City of winds: a guide to Baku from local residents. Windy city: a guide to Baku from local residents Baku windy city why

Before my trip to Baku, I got acquainted with a dozen different reviews from different years: both good content and not very good. Someone admired the city and dreamed of returning there again and again, someone scolded the city for the garbage on the streets, while remembering politicians and all social problems at the same time. Personally, my attitude is this: do not wait and hope that you will get to the ideal city. You don't have to expect much from Baku, and only then will it reveal itself to you in all its splendor. Baku cannot be regarded as a self-assembly tablecloth and you cannot expect from it the fulfillment of all your desires. This city requires, first of all, at least an interested attitude, and even better - a great desire to see and understand its beauty with your own eyes. We express our deep gratitude to our friends in the city of Baku, who greeted us very warmly and hospitably, helped us navigate this wonderful city of contrasts and made us feel not only tourists, but practically residents of the city of Baku.

If you have any questions about the trip, need advice or just want to chat -

ICQ 221-734-384 or email 4 [email protected] mail. en(Anna) City dwellers and their children

For all 3 weeks I did not get tired of looking at the residents of the city of Baku with a certain amount of curiosity, however, they did not deprive me and my husband of attention either. An amazing feature of the city, probably, lies in the fact that, being the capital and a very dynamic city, life here is so measured and calm that it seems that no one works and everyone has an eternal day off. Crowds of people during the day, in the middle of the working day, many citizens are in teahouses, thoughtfully drinking tea, no one is in a hurry, someone is walking with children, someone is shopping ... .. a feeling of complete relaxation and eternal holiday! The main thing, which is surprising, is that basically everyone walks, as a rule, three, four people, or the whole big family at once. There are many couples in love on the streets and looking at them, I would like to emphasize a certain romanticism of this city. And in the evening everyone goes to the embankment and walks there with the children. They take children with them everywhere and always: for any walks, holidays and other events, because children are a joy for the family and there is not even a thought that a child can interfere with the rest of their parents. People in Baku are very hospitable and sympathetic, at least we met just such people. Now, unfortunately, young people practically do not speak Russian - but be sure that the older generation will certainly understand you. Religion and mosques

The attitude towards religion in Azerbaijan can be described as follows: with dignity, respect and pride . On the streets there are many girls in hijabs (shawls), with their hands closed. Much less common are women in black clothes with a covered face - as I am told, these are mostly residents of Iran. Perhaps such a detailed description will cause a smile in some readers or a little bewilderment - but for me personally, who lives in an ordinary Russian city, where every summer crowds of short skirts, open bellies, legs, etc. walk the streets. such clothes, of course, are very exotic and unusual.

To be honest, having arrived in this country, you somehow automatically try to adapt to the local rules and way of life. And it does not cause any inconvenience at all. A special exotic for me, living in the Urals, was a mosque and a call for prayers. This is such a beautiful ritual and it sounds so wonderful… words cannot express! Moreover, in Baku, the number of mosques occupies a very worthy place: the area where we stopped was exactly between 2 mosques, and these are literally several streets!

Can you imagine the scale of the entire capital city?! And each mosque as an architectural structure is beautiful and unique in its own way. My housing

Arriving in Baku for the first time, only there I managed to see all the variety of architecture and extraordinary buildings. In fact, I have never seen such a miracle (in the good sense of the word). The city center today is built up with large beautiful houses from the time of Comrade Stalin, now new houses are being built, dilapidated buildings are being removed, and a little further from the center there is an area of ​​unauthorized houses (Kubinka), in fact, where we settled. It took me a while to appreciate the advantage of this area, because on the first day my orientation in the city was practically zero. But later it turned out that it was only 20 minutes to walk to the embankment. To the nearest metro station (Nizami metro station) - 10-15 minutes. As well as the presence of a large market nearby and a couple of shops a stone's throw from the house. In general, at the moment the city is going through a stage of global reconstruction, so almost every building is being repaired, restored or rebuilt. Woman driving on the road

