Baku, Azerbaijan- anyone been or know anything?

[miss direct]

I’ve been offered some short term work in Baku. I know nothing about that part of the world, but have been told I’ll be able to get by on my intermediate (ish) level Turkish. I’m up for an experience but want to be somewhere I can comfortably walk around alone - no one seems to have been there, does anybody here have any insights?

 

[Manter]

I have been once for work and then had two subsequent visas refused. Was a while ago now, but Baku was very clean and safe and manicured- the CBD is almost like a plastic city. I guess crazy dictatorship will do that...

Border with Armenia is very unstable and dangerous- been to the Armenian side much more recently and there are shellingsmand kidnappings and sniper fire regularly.

It’s a dictatorship with a very acquisitive ruling family and pretty shocking human rights; and a *lot* of oil money.

Flame towers are amazing. There is a gorgeous curvy Hadid building. Medieval city is lovely. The natural gas flames that just lick along the rocks outside Baku are freaky. Well worth going to. Food generally you can get anything you fancy- restaurants are pretty expensive. Local food is tasty, and much cheaper. Lots of oligarch-y shops

Very very safe as long as you’re not a dissident, or Armenian

 

[not-bono-ever]

Itd s hit pricey ime, but the oil business travellers are not bothered about price. Spending some time for here would invariably unearth more of the real Baku. It’s been a few years for me and I am sure the constantly renewing Baku is even more Astana shiny but the environment away from the sanitised wealthy bit was pretty rank pollution wise . They are twats for visas though - I know of tourist family that were a few minutes late departing and were offered a night in the cells and a subsequent court hearing or an on the spot fine that was not insignificant and an official deportation & banning order - make sure your papers are in order

 

[sim667]

Its one of those places I like the look of going to, but don't know whether I ever would...... There's quite a lot of places along the silk road I'd like to go to.

There's a travel youtube I watch who did a piece about visitng Baku, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[sim667]

Thats the first video, he's done 3 more.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

They are twats for visas though

Visas can be a real pain to get, but the other week I had a punter who wanted to go that day, I warned of the visa, 20 minutes later he called back and said he'd got one. Seems BP can issue them

 

[bellaozzydog]

I used to go there regularly from Atyrau (kazahstan) to audit incoming project vessels.
It was safe enough in 2008/2009 I'm sure its massively developed since then. We where told only in groups at night with one person on sober watch (used to be called shark watch in the military, some one has to stay sober ) but that was an italian corporate rule designed to thin out the herd (Via disciplinary proceedings) of beastly drunken UK ex pats spoiling delicate Italian enjoyment of the city

Great people, interesting place (I only really went between hotel and port areas and ate out at night. I think Oil and Gas influence a travellers budget (ruin) but hopefully you'd have a per diem that reflects that

Do it Do it

Don't try the horse brawn

 

[not-bono-ever]

Visas can be a real pain to get, but the other week I had a punter who wanted to go that day, I warned of the visa, 20 minutes later he called back and said he'd got one. Seems BP can issue them

This year they went to e-visa pre approval for tourists- work stuff is likely to be a bit more hassle

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

This year they went to e-visa pre approval for tourists- work stuff is likely to be a bit more hassle

yeah, this guy was going to work off-shore, which requires a whole new level of ballache to get a visa, unless you are going on behalf of BP...

 

[miss direct]

Yes, I've been told it's e-visa and not a problem. I think I may have accepted - it's only for four weeks and the pay is good - not much work in January so I may as well. Plus my partner (Turkish) can visit without needing a visa.

 

[sim667]

Yes, I've been told it's e-visa and not a problem. I think I may have accepted - it's only for four weeks and the pay is good - not much work in January so I may as well. Plus my partner (Turkish) can visit without needing a visa.

I'd be interested to know how you get on.... I've been inspired recently to visit the area....

 

[Manter]

Visas can be a real pain to get, but the other week I had a punter who wanted to go that day, I warned of the visa, 20 minutes later he called back and said he'd got one. Seems BP can issue them

Yup, when I went it wasn’t BP but one of their ilk who gave me the visa

 

[sparkybird]

A friend of mine was born and grew up on Baku. Both her and her sister married English guys...and don't live there anymore.
It's pretty corrupt (unsurprisingly) her mum is still there running a business and has had to pay bribes.
I've never been though..

