14th of March, 2014, Baku, Azerbaijan
I went with the bus to the North of Baku into a quite depressing area of decayed multi story buildings. And just across the street of the bus stop are new villas with a stunning view on even further remote suburbs on the Absheron peninsula.
The water, which looks like reflections of the white pattern in the wall, had an undefined brownish color. Of course I was curious and had to walk this slippery path – and it was worth it.
The white building in the front is part of barracks and I could see soldiers exercising and running on the grounds.
But the much more interesting find was the cemetery right in front of me with a mosque down in town and the near endless view on the outskirts of Baku
and the cliffs, on which the villas are built. It was a rather warm early spring evening and friends and couples enjoyed the stunning view on the natural platforms.
The water in the background is not the Caspian Sea, but one of the many lakes on the Absheron island.
Gravestones in Azerbaijan often show the picture of the deceased or the relief of a mosque. The late evening sun gave it a serene atmosphere and in contrast to the noisy city center it was very quiet. However it is not sheltered by a wall and the Bakunian wind blows plastic bags and other garbage into the cemetery.
Just above the cemetery are rocks and cliffs with relatively new dwellings sitting on them. From further away in the evening haze it has nearly a Tuscany silhouette.
The cliffs and the neighboring cemetery are a place where young couples can find solitude – as long as no nosey foreigner walks around.
And while I was on tour the two young men on the first cliff were replaced by these two friendly women – I guess mother and daughter. The older rewarded me for taking pictures of them with a handful of peanuts.
Good bye….
Life in Baku 