I lived and Worked in Baku (City of Beautiful Girls)in 2005
Baku, the capital of the former soviet state of Azerbaijan, is located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and is one of Azerbaijan's largest cities. Azerbaijan is at the geographical crossroads of Central Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It borders Iran, Turkey and the Caspian Sea.
The climate is hot and dry in the summer, cool and wet in the winter, with gale-force winds that sweep through on occasion, caused by masses of polar air; however, snow is rare at 28 metres below sea level, and temperatures on the coast rarely get down to freezing, It feels like -20 sometimes when its windy.
The Town itself is quite impressive With many Grand Buildings left over from the original Barons of the OIl Boom of the 1800;s-------
Baku Oil History
Most expats stay in apartments in town, Either Company supplied free or self-chose using Company allowance. Decent modernised 1 bed Apartments can be found in town for lot less than the average allowance of $1200/month.+ living expences.Company transport is normally supplied to and from wherever the work is.
If you are only here for a short trip you may find yourself staying in the Rig Guest House. Basic but clean, with Breakfast and Laundry free. If your luckier you get to stay at the Crescent Beach Hotel about 15 minutes out of town by Taxi or free curtesy Minibus. (Its the place to be on a Sunday afternoon in the Summer , sitting around the Pool supping beer), but in the winter it,s very quiet and remote. You would be better off going for the "City wall Guest House. It,s nice and in the city.
Most of the entertainment, ie Pubs / Nightclubs / Restaurants are within walking distance being mostly based around
"Fountain Square",Which is a large pedestrianised shopping area in the middle of town full of Fountains would you believe ( Only turned on for Holidays etc).Taxis are plentyful and cheap.(1 Old chevan anywhere in Town for an expat. 5000 Old Manat if your local.Unofficial expat tax?) also it's best to use them if your out after midnight to get home as there seem to be plenty of opportunist locals on the lookout for some easy money and or mobiles and anything else the mellow Expat can be relieved of. Many of the Basement (Nightclub) entrances have unprotected stairwells, which is another hazard for the latenight Expat to negotiate. There is a Metro system but I was advised not to use it. I've been here over a year now and have never had any reason to use it.If you want to travel this way a ticket cost 250 Manat, not a lot
Local currency is the Manat and Chevan, 10,000 Old manat is 1 chevan. $1 = approx 4900 Old Manats
The currency changed at the end of 2005 and a New Manat has replaced the old money. 1 New Manat = 5,000 old Manats. Both currencies will be in circulation for a few months which should cause Expats much confusion
Drinks in Pubs are around 15,000 - 20,000 Old Manats,for imported beers. Local beer a bit cheaper and is just as good, or bad as its all Lager and I'm a Real Ale person, although Kilkenny and Guinness on draught is available in the "Irish Pubs".
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Expat PUBS Around or near Fountain Square. With some photo's to help you find them.
Irish Theme
O'Malleys---
Camel's Toe---
Finnegan's (Live Band Wed and Sat
Zula's Bar
Scottish Theme
Caledonia
American Theme
Tequila Junction
UK style
Garage---Madonna Bar---Three Bears---Golden Bridges
Shakespeare---
Tiger Bar---Adams Sports Bar---T.J's
The Sports Bar---Pub Green Eyes---Half Way Inn
Tall Trees---Rig Bar(Basement, New Owners and refurbished)
Marshalls(Bar and Restaurant}---The Oilmans Inn(Bar and Restaurant in the Old City}
There are also 2 Jazz Clubs in town with live music most nights
There are many Nightclubs in town (which for some reason are all in basements. Extremely easy to fall into, Difficult to leave) but most of them are rough and aimed at locals and best kept away from.
The ones used by Expats are
Blackjack---Sherwood---N.Brothers---Coral---Universal
There are no entrance Charges and Bar prices are OK,
but beware of pretty girls!
The place is also full of good restaurants from all over.
ie From McDonald---Pitza Hut--Good Indian and Local to very expensive Chinese
The
"Old City" inside the original
"City Wall" is well worth spending time to walk around. There are obviously many old buildings and many are being restored to their former glory. There are plenty of shops? selling Carpets and Antique? stuff which may not all be genuine some of the items are very attractive.(Genuine antiques need an export permit which seems to be quite easy to get. Usually involves giving somebody some money) There are quite a few museums although some of them are closed for lack of money or are being restored and of course there is the Maidens Tower"
There is a
Boulevard that runs the length of town parallel to the sea. Between the road and the sea wall is continuous
Parkland with cafes and small amusement areas, ideal for jogging, biking etc if your into these healthy activities, Oh and yes there's a Hash House Harriers.
I am now working in Tengiz. Kazakhstan. and stop there on my R & R.
If you want to go to my Site and view the Photos < http://colston.org/index.html >