January 16 we arrived in our new country, Baku, the capital and largest city in Azerbaijan, with suitcases and Charlie in tow. Baku is located 28 metres below sea level which makes it the lowest lying capital in the world. Azerbaijan is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south and has a 11km long border with Turkey in the northwest. The official language is Azerbaijan and the population is 91% Muslim. Independence from Soviet Union was completed at the end of 1991.
Upon arrival we were accommodated at Baku Palace in the city centre.
Ok, this isn't Baku Palace where we lived for a month - this is the sight that greets you on a night flight into Baku airport.
On one of our first outings, we tried Azerbaijan beer and burgers.
Charlie has realised he's no longer an outdoor cat and he took it pretty hard at first. Then, I realised after a few weeks that the cat food he no longer liked so much was in fact...not cat food. Shame on me.
Views from our apartment at Baku Palace. Much less grand than its name implies, the wind whistled through every window and door when it was windy. As Baku is known as the world's windiest city, that was often!
We took an afternoon to visit one of the local markets with our welcome host from BP.
Pomegranites, spices, pickles, nuts and fruit galore.
The fruit and veges are locally grown and pesticide free. Organic by default!
We are very happy our old friends from Angola and recently the UK, Monika and Raj also arrived to Baku a week before us. We've managed to make a few outings together and this is one of their out of town trips to go skiing. Yes, it was cold enough for that when we arrived. After 8 years of living in two of the hottest countries of the world, it was bliss to dig out the winter woollies and feel the nip of fresh air when outside.
Monika has taken up the hobby of making almond milk and flour.
Finally, we moved into our permanent housing, an apartment in Port Baku Residences downtown.
This was our orientation day to learn all things Azerbaijani. Was an interesting day for us both. And Charlie. Thankfully our tutor likes cats. She had no choice really.
View from the lounge. We are located opposite the Holiday Inn and are fortunate to be able to see between the two building towards where the sun sets.
Trust Charlie to find the gap in the balcony - I spotted him on the next door neighbours balcony just having a look-see over the edge. My heart!
But, he came back and is content to pop outside a couple of times a day.
Another year older and taken out for an afternoon tea by Monika.
There is some stunning architecture around Baku. These are the Flame Towers symbolising Azerbaijan's nickname 'The Land of Fire'. Fire has long been culturally significant in Azerbaijan, one of the many reasons being that the country has vast reserves of oil and subterranean natural gas.
Alongside the Caspian Sea runs a wide and accessible boulevard with parks, many green spaces and sculptures.
Tea is the drink of choice here and you can buy it everywhere. I haven't sampled the 'Dragonbreath' from this vendor on the walkway but I guess its a tea drink.
Formula 1 Grand Prix racing has been hosted in Baku since 2016 and there is evidence of it all over the city. This years race has been postponed.
Is this Holly Hobby in Baku? And below, a photographic project showing the different cultures living here.
The artist and his muse.
With crazy traffic that we are now used to from the other countries it is necessary to cross the road using the many underpasses available. I am amazed to spot the extensive use of marble, everywhere and including the underpass walkways.
One day I got it into my head that Charlie needed a pal so I took this young kitten from a lady who had been fostering her. Sadly, it wasn't to be although she and Charlie got along pretty good.
Above, are a couple of coffee places here in Baku with the Baku Roasting Company being the oldest.
Shopping with Monika, just like the old days. Here is a selection of items from a recent shop. Thank God for google translate as most items are in Russian or Azerbaijan.
There are massive sculptures all over the city. I like this one reaching towards the gold building.
Happy to find a tea shop that sells Rooibos tea which is not commonly available here.
The boulevard is very popular so it was good to go early one morning when it was quite desolate.
It's wonderful to hear from home (NZ and Holland) and this time we celebrate with Anouk who recently appeared in a Dutch film that screened all over Holland.