Traffic on the roads of Baku can be described something like this: everyone goes where he needs to, despite the nearest cars, and even more so pedestrians, and all this is accompanied by heart-rending signals, beeps and other noise. Even before our trip to Baku, my husband and I had the idea to take a driver's license with us and rent a car on the spot. But after the first days in Baku, this thought evaporated from me instantly! Take even the well-known double continuous strip - its intersection (in Russia) is punished very strictly. In Baku, these are just lanes on asphalt, which in no way restrict traffic and, therefore, you can run into it, cross it, and it’s better to move exactly in the middle of this lane J I remember somewhere I read a review about the residents of Baku, who, like chickens, cross the road where they have to, and the drivers go and don’t even slow down - but this is really true! By the way, during the 21 days of my stay in Baku, I counted only 3 women driving! Probably, they need to erect a monument, because driving in such a city in the absence of any rules on the roads is unrealistically difficult. Subway ride

In general, the following can be said about the metro: The Baku flavor in the city even penetrates underground J This is due to the abundance of stalls, an incredible assortment of all kinds of clothes, shoes, bags, umbrellas and other things exactly in the transition when descending into the subway. Therefore, it is very important for all this abundance not to forget why you went to the subway at all. The fare system is very simple. The Baku metro uses cards for 20 trips: if you only need to ride the metro a couple of times, then you can easily contact any card holder and for 10 kopecks per person, he will easily allow you to go through his card. Another important point: carefully read the running line when you are already waiting for the train on the platform. It is located next to the clock and indicates which branch the arriving train will take. The fact is that there is no transition from one branch to another in the Baku metro as such. There is a station on May 28, from which you can go both to the M. Ajami station and to the very center - Icheri Sheher (the former BakSovet station, is currently under reconstruction!). Those. trains come to this station in turn: be careful! Trade and shops You can talk about trade in Baku for hours and even days! This is a kind of activity that cannot be learned, it is passed down from generation to generation! Arriving in Baku, you must be prepared for the fact that it is NECESSARY to bargain here. And especially when buying souvenirs! It’s especially good at knocking down the price when you take several items from one seller at once. Hats with earflaps and a Russian nesting doll, as well as pot-bellied samovars, looked a little funny on the shelves, apparently with the expectation of foreign guests. The stores themselves in Baku are a separate topic for description. In short, I will say that any place where you can somehow place your goods and trade is a store! And more precisely, a super or a minimarket! And trust me, they sell EVERYTHING! Such conduct of trade reminded me very much of shops in our small towns and settlements, when everything that a person might need is brought to one store and such stores work, as a rule, around the clock. I think it will be no secret to anyone that in the city center (especially on the waterfront) everything is much more expensive. It is literally worth crossing the street - and there you already observe more democratic prices. In Baku, there is nowhere to hide from trade: a photographer will definitely find you and offer to take a photo, you will definitely meet a person offering to find out your weight or ride horses. Children will be offered plenty of entertainment in the form of rides, playgrounds, as well as treats in the form of cotton candy, ice cream (dondurma) and milkshakes. Sea and beaches

Regarding the sea and its purity, I can immediately assure you - the sea is clean! Many fear that the water is polluted due to oil production in the coastal zone - but this is absolutely not the case. Unfortunately, we did not manage to go further than the beach on Shikhovo, but swimming in the Caspian Sea, in August I can definitely say that the water remains warm, clear and allows you to see your legs even when you go into the water up to your neck. Almost all well-maintained beaches have equipped places to relax, you can sit in a restaurant or cafe on the seashore. And you can often hear from Baku residents about a vacation in the town of Nabran, which is famous for its beaches - I hope we will go to it on our next trip to Azerbaijan. Weather

I can say one thing about the Baku weather - it's just a fairy tale! Someone may say that in July-August it is very hot, dusty, stuffy, etc. in Baku. - but you really begin to appreciate the Baku summer at the moment when you already find yourself at home at a temperature of +15 degrees and in rainy, dull weather (after Baku +32 +35!!!). But what is especially worth noting is the wind! The Baku wind cannot be compared with anything else. The wind seems to be trying to knock you off your feet. At the same time, completely shamelessly throwing off your cap or lifting the hem of your dress. Climbing the Maiden Tower on one of these windy days, it even seemed to me for a minute that the girl did not rush from this tower herself, but she was simply blown away from there J But the evening time is especially pleasing. Just at the moment when everyone goes to the embankment, the wind subsides and you can fully enjoy the beauties of evening Baku - the “city of lights”. Azerbaijani wedding

You can talk about the Azerbaijani wedding for hours - and even better to visit it!

