Last days in Azerbaijan

Headed NW towards Sheki but decided to break the journey for a night in Ismayilli, a town that was easier to get into than out of!

Pic of a bizarre lunch in Ismayilli with the locals.

But next day headed to Seki and had local people wanting to help us all the way - one of the joys of independent travel. 

There's a UNESCO classified palace in the very old bit and a couple of caravanserai - very picturesque.  

Next day walked to a ruined fortress which was almost inaccessible and an "Albanian" church in Kish (dating pre Roman).  Albania is a very old name for this part of the Caucasus, nothing to do with present-day Albania!  Very interesting visit.

Leaving tomorrow morning for the border with Georgia.

Last Baku pics

 Petroglyphs at Qubestan, mud volcanoes nearby and the flame towers lit up.  Leaving tomorrow.

Mountain walks

Caught bus to Quba about 2.5 hours NW of Baku and a gateway to the Caucasus.  

In a 4WD the road to Xinaliq was spectacular where we walked a mountain trail - above 2000m for the last 9km. 

Next day to Laza, a traditional mountain village now surrounded by Azerbaijan's premier ski resort but because of the weather we walked down (and quite a bit up) a lovely valley.

Now back in Baku 'cos can't go over the mountains, have to go around.

... and Baku

 

This is as far East as we go and have (hopefully) done the last flight before coming home.  All public transport now as we wander back to Tbilisi via wherever we fancy.  Have successfully negotiated the metros in Istanbul, Tbilisi and now Baku so getting in the swing.  Not many foreign tourists here, it's very clean and feels very safe and could be almost any city in the world judging by people's dress and international shops.

Extra Tbilisi pics

 A few more.

... and Tbilisi...

Our plane left Istanbul at 06:25 so we were up at 4 - ugh!  Got to Tbilisi where an airport ATM ate Chris's bank card, so not a great start!  Wandered around the city in the afternoon, it felt very European.  

A day's outing to a little town - old capital of Georgia.  Metro easy but the minibus onwards... 1 out of thousands! That felt very Asian.  It had a cathedral, a ruined monastery and a working nunnery all very interesting.

Walked around the old town and up in the cable car.  Great museum with a section on the Russian occupation. Have liked our few days here.  More pics in another post.  Leaving tomorrow.

Istanbul

Stopped in Istanbul on our way to the Caucasus, have spent two days doing the sights, all very lovely but busy with other tourists, especially when a huge cruise ship arrived!  Good breakfast and a view to enjoy it with at our hotel.  Moving on on Sunday morning.