Back to Baku

While in Baku, we three travelaters set our minds on having a good time. And we weren't let down, nevermind the hiccup in my travel writing, there is a lot of Baku to savor.

Despite the lack of stuff to see and do in Baku, our tourist agenda was amplified with our personal travel guide's rolling dialogue about the city, its history, and current politics. In short, Baku is a confused mess of a place. Its rise as a oil city was a quick let down after the turn of the century, but it still shows off a lot of that era in its dingy water ways and the cesspools that swirl around in the Caspian Sea which frames its land on the east of the city.

During the grand days of the Soviet Era, Baku was a gem the republic, and was pumped for its last drops of oil. I don't know why they tried, the place was dry before they constructed some ridiculous miles of pipeline. Consequently, while large and in charge, the USSR left an exhausting number of Soviet remnants lurking and poking out of the guts of the city, like a prison.

This used to be a marbled Soviet dancehall, but now it's just the spot where Salin's face is smashed in.

It's also a pretty sweet spot to take some band-esque photos. I'd say ignore the pot leaf and swastika, but I think the smilie face balances out the qualities of the picture.

Baku has it charms fo' sho'.