First of all, when choosing a wedding venue in Russia, they are guided by a certain amount, the level of the institution and the number of invited guests, i.e. it can be a restaurant, cafe or dining room. In Azerbaijan, there are special institutions for such holidays - the House of Celebrations and the wedding is considered almost the most important event in life, so they prepare for it in advance and spend it on a grand scale.

We were lucky enough to attend the bride's wedding (this is when the bride's father gathers guests in honor of his daughter's marriage). If we compare a wedding in Azerbaijan and Russia, then, in my opinion, a wedding in Azerbaijan is distinguished by a certain strictness in observing traditions and the event is organized to a greater extent for guests. Throughout the wedding, folk music sounds, beautiful congratulations and toasts are pronounced. Young people sit at a central table separate from the guests, usually richly decorated. Dancing at the festival is mostly guests. The newlyweds, knowing that on this day all the attention is already focused on them, they try not to focus on themselves once again, so they dance quite a bit. In Azerbaijan, it is customary to give money for a wedding, as a rule, a person sits somewhere at the table, who fixes in writing: which of the guests gave what amount. The number of guests at a wedding can be 200, 300 or more. As they would say in Russia - a wedding on a grand scale. Of particular note is the serious attitude and preparation for the wedding, both on the part of the future groom and on the part of the bride. To be honest, I was even a little sad that in Russia there is no such obligatory tradition as a dowry for the bride and groom. Maybe this moment would be another factor that makes young people think very carefully about their choice and avoid rushing into marriage and choosing a second half. We are talking about the fact that in Azerbaijan, the relatives of the bride and groom are preparing for the wedding as much as possible and the young people are provided with everything necessary for life in the literal sense of the word: they take care of where the young people will live, about the situation in the apartment, about every little thing - so that young people do not have to think about it. And in my opinion this is a definite plus: the newlyweds are no longer distracted by life's little things (such as repairs, buying furniture, etc.), but simply live for themselves and in anticipation of future offspring. As a rule, a person sits somewhere at the table. and quite a bit. tsya once again egonia and toasts. the party is organized for congratulationsSheki and Kah

I will not bore the reader with the history of the city and the explanation of why it is necessary to go to this city at all costs. All information is available in abundance on the Internet and on most travel sites. We were brought to the city of Sheki not by chance: we purposefully planned to mark this city and here it is the day of departure! Ahead of 6 hours on the road and more than 300 kilometers of travel. Surprisingly, the road was very easy and interesting. Probably because I constantly looked out the window either at the mountains appearing in the distance, or at flocks of sheep, or just at people passing by. On the way, we make 2 stops at roadside cafes and soon we enter the city. For those who have never been in the mountains - it will be an amazing sight. The city is immersed in greenery and is surrounded by mountain peaks. It is considered one of the oldest settlements throughout the country! The city itself is quite small, which allows you to explore it as carefully as possible. Here, time seems to have stopped. While buying souvenirs, I found a set of postcards from 1988! I couldn't help but buy them! We were lucky enough to stay in Karvansaray - this is an 18th-century building, today equipped as a hotel. And earlier, camel caravans and merchants traveling along the Great Silk Road stopped there. The feeling of staying in this place is indescribable! There are several options for hungry tourists: eat at the restaurant at the hotel (about 20 manats for 2 people), cross the road and go a little up the street to the Qaqarin restaurant (aka Gagarin) and have lunch for 13-15 manats (for 2) or take a walk around the city and find any local cafe. The local population usually organizes meals for tourists right in the courtyard of their house and are happy to meet and treat everyone to dinner. I especially recommend trying “Pete” in Sheki And» (a national dish of lamb in a clay pot, like a thick, rich soup). It is believed that it is in Sheki that they cook it truly correctly. By the way, lunch at one of the local old women cost me and my husband 7 manats. And one more small addition: in the recent past, there was a change of money in Azerbaijan, and in Baku, the entire population already navigates them quite easily. From old money, I remember the names “shirvans” and “mammeds” - it was precisely this money that the elderly woman, who fed us lunch, was guided by. Having said some huge figure with zeros, at first she scared us a lot, and then we together (including her family) transferred this old money to a new rate.

In general, a certain spirit of calmness and peace hovers in Sheki. It is an ideal city for thinking different thoughts and ideas. Combined with the local color, it leaves the impression of a city from the past, which you really want to return again. You should definitely visit the Khan's Palace in Sheki - it is located up the street from the Karvansaray hotel. This unusually beautiful building impresses with its brightness and beauty. (Reminder to the tourist: shoes are removed at the entrance to the building!). Directly opposite, you can’t help but notice centuries-old trees that even 3 people are unlikely to be able to wrap around!