 

[Spymaster]

Yup, when I went it wasn’t BP but one of their ilk who gave me the visa

Why did they knock your last two visa apps back?

 

[Manter]

Why did they knock your last two visa apps back?

They don’t tell you- but One was to visit and stay with a friend who is a journalist and her mum- so I suspect she wasn’t an approved journalist. By the third I had spent a couple of months in Armenia- I had two passports but I still suspect they knew.

Can’t really tell with crazed dictatorships tbh

 

[mauvais]

Its one of those places I like the look of going to, but don't know whether I ever would...... There's quite a lot of places along the silk road I'd like to go to.

There's always Macclesfield.

 

[Manter]

Its one of those places I like the look of going to, but don't know whether I ever would...... There's quite a lot of places along the silk road I'd like to go to.

There's a travel youtube I watch who did a piece about visitng Baku, I'll see if I can find it.

My brother travelled the northern route end to end (or what we suppose the northern route was!) and recommends Uzbekistan. In fact he raves about everything he saw there.

I’ve visited specific places on the northern, southern and south western route - N Syria, Kazakhstan etc and there is a certain romance to the whole idea of the silk route. I’d love to do more

 

[Crispy]

there is a certain romance to the whole idea of the silk route

My Aunt travelled the whole thing in the 70s, from Syria to China, whereupon she had every single undeveloped film stolen

 

[Manter]

My Aunt travelled the whole thing in the 70s, from Syria to China, whereupon she had every single undeveloped film stolen

Oh wow- quite an endeavour in the 70s particularly!! There are a lot of miles across the theee routes, and they cross some pretty scary places.

What a nightmare to have all of the film taken

 

[Crispy]

Yeah she's quite a remarkable woman

 

[sim667]

My brother travelled the northern route end to end (or what we suppose the northern route was!) and recommends Uzbekistan. In fact he raves about everything he saw there.

I’ve visited specific places on the northern, southern and south western route - N Syria, Kazakhstan etc and there is a certain romance to the whole idea of the silk route. I’d love to do more

Uzbekistan, Kygyristan (sp?) and Georgia are the biggies I want to do.

 

[Manter]

Uzbekistan, Kygyristan (sp?) and Georgia are the biggies I want to do.

Georgia is *amazing*. Go right away! Honestly one of my favourite places.... we hope to go back next year when J is old enough to appreciate it.

Uzbekistan is on my list- as I said, my brother raves about it (and lots of the good food in the neighbouring ‘stans’ seems to be Uzbek!)

Kyrgyzstan is a funny one. Would love to see quite a bit of it, and it looks beautiful, but the travel guidance says don’t travel by car through remote villages (which is basically how we explore countries!) and be careful as a woman not to get kidnapped. Which.... makes it seem less appealing

 

[sim667]

Would love to see quite a bit of it, and it looks beautiful, but the travel guidance says don’t travel by car through remote villages (which is basically how we explore countries!) and be careful as a woman not to get kidnapped. Which.... makes it seem less appealing

Oh thats strange, I watched a show lauding it as progressive for Womens rights out of all the 'stans the other day..... I'd love to go, but it sounds like maybe one I should do on me own rather than dragging me partner along then, just incase.... (plus I doubt it would be her kinda thing anyway).

 

[2hats]

Oh thats strange, I watched a show lauding it as progressive for Womens rights out of all the 'stans the other day.

Sounds about right. I was in Kyrgyzstan earlier this year. Seemed pretty safe to me. Noticeable how many young women (in particular) were wandering around, apparently often on their own, no obvious issues (well, apart from avoiding serious injury on the badly maintained pavements/roads). Everyone seemed pretty happy. Tajikistan was much more dodgy. A lot of corrupt officials and one had to be aware of jihadists/Taliban influenced folk drifting up from Afghanistan, when out roving in the southern half of the country.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Hmmmm.lots of septics - both state and private employ in that particular ‘Stan - can cause problems for some. You will know if it is you obviously.