Be prepared for a treat!
by Minashka
Either you are a tourist or happen to be in Baku for a business trip - doesn't matter! If you like mixing up with locals and have already met some, be prepared... do not be surprised that someone you just met few minutes ago is asking you over for dinner. It is deep within Azeri hospitality to invite guests for dinner. Do not refuse (unless the person looks very suspicious) and you will find yourself in for a good treat. There will be a lot of food on the table and you are expected to try everything. Don't be surprised if the host puts more on your plate as soon as you finish eating. And they won't take no for an answer. So if you don't wanna eat anymore, politely refuse 3 times. Once the dishes are taken away, it will be replaced by the freshly brewed tea. Your glass will be filled as soon as it's empty so you can go on drinking tea for hours if you do not refuse 3 times.
So if you are invited to a dinner with an Azeri family, go there with an empty stomach, but not with empty hands. It is a custom to either bring a box of chocolates or maybe flowers for the hostess.
If you've really enjoyed the dinner and the company, you'll make the hosts very happy by simply saying "chokh saghol" means "thank you" in Azeri...
Books - the size of your fingernails
by Minashka
I had a VT-er friend visiting from the US recently and he told me I must put this tip on VT. So here it is – there is a Museum of Miniature Books in the Old Town in Baku. The founder is Zarifa Salahova and all of the books belong to her personal collection. 3,700 miniature books are displayed in the museum and about 1,500 books are at her home. Books are in different languages, published in different parts of the world. The smallest book in the world, also displayed here, is 3.5 mm by 3.5 and made in Japan. You can open it with tweezers and read it with a magnifying glass. The museum is full of really interesting and tiny little books and the girl sitting at the registration desk offers a tour in Azeri, Russian and English languages. The entrance is free but you can leave some donation in the small box when upon exit.
old city
by persian_hiker
You can walk from "tarkoy", and arrive to old town, very beauty place from old years that Baku was one of Iran's cities. You can see Iranian alphabetical in some old constructions. In those years Baku was the gate of Europe for Iran and named "Baadkoobe". (Wind beater)
fontana ( Fountain Place)
by traveloturc
Fountain square is Baku's most fashionable area, where you go to see and be seen. The square is surrounded by sophisticated restaurants and shops. The long and often dry fountain serves as an endless bench for lazy afternoons and evenings.There is also one clock in this square
Turkish Martyrs Monument
by traveloturc
A large memorial to the Turkish troops killed fighting against Russia in the early 20th century is located here, as well as the 'martyrs mosque' also built by the Turks. Not far from the Turkish memorial there is a small wall acknowledging the British soldiers killed in the same conflict.
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oil boom period 1
Azerri likes this kind of game
philarmony building
street going to the yacht club