Unfortunately, we only stayed in Sheki for a couple of days and then our path lay in the direction of the mountain settlement of Kakh. We also decided to get to Kakha (which was 100 km from Sheki) by bus, although you can also arrange with a taxi driver if you wish. The bus we came across was so old that it seemed to me a little more - and it would fall apart right in the middle of the road. We were on the road for a couple of hours and by the way, only we and a couple of girls had bus tickets. The rest of the passengers, who periodically got on and off the bus, asked the driver to drop them up to a certain point for a couple of coins. Arriving in Kakh, we were badly let down by the weather, already there thunderclouds began to gather over the city, and we still had a way to the village. Ilisu, where we planned to stay at the "Green Park" camp site (aka "Ye s ıl Park") for a few days. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Around - only mountains and a mountain river, the cleanest air and perfect silence. From Kakha, as well as from Sheki, you can get to Baku by bus or train. Prices in Baku (as of August 2008)

1 manat = about 30 Russian rubles

Taxi ride (in the city) 5-8 manats

Travel in the metro (card for 20 trips) = 3 manats

Souvenirs: magnets 2-4 manats

Wooden camel 5 manats, postcards and views of the city 2-3 manats, paintings (embroidery) 20-30 manats, silk scarves 10-15 manats,

Boat trip = 1.5-2 manats

Sunbed rental on the beach – 4 manats/person

To Sheki by bus 6 manats/person

the cost of a room in Karvansaray (Sheki) - from 30 manats / day (room for 2 people)

By bus from Sheki to Kakha 3 manat/person

Have lunch in a cafe (middle level) from 5 manat / person

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This is the story of the own correspondent of the blog "Roads of the World",. You already know him if you've read the stories- Myanmar (formerly Burma), where he lived for a year and a half. This time the wind of wanderings brought him to Azerbaijan...

He lives in Baku, in the capital of the Land of Fire. So they call this country in honor of the ancient cult of worship of fire - Zoroastrianism.

The cult of the Sun was spread throughout Greater Iran, and now there are communities of fire worshipers in Azerbaijan. Fire is depicted on the state emblem of Azerbaijan. Although most of the population professes Islam. And on the flag of the country - a crescent with a star.

Azerbaijan borders on Russia (Dagestan), Georgia, Iran and Armenia (with the last border closed after the Karabakh conflict)... The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, part of which is controlled by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, part is controlled by Azerbaijan, is located on the border with Turkey.

Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus. It is rich in natural and architectural monuments.

The country has a rich climatic diversity, and of the 11 known climatic zones of our planet, 9 are in Azerbaijan - from subtropics to high-mountain alpine meadows. And there is also the Caspian Sea, mud volcanoes, nature reserves and balneological resorts.

But let's get acquainted with the impressions of a person who first saw ...

Golden streets of Baku

Baku is a city of winds. I have heard this definition many times. And if you literally translate the name of the city from ancient Persian, then it sounds like this: “wind blow”.

The winds, I tell you, are really very noble here. This is due to the geographical location of the city. Standing on a mountainside at the southern tip of the Absheron Peninsula, Baku is open to any wind.

Having taken its beginnings on the seashore in ancient times, the city grew evenly up the mountainside. Geographic features have left their mark on the layout of the city.

But back to the title. There is another version. And according to it, the name of the city of Baku comes from the word "baga", which in many ancient languages ​​means "God" and "Sun". Taking into account the fact that the sun itself is the god for sun worshipers, this version seems very plausible. In addition, earlier in Baku there was one of the main temples of sun worshipers ...

My first impression of the city is an oriental fairy tale, the city of Shaherizade. Yes, this image has been deposited in my head since childhood.

Houses with underlined Arabic (I hope that I was not mistaken with the terminology) architecture. Unusual to the eye, the golden-sand color of houses ...

And what is the old city worth, preserved for posterity in the form in which it was at the beginning of the 20th century.

Now I already understood how the city got such a look. Modern mayors simply “dressed” the old Soviet-era houses in such fabulous clothes. And a number of historical buildings were brought into the appropriate form.

