I think the best way to describe Baku is that it is the ultimate city of juxtapositions. It’s the city with the ultimate contrast between old and new, one I’ve never seen before. It’s the perfect example of what discovering massive oil wealth can do for a country.
As you walk around Baku, you can’t help but be mesmerised by the fact that this city, which had nothing 100+ years ago, all of a sudden looks like it could be the new Vienna or Rome. It literally went from 0 to 100 in the span of just a few years. It’s massively sold into tourism only in the last few decades but with a much larger emphasis on the traditional European architecture and culture. One minute you’re surrounded by glittering high-rises and luxury hotels, the next you have tiny eateries and colourful carpet shops in a local market.
Continue reading “Baku: The Land of Fire”