Azerbaijan
Awesome Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is awesome for many things—a lot of which most people do not even know! This is a superb tourist destination, however, despite the relative obscurity of some of its greatest offerings. This is a country where you can get age-old forests right next to some astounding beaches, where petroleum oil baths live alongside the newest and most modern spas. This is the Caucasus in its most fetching, fantastic and fascinating form.
Where should one begin when describing a possible itinerary for a trip to Azerbaijan? Perhaps with the city of Baku, with its flame-shaped skyscrapers and London cabs? Or perhaps with the constantly name-changing Ganja and the tomb of the poet Nizami within its confines? Or perhaps one should start with more natural wonders like the fabulous scenery surrounding Khinalug’s quaint buildings? It is difficult indeed to know where to begin, given how much Azerbaijan offers.
You could start by touring the ancient and natural wonders of the land, seeing the great petroglyphs that abound at Gobustan and the hundreds of mud volcanoes that dot the Azerbaijan landscape. You could marvel at the great Caspian Hyrcanian forests of the country right next to the border it shares with Iran. You could visit the local waters through either the landlocked Tears of Kyapaz or the beaches of Khachmaz.
And then you could marvel at the local structures, the buildings of the capital or the ancient forts and caravanserai sprinkled throughout the land. Through it all you would see the indomitable character of the proud people who call this land their home, see the many influences that have lent new flavors to them as well as the history that has carved out this gorgeous piece of paradise. Azerbaijan is a destination to experience for any world traveler with a taste for beauty and culture, and it welcomes all such tourists with open arms.