Although, if you dive into the depths of the Baku streets, a far from fabulous picture arises before your eyes.

But we must pay tribute - the city is growing, the slums are being demolished and modern houses are being erected in their place, but with a national flavor.

Yes, another element of fabulousness is the building material - stone.

It is mined near Baku and is widely used in all buildings instead of brick.

And another type of stone is used for decoration. It is its characteristic yellow-sand color that gives the city a fabulous look. In the bright southern sun, the houses acquire a beautiful golden color.

There are also a large number of fountains and parks in Baku.

And I must say - not in vain. They not only emphasize the fabulous look of the city, but also give the townspeople the opportunity to relax in the shade on hot days and breathe in fresh, humidified air.

And the main place of rest in Baku, of course, is the embankment.

Embankment of Baku. On the left is the Caspian Sea. In the background is the TV tower and the Flame Towers building complex.

With a length of about 5 km (here the Internet reference data varies, but the legs say that it is about that), the Baku Seaside Boulevard is a large park with fountains and attractions.

You can walk here for a long time, and in the evenings and on weekends, many townspeople flock here ...

Flame Towers, or Flame Towers - the tallest buildings in Azerbaijan

In general, Baku is a very beautiful city. Did you like it?

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Farewell Baku! I won't see you.
Now there is sorrow in the soul, now there is fear in the soul.
And the heart at hand is now more painful and closer,
And I feel stronger than a simple word: friend.

Farewell Baku! Blue Turkic, farewell!
Blood cools, strength weakens.
But I will carry, like happiness, to the grave
And the waves of the Caspian Sea, and Balakhani May.

Farewell Baku! Farewell, like a simple song!
For the last time, I will hug a friend ...
So that his head is like a golden rose,
She nodded gently to me in lilac smoke.

May 1925Sergey Yesenin

Baku for me is a special air, salty, tart, sea, it’s the sun and the wind. It’s the smell of fuel oil and barbecue. It’s an old mossy stone and at the same time concrete and glass. A city of contrasts and special customs, traditions and new trends.

All Baku residents are united by the ancient city, which has its own traditions, its own principles, its own dialect, its own unforgettable color, its own jokes, its own humor, its own understanding of life, its own relationships. After all, it is very difficult to meet such friendship of peoples in one city today! Once upon a time, Baku was more multinational, and the citizens living in our country in the process of communication involuntarily adopted the best cultural traditions from each other. About 72 nationalities lived in Baku and all people got along well. And what united them was their beloved city, mutual understanding, knowledge of the cultural traditions of people living in the neighborhood.

Older people remember Muslim Magomayev, Gai Ensemble, Polad Bulbul ogly, Sarkhan Sarkhan. Many famous people were born, lived and worked in Baku: Lev Landau, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Kuznetsov, Irina Allegrova, Gusmans Julius and Mikhail, Larisa Dolina ,Richard Sorge, Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Menshov, Eduard Topol. In the old part of the city there are many old picturesque streets and dead ends that attracted directors who made such films as: The Last Inch, Amphibian Man, The Diamond Arm, Tehran 43.

The minaret of the palace of the Shirvanshahs, from which twice a day calls (azan) to prayer of Muslims akhund mosques and a TV tower from which local television and radio programs are broadcast.

Torgovaya is a special pedestrian street where tourists can buy everything: souvenirs and symbols. Ancient silver, coins and outright fakes, hookah, backgammon made of natural walnut wood, beads, paintings by local artists. As a rule, prices are inflated several times, but if skillfully bargain, you can buy it almost for nothing. They don’t go to the trade just like that, it’s important to wander back and forth along it, make appointments for girls and aimlessly go to all the shops in a row to kill time. This is a street of idleness. an idle lifestyle.

New buildings in the city are growing like mushrooms. Large companies were built and all and sundry, but after one of them took over and collapsed one fine day, the Ministry of Emergency Situations took control of the matter.

Wedding Palace in the Gothic style. Checking in there is a special chic.

"Chiert Pobieri", "Russo Tourist-Like Morale"

Oriental sweets. Baklava, Shorgogal, badapuri, shakerbura, Sheki baklava.