As an expat, you must expect the unexpected. Soon after arriving it was decided my entry visa was incorrect so I needed to leave the country and apply for a valid one. Off I flew by myself to neighbouring Georgia to get said visa. I caught a cab to my hotel booked online and wondered where on earth I was being taken. Photo's of the hotel looked small but modern and the area we drove through was almost reminiscent of Angola. Minus the smell. But, all was well and I enjoyed a night at the Hotel Atlantis, where the family owned and run staff greeted me warmly. Perfect.
Upon arrival into Georgia I received this glass bottle of Georgian red wine.
Back home to crazy cat.
Charlie loves escaping into the shared hallway waiting for people to come out of the elevators or he shuffles off to lie outside the door of a small neighbouring dog to taunt her.
Lada cars built in Russia in the early 1970's are still very low cost popular choice on the roads here. And a lot of different and unique models also. This one sits in our basement.
Anchor Butter widely available. Virtually impossible to buy my favourite salted butter though.
More news from home; here's my brother Wade receiving his 21 year service medal to the NZ Police.
Liam and Shani have taken a massive step and moved to Dunedin in the South Island (NZ) for their studies. Before they left they met with this gorgeous couple, Stuart and Janet Helms.
This trio of Hatch children always make me smile. Thanks to their mum, Jenny who always keeps in touch.
Along came covid-19 and we've been on lockdown like a lot of the world since mid march. Currently we need to request Police permission to leave the house and only then to shop for groceries or take a trip to the doctor. Jeroen has adapted to working from home and has a new work colleague.
Below is a photo taken from my friend, Dinita's place of workers disinfecting the streets.
Like most kids in lockdown, they're finding ways to amuse themselves. This cheeky chappy got into his catnip/silverine baggy and got sozzled. So, I decided to find some online entertainment for him. I hooked him up to watch the Cornwall bird feeding video- he loves it!
We've celebrated Jeroen's birthday, Easter (thanks for the green Easter egg aka feijoa photo, Jen) and now we're into May. Before lockdown I briefly met our neighbours who needed to hightail it back to the States and leave their elderly puss, Miss Gracie behind. Their driver pops in every couple of days to feed her and I go over twice a day to give attention and feed her. In the above photo, Charlie and Gracie have greeted each other by nose and settled down, acutely aware of the other's presence. Neither cat has had much to do with other feline's so I reckon they're doing pretty well.
And gives me something to do!
I'm very thankful to have joined with the Baku International Fellowship church soon after we arrived here. We're meeting online on Sunday's now due to the pandemic and this works very well. There are folk from all over the world join as well as the small number who remain in Azerbaijan.
I also meet with these lovely ladies for Bible study on Thursday mornings via Zoom.
I'm known as a lockdown rebel as my screen shows a backdrop on the boulevard. Truth is I managed to put it on there but can't get it off again.
Upon arrival we were accommodated at Baku Palace in the city centre.
Ok, this isn't Baku Palace where we lived for a month - this is the sight that greets you on a night flight into Baku airport.
On one of our first outings, we tried Azerbaijan beer and burgers.
Charlie has realised he's no longer an outdoor cat and he took it pretty hard at first. Then, I realised after a few weeks that the cat food he no longer liked so much was in fact...not cat food. Shame on me.
Views from our apartment at Baku Palace. Much less grand than its name implies, the wind whistled through every window and door when it was windy. As Baku is known as the world's windiest city, that was often!
We took an afternoon to visit one of the local markets with our welcome host from BP.
Pomegranites, spices, pickles, nuts and fruit galore.
We are very happy our old friends from Angola and recently the UK, Monika and Raj also arrived to Baku a week before us. We've managed to make a few outings together and this is one of their out of town trips to go skiing. Yes, it was cold enough for that when we arrived. After 8 years of living in two of the hottest countries of the world, it was bliss to dig out the winter woollies and feel the nip of fresh air when outside.
Monika has taken up the hobby of making almond milk and flour.
Finally, we moved into our permanent housing, an apartment in Port Baku Residences downtown.
