It is thanks to oil in place of a provincial town has grown a real metropolis. The train from Tbilisi to Baku is already on the platform. Into the wagon three uniformed guard conductress. Carefully and without haste check tickets, passports, visas. - Let there be no trouble at the border - they explain.
After an hour ride we arrive at the Georgian border. Two hours stop and head to Azerbaijan. At the border crossing huge billboard welcoming us, in which former President Heydar Aliyev and his son Ilham, the current president, look at each other's eyes. We are half an hour, no one looks into our luggage, asked no questions. In the end we go. Morning from the windows of the train we see the desert landscape, dark yellow fields of drilling towers. Appear sinoniebieskie Caspian Sea, from which thick, side by side, sticking out a platform for the extraction of oil from the seabed. With time, the desert turns into a modest cottage housing, chaotically scattered along the narrow streets. That's the suburbs of Baku. The train enters the station. We take money from the ATM and got into the taxi.
With e area with small shops and eating cheap fast ride on the broad boulevard along the seaside promenade to them, in the very heart of the metropolis with wide streets and representation structures. Over millions of dollars in Baku lies on the peninsula that wedge penetrates the Caspian Sea. Buildings creates a kind of amphitheater, which is the scene of the Bay of Baku water. Perfectly visible from the deck of a cruise ship, which leaves every 15 minutes from the harbor promenade on the hour boat cruise on the Bay (2 manatees). Magnificent views of the city and the Caspian coast also extends to the National Park, located on a hill. We reach there -rail train (0.5 manat). Advance look at the bay, the port for oil rigs. It is clear, as developed in Baku over the centuries. The oldest medieval part, or inner city, dates from the time when it was capital of the Khanate Szyrwanu. Around the old town rises up the Baku oil boom period. With a provincial town transforms into a thriving metropolis with the oil, which began here to extract industrial scale. Wealth of the Caspian has attracted capital from abroad. His company was founded, inter alia, Nobel brothers and Rothschilds. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Baku became the world's largest center for oil. Newly earned money magnates naftowi invest in magnificent buildings, palaces, theaters, libraries - their whims and fancies pursue eminent architects. and Paul Potocki had a huge contribution to the development of modern oil extraction technology. Medieval and pre-revolutionary quarter of a semi-circle surrounded by new high-rise districts. Oil has always played an important role in the economy of Azerbaijan. Tied with her huge hopes for the future success of artists of independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which was founded in 1918, the beginnings of freedom were very dramatic. The National Park watching the mausoleum to commemorate Martyr Road approximately 130 victims of Black January 1990, when Soviet troops attacked peaceful demonstrations in Baku as well as victims of the war over Nagorno-Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The border region inhabited mostly by Armenians, was (is?) A part of Azerbaijan. In the early 90s Twentieth century there were fights, which resulted in control of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians have taken over. Both countries are still at war. Baku tours start from the oldest part - Ichen Szeher, namely the Internal Town, inscribed on the UNESCO list. They consist of a tangle of narrow, often winding streets. This urban layout was confusing potential enemies and to protect the inhabitants from the heat and winds Caspian Sea. We visited the Palace (2 manatees), the fifteenth-century residence of the rulers Szyrwanu Khanate. The building consists of three levels of terraces forming type. Raw interior chambers remained largely unchanged since the time of Khanate. Beside the palace is the building of the court. In a courtroom accused protrude from the floor, only his head. When the shah ruled against, Cat immediately prune it to him, and the body of a convict a special corridor to the sea. Below the stone palace baths were discovered in 1939
One of the symbols of Baku is the tower of the Virgin of the twelfth century is not known for sure what the functions served. One legend says that the Shah built it for his beloved. But when she learned that his daughter, threw herself into the sea. The tower you can walk the winding stairs and admire the panoramic view of Baku from the top. Inner city, with its shops, stalls, carpets, beaters on the streets, recalls the close relationship with Azeri Turks. The symbol of these compounds is such Latin alphabet for the Turkish version, which came into force in Azerbaijan since 1991 (replaced the Cyrillic alphabet). nWith Ichen Szeher exit straight to the "European". Here a lot of examples of fine architecture from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as the National Philharmonic building erected in 1912 in Italian Renaissance style. Beautiful decoration is distinguished by the building of the Academy of Sciences, also from the beginning of last century. Watching these and many other buildings, we see the splendor of what the buildings were built during the oil bull market. It is hard not to notice the great House of the Soviets - 12-storey building is a combination of Soviet architecture and Islamic traditions. Favorite place to relax on hot days people are charming square Fountains, where you can find refreshment in the shade of trees between the fountains. Run from him narrow streets full of cafes and souvenir stalls. Another popular place of rest is Republic Square. Here stands the monument of Heydar Aliyev, the late president. The former Soviet president was governor of Azerbaijan, during the chaotic first years of independence. Supporters are grateful to him for bringing the situation in the country, the opposition emphasizes non-democratic governments and clan election falsification. Before his death, the presidency has anointed his son Ilham (both of whom are now visible, such as billboards). Expenses incurred in the square and convention center concert Heydar Aliyev Sarai. This is one example of many investments in the city - built headquarters of banks, businesses, public buildings, nice homes. Old buildings have been renovated. Thanks to the capital of Azerbaijan, it looks very favorably with a bit neglected capitals of other countries or much poorer Azerbaijan province.
At the end going to take a promenade. The most popular place for walks in a semi-circle stretches along the coast. Movement as in the center during peak hours: people walk, sit in cafes and pubs. Like most great café guests drink tea (1-2 manatees), which the sugar cubes, jams and cakes. Traffic until late at night dies. Baku is a city very safe, and people are favorably disposed to the visitors. Prices comparable to Warsaw. A good dinner in one of the many restaurants you can eat for about 8-12 manatees - worth a try skewers, kebabs, and for dessert, and baklawa. The price of our hotel is also a daily transporting to the beach and the beach, of which readily use. Select Aquapark (10 manatees). Modern bathing consists of one part of the pools and water slides, and the other is a coastal beach sand, gray in color. Water in the sea very warm. In the morning we see here the most is women with children. Some wander in, dressed from head to toe in traditional costumes, others manifest their independence, assuming a bikini and smoking cigarettes. That is the Baku today, located between Asia and Europe, where it crosses the Islamic tradition (the mild version) and European influences.
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