Leaving Azerbaijan

This morning we left Azerbaijan a country I have really enjoyed. Baku was glorious, the smaller places we have stayed welcoming and just lovely. 

As we drive through the countryside pass a few townships where we see western style houses of brick or breeze block with mainly long run roofing. The gas pipes that we have seen since we left Baku continue to be unexposed and running alongside of the road. A good car crash would take one out and half the village with it. 

The good roads run alongside along side the green green hills which today are partly obscured by mist. There are rose bushes everywhere. 

Modern shops are interspersed with old hole in the wall kiosk type shops and women are more conservatively dressed, although none are veiled or wearing hijab. 

And we arrive at the border, passports checked we are ushered to an uphill pathway through no mans land. Bob kindly stashed my duffel bag on top of his suitcase and took it part of the way and I slung it over my shoulder for the rest. 

We pass through immigration, bag check and then after another short walk arrive at the Georgia border where the formalities are repeated. 

Azerbaijan has an interesting history which goes too far back for me to comprehend but even in more recent years the have had currency and alphabet changed numerous times and with so many countries involved in their history there are so many languages. 

All of the people I met were so kind and warm and did their best to help me understand. By the time I left I had mastered the word for thank you very much ‘cox sa gol’ or sagol for short. The people seemed quite passive with no commotion, rushing, pushing, raised voices, almost lacking in a bit of passion. There is a certain sameness in the way they dress too and alternatives either don’t exist or stay well hidden. 

My only disappointment was that I barely heard the Muslim call to prayer, something that I find very haunting and love but with that being my only disappointment I can only say I❤️Azerbaijan.