Baku cargo port is the largest in the Caspian.
Yacht club. A big problem is to buy a yacht or, at worst, a fragile boat. Another big problem is to go to sea on it. Low .....
Panorama of Baku boulevard.
Seagulls feast on sprats that accidentally wandered into the bay and all sorts of garbage.
The fortress wall of the old city. Partially preserved just fine, but the wind, water and sun are doing their job. It is being destroyed and only through the efforts of restorers is still holding on.
Main gate to the old city.
Opera and Ballet Theatre. Symbol of Baku - Maiden's Tower

The main legends of the city are connected with the Maiden's Tower. There are many legends about the origin of the Maiden's Tower. Most of them are related to the meaning of the word "Virgo". One of the legends says that the shah fell in love with his daughter and decided to marry her. Trying to save herself from such a fate and dissuade her father, the girl asked the shah to build a tower and wait until the construction was completed. By the time the construction was completed, the king did not change his mind and then the girl climbed the tower and from there threw herself into the sea. After that, the stone, on which the princess broke, was called the "Stone of the Virgin", and the girls, being brides, brought flowers to him. There is another version of this legend: after she threw herself into the sea, her lover avenged her beloved by killing the king, but he soon learned that the mermaids had saved the girl. After a while, the lovers were able to find each other and seal themselves by marriage. Experts note that the father's desire to take his daughter as a wife is evidence that this legend is pre-Islamic. The legend also testifies that the Caspian Sea was at the very foot of the Maiden's Tower.
Temple of fire worshipers on the outskirts of Baku-Surakhanakh.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs. 15th century A tray with souvenirs. You won't leave empty-handed. Antique shops in the old town at every turn.
Copper utensils, antique carpets, clothing, jewelry. The ancient streets of Baku are a place of pilgrimage for tourists.
These walls are witnesses of many events. Carved wood balconies.
Mosques with minarets have not been the tallest among buildings for a very long time.
Baku bay. Come and touch the Caspian.

Only in Baku, when using the word "gagash" brother in a conversation), they answer: "Gagashun Afrikada banana eyir!" Your brother in Africa eats bananas)
Only in Baku, after the son asks his father for money, the father will answer: "ATOVA BORDJUM VAR?" Do I owe your father?)
Only in Baku, the conductor lures you into a crowded bus with the words: "Gabakhda dusyan olajah" There will be descenders at the next stop)
Only in Baku the word "Maska" is so popular. Beauty, cutie)
Only in Baku, many people have a phone only to record melodies there and listen to them on the street
Only in Baku do students pay money for not studying
Only in Baku "Miracle stove" is written as "Cudo pecka"
Only in Baku you can get permission for what is prohibited by law, but not by decree - after all, decrees are adopted by the PRESIDENT
Only in Baku, in order to go to McDonald's, they dress like a high society or diplomatic reception
Only in Baku, when you meet a friend in the city with 75 percent of ice cream eaten in your hands, you can hear: “marojna yeirsen” will you have ice cream?) with the rest extended.
Only in Baku they cross the highway the way they walk along Fountain Square!
Only in Baku, a person who asks for alms can return it back, dissatisfied with the amount
Only in Baku is there such an increased attention to women.
And such a paradox: the girls dress up (mdeee .... it's easier to say "undress" in the neckline to the navel and panty skirts, the guys react to them esssno, and ...... the climax - (in a very displeased voice) "Not bakhyrsan. ... AAAA???!!!" what are you staring at, Aaaaaaaa?)
Only in Baku, in a job advertisement, they can write: "I am looking for a job as a salesman, I can work on a calculator"
Only in Bakuslovo "khiyar" cucumber) can mean in different cases a vegetable, a bad person and a beloved friend.
Only in Baku can they lovingly say to a child ... well, like ... eshshek balasy (son of a donkey)
Only in Baku, at a funeral, a person who has lost a loved one can be approached, greeted and asked, "How are you?"
Only in Baku gagulik (gopnik) to the question of the hairdresser "how will we cut?" can answer "Belya yes, Olsun bir az are semi-sports, bir az are semi-solid" So, yes .... A little semi-assertive, a little, semi-solid)
Only in Baku, all cosmetics exhibited in the metro and in parking lots are sold exclusively by men.
Only in Baku, at the flea market, women's bras are sold together with men's shoes and leather jackets
Only in Baku, taking a taxi is cheaper than having your own car.
Only in Baku people go to the beach not to swim, but to eat.
Only in Baku, the husband walks with a mobile phone in his hands, and the wife with children and two bags. It is called a joint bazaarlyg ... (going to the market)
Only in Baku they wear a tracksuit with solid pointy shoes
Only in Baku, at a commemoration, a mullah interrupts the reading of the Koran because of a call to his mobile.
Only in Baku you can root for an Italian football club and not know the players of local clubs
Only in Baku it was possible to meet inscriptions and signs such as: Remot obvu (shoe repair), Remedies for tarikans in tablets, prashki (patties), plizatr satylyr (pulverizer for sale).
Only in Baku cool cars are not stolen and the car can be left on the street at night.
Only in Baku you can throw cigarette butts and other garbage on the sidewalk, and this is normal.
Only in Baku you can order barbecue in a restaurant, but in addition they will bring you a bunch of snacks, the amount of which significantly exceeds the price of a serving of barbecue.
This is the subway.

