and some fresh vegetables. Everything was excellent, even the cow tail, with my least favorite being the liver. I'm not sure what animal the liver or kidneys came from, since they were fairly small, nor do I want to know. The ambiance was supplemented by some live music and I could have easily spent a day sitting, relaxing, drinking some of the local brew.

No Rest for the Weary

I first arrived in Baku around 2 a.m. local time, after about 20 hours of trave,l and I really wasn't even the least bit tired. Admidditely I was pretty nervous making my way through customs and this alone probably started enough adrenaline pumping through my veins to keep me up for days. However, my fears subsided considerably once I met my driver whom was very friendly and we made our way to the car. We were met outside by a steady down pour of rain and I held out hope that it would not continue to rain the rest of the week. The drive from the airport to the hotel was fairly long, although being pitch black outside and coupled with the rain it was hard to make out any distinguishable features on the landscape. From what I did see though I could tell that I would be in for treat. The architecture of the few buildings that I could make out was amazing and truly unique.

When we finally reached the hotel it was fast approaching 3 a.m. The hotel from just the appearance of the lobby was already by far the nicest I have ever stepped foot in. After check in I was met by Dr. Blackburn whose youthful exuberance at three in the morning I found amazing and was only overshadowed by my own. He enthusiastically informed me to be up and ready to roll at 7 a.m., a mere four hours away. The concierge showed me to my room and was kind enough to provide a full demonstration on the use of the bidet. Needless to say there was a big a tip waiting for him at the end of that demonstration.