Tuesday 25 September 2018
Sunday 23 September 2018
The Georgian parliament building
Saturday 22 September 2018
9 April park
From Wikipedia:
The April 9 tragedy refers to the events in Tbilisi, on April 9, 1989, when an anti-Soviet (but pro-Stalin) demonstration was dispersed by the Soviet Army, resulting in 21 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
I find the pro Stalin comment interesting.
Here's a memorial although there seem to be too many names.
It's here (click this link)
And this lady is also in the park, I don't know who she is, but some monkey has enhanced her pubic region with a black felt tip pen.
Bus to Tbilisi
The border
Here (click on this link)
The dear leader
Another odd thing in both Georgia and Azerbaijan is that there don't seem to be any newspapers. In Greece you will see old men sitting, reading a paper and drinking coffee but here there are none. I wonder if that's a legacy from the Soviet past.
Friday 21 September 2018
Taxi
When I got to the bus station it was a desolate acre of tarmac studded with weeds, this is despite me being informed by a highly intelligent, English speaking young doctor that this was the place to catch a bus to Tbilisi. I asked directions from the taxi drivers and the Lord sent Shaheen Seem who is happy to take me to the border with Georgia for 80 manat (£36).
He's actually the safest driver in Azerbaijan, he sticks religiously to the speed limit, I wonder if he's got points in his licence. Main danger is from other road users, in Mercedes Benz, who a frustrated by his slowness.
A strange thing is that all the older people in Georgia and Azerbaijan seem to be unable to read a map, I seem to dimly remember reading something about maps being forbidden in Soviet countries to prevent the population getting ideas about leaving.
The vehicle is a 30 year old Lada and very good it is too. Perhaps lacking some of the luxuries that we have come accustomed to like air-con and power steering or automatic choke but it feels like it will go on forever. I suspect that they are very easy to work on and maintain and that's why there are thousands of them around.
Lack of beer
On the bus
As it happens, the fat man and the boy sat on the stools, probably because of my age and seniority.
Observe that the driver is on his phone. The only discomfort is the screechy, Arabic style music.
The next stop
Gəncə is in the centre of the map and Gebele, where I am now, is on the right and Tbilisi, which is where I have to be on Sunday is top left.
Thursday 20 September 2018
Gebele
I've had a pretty poor day. I missed the bus, I couldn't find anywhere to stay, when I did find a place on Booking.com the pin was in the wrong position and it took five locals to direct me to the place.
On top of that it turns out that Gebele is nothing to get excited about. I was recommended to come here by the man on the train.
Oh and it was raining earlier and the mountains, which I was going to go up, are shrouded in mist.
And now I've broken my golden rule and ordered meat: chicken because there's nothing without meat.
Still the beer's nice. Mustn't grumble.
Actually it was okay although I fed the cats half.
The bus station
I'm sitting on the bus waiting for it to set off for Gebele (click here)
I've been waiting 40 mins for it to depart, it seems that the stated times are just an indication.
A funny thing is that although I've paid for a legitimate ticket it's obvious that the driver is taking cash payments and not issuing any receipt.
Wednesday 19 September 2018
Dung
And a nice Volga lorry.
My purchase
So I paid the asking price of £2.20 it has occurred to me since that perhaps I was supposed to haggle.
I guess that she's made it. Anyway she was thrilled at the sale and proceeded to ride backwards and forwards in front of her house.
Lunch
And here is the lady that provided it.
Observe the gold teeth.
The highest village in Azerbaijan
The bus has stopped
A very different landscape!
Tuesday 18 September 2018
Mini
₼ = Azerbaijani manat