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 and modern-extravagant development supported by oil industry.
• In 2010, Baku Old City is undergoing extensive restoration, which will enhance its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Swimming in the Caspian Sea near Baku with exciting view of offshore oil and gas platforms.
• 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 the perfectly restored Palace of Shaki Khansin, at the foot of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
• Appreciating the modernization of Baku, exploring Gobustan mud volcanos and Rock Art Cultural Landscape, before sailing across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan (in 2024).

The 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 has been metamorphing 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.

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 it is now (in 2010). I had the last chance to appreciate Azerbaijan in its original form before petrodollars changed it forever. Easy-going people in the countryside are friendly as everywhere around ex-Soviet Union Republics, with scarce knowledge of foreign languages.

Azerbaijan is a very centralized state. It has a population of over 9 million people and only 5 cities with over 100,000 habitants. There are not many cultural landmarks, economic activities or interesting sightseeing outside of Baku. Probably the difference between Baku and the rest of the country will increase even more and benefits of the economic growth will be visible mostly in the capital.

My feelings that the government wanted to make Baku the Dubai of theex-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 throughout the year.

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