Azerbaijan

Visited: June 2010, August 2024

Duration of visit: 9 days

Capital city: Baku

Population: 10.50 million (2024)

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

• The capital Baku – a unique combination of tumultuous past reflected in old city and new development supported on oil industry leading the city to modernity and extravagance.
• Baku old city is in 2010 under complete reconstruction. This will additionally refine its listing on UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Swimming in Caspian Sea near Baku with exciting view of offshore oil and gas platforms, surrounded by men only local swimmers.
• The mystery of conical shaped mud volcano Garasu, which sporadically erupts mud, solid rock fragments, gas and water.
• Visiting a burning mountain of Yanardag – the area where fire never stops.
• Walking around perfectly restored Palace of Shaki Khansin, at the foot of the Greater Caucasus Mountains
• Appreciating modernization of Baku, exploring Gobustan mud volcanos and Rock Art Cultural Landscape, before sailing across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan (in 2024).

Ex-Soviet Union republic of Azerbaijan is a Caucasian country located on the border between Europe and Asia, with a large Turkish and Iranian influence. The Land of Fire is at the tipping point, where there is no way back. Its leaders transformed the country from a relatively reserved, insignificant and limited state into a modern, attractive, tourist-oriented metropolis.

I had the opportunity to visit Azerbaijan on two occasions: in 2010 and again in 2024. Observing the swift progress and modernization of the nation was profoundly fulfilling.

Azerbaijan – 2010

If there is a country in the world that will be completely transformed in the next decade or two, this is Azerbaijan.

Especially the capital city of Baku will be a completely different metropolis than now (in 2010). I had the last chance to appreciate Azerbaijan in its original form before petrodollars change it forever. Easy-going people in the countryside are friendly as everywhere around ex-Soviet Union Republics, with scarce knowledge of foreign languages.

Not many cultural landmarks, economic activities or interesting sightseeing outside of the capital Baku corroborate in centrally orientated state. Population of over 9 million people and only 5 cities with over 100,000 habitants reflects extremely centralized organization of Azerbaijan. Probably the difference between Baku and the rest of the country will spread and benefits of the economic growth will be visible mostly in the capital.

Azerbaijan – 2024

My predictions and government wish to transform Baku into Dubai of ex-Soviet Union have become the reality. Mostly Arabic and Russian speaking visitors find a liberal environment, combined with modern infrastructure, luxury shopping opportunities and efficient connection in the region attractive throughout the year.

The rest of the country is still stuck in time, business culture unprofessional, people rather poor.