Cinema "Nizami"Next to the window, from where the beam from the projection apparatus escaped, hung a small handwritten announcement:
"Ribyata please anasha does not smoke kinamihanek, my head hurts"

The most amazing phenomenon among Baku people is that no matter where they are and no matter how many years they live in another place, they still remain Baku residents and are incredibly drawn to each other. What is this?

Yes, because we are always and everywhere proud that we are Baku residents, wherever we live!!!

We were in Baku in the middle of October. The idea to spend part of the vacation in this city has matured for a long time, as we heard good reviews from tourists, watched programs. There was a choice: to Cyprus, where the warm sea and the sun, or cultural pastime with sightseeing. And yet we chose Baku (and we are extremely happy about it!!!) We bought plane tickets. It is very convenient that Azerbaijani airlines fly from St. Petersburg daily, the travel time is about 3.5 hours. The hotel was chosen based on two criteria: convenient location, and of course low price. Details about the hotel in my other review During the week we found many kilometers on foot, well, we love to roam on foot, especially since my husband is well versed on the map. The map and guidebook were purchased at home, they began to study during the flight. We were lucky, in this hospitable city we have a good friend who lived in St. Petersburg for many years. For him, our arrival was a surprise, they called already from the hotel, because they did not want to strain him once again. I won’t say for sure whether this can be attributed to all Baku residents, but our friend is a model of hospitality. Despite the work and the family with small children, he was in touch with us throughout the day, offering help. He showed us Baku at night, gave us a ride around the city. And what a dinner his wife prepared for us!!! Getting to know the local cuisine is a must! Food for every budget. Do not be afraid to buy a local shawarma - donar. This is a filling of beef or poultry meat with fresh vegetables, wrapped in thin pita bread or a thick flatbread. Locals appreciate their customers, they are responsible for the quality. First impressions on the way from the airport - this is not Azerbaijan, this is the UAE. The city has glass skyscrapers, modern architecture, a lot of illumination, palm trees, trimmed trees, rich in one word.

This is an official taxi that can be called by phone. Money can be changed both in exchange offices and in banks. The course is almost the same. Banks are closed on weekends. Most shops are open until 22-23 hours. Baku is a city of parks, boulevards, squares, gardens and fountains. All of them are well-groomed. During the day, you can see many cleaners who keep the city center clean. You can walk in the parks in the late evenings, they are well lit. There are a lot of olive fruit-bearing trees in the city, in the Park of Love they watched how a local elderly couple picked olives for pickling. During the conversation, they gave us the recipe. Primorsky Boulevard, which stretches along the coast, will delight you with views of the Caspian Sea, a fresh breeze. This is one of the favorite places of citizens and tourists. There is an alley with exotic cacti, brought baobabs and magnolias, many palms and conifers. "Little Venice" - several canals with azure water, bridges, green islands are also located on the embankment.

A friend told me:
"You, old man, must be crazy!
I understand your sympathy, -
I'm sorry - I can't.
You are worth regretting, -
What are you raving about? What are you moaning?
What, how the hell do you say
about Baku,
Baku,
Baku?"
He told me:
"I swam in the Red Sea in winter,
ate lemons in Japan,
lived on the Rhine.
Was in the south, in the east, -
sometimes a little, sometimes for a long time,
so i laugh at the rapture
about Baku,
Baku,
Baku..."
I replied to my friend:
"What, having traveled around the planet,
You recognized the burly wind
saw this, saw that...
But why hurt yourself?
Are you still Baku?
did not see!
If you haven't seen Baku, -
What then did you see?
What?