From the Caspian to the Caucasus

Thanks to oil, Azerbaijan is doing quite well. Even their police cars in the capital city of Baku are all shiny new BMWs.

Most of the country, and even its wholly unappealing coastline on the Caspian Sea, is flat barren desert. Except for its northern and western borders, where rocky wastelands give way to the rising green hills of the Caucasus mountains.

An hour south of Baku are a curious archeological treat: mud volcanoes. Little mounds of mud that bubble and ooze out of the earth for no apparent reason.

In the latter pictures, the soothing hills of Sheki, including a few interior pics from the Palace of Sheki Khans (Khansarai). Contrasting with the baking temperatures of lowland Azerbaijan, Sheki is a wonderful, laid-back mountain town, the perfect place to simply relax and enjoy the cool mountain breeze and wonderful Azeri hospitality.