Thomas Bailey doc Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan. Eastern Tour. You may have never heard of this country before but I assure you that there are a lot of things to see and do in Azerbaijan and after reading this guide to the best places and activities in Baku and surroundings you may want to book a flight straightaway. Luckily, this travel guide provides you with everything you need to know before going to Azerbaijan, from the best places to visit to the best restaurants, foods to try, sights and activities and even the best places to stay at. It is the ultimate guide to Azerbaijan and it will give you many reasons to put it on your bucket list. But book soon, because the country is set to become the next European destination now that online visas are easily obtained in three days. Did you know that the word Caucasian comes from the first inhabitants of northern Azerbaijan? Or that the word Azerbaijan evolved from the words for Land of Fire in ancient Greek? Have you ever heard of the country's mud volcanoes? And did you know that there is a spot in Azerbaijan that has been burning for over 4,000 years non stop? Read on to discover more about this fascinating Caucasus country. Azerbaijan's capital is the architectural love child of Paris and Dubai...albeit with plenty of Soviet genes floating half-hidden in the background. Few cities in the world are changing as quickly and nowhere else in Eurasia do East and West blend as seamlessly or as chaotically. At its heart, the Unesco-listed Old City (İçəri Şəhər) lies within an exotically crenelated arc of fortress wall. Around this are gracefully illuminated stone mansions and pedestrianised tree-lined streets filled with exclusive boutiques. In the last decade, countless towers have mushroomed, dwarfing or replacing tatty old Soviet apartment blocks. Some of the finest new builds are jaw-dropping masterpieces. Meanwhile romantic couples canoodle their way around wooded parks and hold hands on the Caspian-front bulvar (promenade), where greens and opal blu