This was our orientation day to learn all things Azerbaijani. Was an interesting day for us both. And Charlie. Thankfully our tutor likes cats. She had no choice really.
View from the lounge. We are located opposite the Holiday Inn and are fortunate to be able to see between the two building towards where the sun sets.
Trust Charlie to find the gap in the balcony - I spotted him on the next door neighbours balcony just having a look-see over the edge. My heart!
But, he came back and is content to pop outside a couple of times a day.
There is some stunning architecture around Baku. These are the Flame Towers symbolising Azerbaijan's nickname 'The Land of Fire'. Fire has long been culturally significant in Azerbaijan, one of the many reasons being that the country has vast reserves of oil and subterranean natural gas.
Alongside the Caspian Sea runs a wide and accessible boulevard with parks, many green spaces and sculptures.
Tea is the drink of choice here and you can buy it everywhere. I haven't sampled the 'Dragonbreath' from this vendor on the walkway but I guess its a tea drink.
Is this Holly Hobby in Baku? And below, a photographic project showing the different cultures living here.
With crazy traffic that we are now used to from the other countries it is necessary to cross the road using the many underpasses available. I am amazed to spot the extensive use of marble, everywhere and including the underpass walkways.
One day I got it into my head that Charlie needed a pal so I took this young kitten from a lady who had been fostering her. Sadly, it wasn't to be although she and Charlie got along pretty good.
Above, are a couple of coffee places here in Baku with the Baku Roasting Company being the oldest.
Shopping with Monika, just like the old days. Here is a selection of items from a recent shop. Thank God for google translate as most items are in Russian or Azerbaijan.
There are massive sculptures all over the city. I like this one reaching towards the gold building.
Happy to find a tea shop that sells Rooibos tea which is not commonly available here.
It's wonderful to hear from home (NZ and Holland) and this time we celebrate with Anouk who recently appeared in a Dutch film that screened all over Holland.
As an expat, you must expect the unexpected. Soon after arriving it was decided my entry visa was incorrect so I needed to leave the country and apply for a valid one. Off I flew by myself to neighbouring Georgia to get said visa. I caught a cab to my hotel booked online and wondered where on earth I was being taken. Photo's of the hotel looked small but modern and the area we drove through was almost reminiscent of Angola. Minus the smell. But, all was well and I enjoyed a night at the Hotel Atlantis, where the family owned and run staff greeted me warmly. Perfect.
Upon arrival into Georgia I received this glass bottle of Georgian red wine.
Back home to crazy cat.
Charlie loves escaping into the shared hallway waiting for people to come out of the elevators or he shuffles off to lie outside the door of a small neighbouring dog to taunt her.
Lada cars built in Russia in the early 1970's are still very low cost popular choice on the roads here. And a lot of different and unique models also. This one sits in our basement.
More news from home; here's my brother Wade receiving his 21 year service medal to the NZ Police.
This trio of Hatch children always make me smile. Thanks to their mum, Jenny who always keeps in touch.
Along came covid-19 and we've been on lockdown like a lot of the world since mid march. Currently we need to request Police permission to leave the house and only then to shop for groceries or take a trip to the doctor. Jeroen has adapted to working from home and has a new work colleague.
Below is a photo taken from my friend, Dinita's place of workers disinfecting the streets.
Like most kids in lockdown, they're finding ways to amuse themselves. This cheeky chappy got into his catnip/silverine baggy and got sozzled. So, I decided to find some online entertainment for him. I hooked him up to watch the Cornwall bird feeding video- he loves it!
And gives me something to do!
I'm very thankful to have joined with the Baku International Fellowship church soon after we arrived here. We're meeting online on Sunday's now due to the pandemic and this works very well. There are folk from all over the world join as well as the small number who remain in Azerbaijan.
I also meet with these lovely ladies for Bible study on Thursday mornings via Zoom.
I'm known as a lockdown rebel as my screen shows a backdrop on the boulevard. Truth is I managed to put it on there but can't get it off again.
