Yeni Ramana: hospitality

Yeni Ramani, the new Ramana, is a small settlement on the Absheron peninsula, rather close to Baku. It is close to the “old” Ramana, just called Ramana, that is said to be founded by the Romans, hence the name. New Ramana has nothing special to offer on a first look, besides it is built around oil rigs – but this will be the matter of another post.

On the second look there are very friendly people – as everywhere in Azerbaijan. This post is dedicated to a lovely woman, who invited us to her beautiful yard to have tea. Actually nearly always when I go on tour with my camera I get something to drink or eat: often it is an invitation for tea, always with some sweets, or I get produce from a shop owner, freshly baked bread or asked to join dinner.
It is in the neighborhoods, where just normal people live. Places to which foreigners normally do not walk in as there is nothing fancy or worth to look at and that are the places where Azerbaijan is at its best with wonderful people.

So, this woman was looking out of the door of her yard and saw us and I find the transition amazing: from interest to rejection to skepticism to friendliness and hospitality.

She invited us for tea in her lovely yard with a green roof of vine leaves. This is such a contrast to the brown and grey nature of the Absheron peninsula and her yard is as many others just a small paradise in the semidesert.

She lives alone as her husband died years ago and it seemed she was happy to have company. After a while she really warmed up and smiled a lot at us. She finally brought pictures from her daughter and also pictures from herself. She shared these memories with us and it was again one of these moments I wished my Azeri skills were better.