From the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, this is my first "round-the-world" tour and the first time I am traveling alone. It's also the first time I am NOT the leader of the group. This will be a huge adventure for me, one that tests my patience (smile), stamina and my ability to adapt. I can't wait!
Friday, April 19, 2013
The Shah's Palace
Built in 1748 by a Persian shah, this palace is right above our caravan hotel. The painted walls and the stained glass windows were amazing and roughly 90% original. Stunning!
Caravan-Suray
Well.....shazaam! This place is right out of the Silk Road storybooks. Original down to the square nailheads. The lower floors were for animals and servants, the upper floors for the traders and travelers. We have suited Zmd they are sweet. Still trying to figure out when the "budget" part of this trip begins....grin!
Azerbaijan
We slept in and rise to another breakfast forgot royalty. The ladies of the house it seems, were intent on cooking every dish they knew and st the end there was SO MUCH food left over! They were so sweet and accommodating and their home was quite lovely.
The border was five minutes away and Sasa sped up the process a bit by getting us to the head of the line. We were amused by the sign telling us "good luck" as we headed for customs. We walked through both Georgian and Azer immigration without issue and then waited a good long time as the truck went through two inspections and had to go back for yet one more stamp. And then, again to pay a road tax and more insurance. PS: the wine made it through!
As we drove through the huge valley with the Greater Caucasus to the north and the Lesser Caucasus to the south we passed one small town after another, continually descending in altitude. Still overcast and drizzling, there began to be signs of it warming up.
Just part the border it still looked much like Georgia with a few churches and the typical houses. Fifty kilometers on though, mosques began to pop up and public buildings and schools were more modern or new. This is a secular country and so far noticeably "western." The Azeri economy is much stronger and that was evident in the infrastructure.
We stopped for lunch in a meadow/local dump and fixed an awesome pasta salad! A bit in the vine in our glasses and we we on the road again for another three hours reaching Sheki and our Caravan-Suray (Silk Road Roadhouse) for the night.
The border was five minutes away and Sasa sped up the process a bit by getting us to the head of the line. We were amused by the sign telling us "good luck" as we headed for customs. We walked through both Georgian and Azer immigration without issue and then waited a good long time as the truck went through two inspections and had to go back for yet one more stamp. And then, again to pay a road tax and more insurance. PS: the wine made it through!
As we drove through the huge valley with the Greater Caucasus to the north and the Lesser Caucasus to the south we passed one small town after another, continually descending in altitude. Still overcast and drizzling, there began to be signs of it warming up.
Just part the border it still looked much like Georgia with a few churches and the typical houses. Fifty kilometers on though, mosques began to pop up and public buildings and schools were more modern or new. This is a secular country and so far noticeably "western." The Azeri economy is much stronger and that was evident in the infrastructure.
We stopped for lunch in a meadow/local dump and fixed an awesome pasta salad! A bit in the vine in our glasses and we we on the road again for another three hours reaching Sheki and our Caravan-Suray (Silk Road Roadhouse) for the night.
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