Azerbaijan, 2nd; With excursions to Georgia

by Mark Elliott

• ISBN13: 9781873756492
• ISBN10: 1873756496
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2001-06-01
• Publisher: Trail Blazer Pubns

Summary

Third edition of the guide that was the first and still remains the only dedicated guide to Azerbaijan Features 200 maps Z99 180 explanatory visuals--vital in a country where there are few reliable maps Includes full historical background cultural tip

Table of Contents

Introduction
PART 1: AZERBAIJAN OVERVIEW
Practical Information
Visitors' overview	8	(1)
Visas	9	(2)
Getting there	11	(4)
Getting around	15	(4)
Money	19	(1)
Accommodation	19	(1)
Food	20	(5)
Drink	25	(3)
Health	28	(1)
Annoyances and safety	29	(1)
Climate	29	(1)
What to wear, things to take	29	(1)
Sources of information	30	(2)
Post and telecommunications	32	(3)
Facts about the country
History	35	(12)
Religion	47	(1)
Culture and attitudes	48	(2)
Festivals and holidays	50	(2)
Language	52	(2)
Entertainment and the arts	54	(4)
Carpets	58	(1)
Sports and games	59	(1)
What to see, where to go
Geographical overview	60	(1)
Land of fire	60	(1)
Mud volcanoes	61	(1)
Post-Soviet curiosities	61	(2)
Architecture	63	(2)
Museums	65	(1)
Into the mountains	66	(3)
Flora and fauna	69	(2)
PART 2: BAKU
Introduction	71	(1)
History	72	(4)
Exploring the Old Town	76	(7)
Around the Old Town (Suggested walk)	83	(7)
Central Baku	90	(1)
Best of.. overviews	91	(8)
Station area	99	(2)
The Yasamal Slopes	101	(2)
Shahidlar Xiyabany	103	(1)
Zorge and Officer parks	103	(1)
Ganjlik and the Embassy area	104	(1)
Tabriz Avenue	105	(1)
In the distant suburbs	106	(1)
Bazaars	106	(1)
Shops and services	107	(3)
Accommodation	110	(5)
Eating	115	(1)
Restaurants	116	(4)
Cafes, pubs and bars	120	(2)
Discos, clubs and pick-up bars	122	(1)
Entertainment	122	(2)
Getting around	124	(6)
Getting to/leaving Baku	130	(3)
PART 3: AROUND BAKU
Baku to Alat
Practical information	133	(1)
Leaving Baku	133	(6)
Absheron peninsula
History	139	(1)
Practical information	139	(2)
Beaches	141	(1)
Places to visit	142	(11)
PART 4: THE NORTH
Regional history	153	(1)
Practical information	153	(1)
Baku to Gilazi	154	(1)
Xizi, Alti Agach and the tough route to Shamakha	154	(2)
Gilazi to Qandov Junction	156	(4)
Qandov to Nabran	160	(1)
Nabran	161	(2)
Qandov Junction to Quba	163	(1)
Quba	163	(2)
Excursions from Quba	165	(5)
Hiking excursions from Xinaliq	170	(4)
Quba to Samur	174	(1)
Quba to Gusari	174	(1)
Excursions from Gusari	175	(3)
PART 5: SHAMAKHA--SHAKI ROUTE
Practical information	178	(1)
Baku to Maraza	179	(1)
Maraza to Shamakha	180	(2)
Shamakha	182	(3)
Around Shamakha (north)	185	(3)
Around Shamakha (south)	188	(2)
Shamakha to Ismaili	190	(3)
Ismaili	193	(1)
Around Ismaili	193	(2)
Ismaili to Qabala	195	(2)
Qabala	197	(2)
North of Qabala	199	(1)
North-west of Qabala	200	(1)
South of Qabala	200	(1)
Qabala to Shaki	201	(4)
Shaki	205	(4)
Around Shaki	209	(1)
Shaki to Qax	210	(1)
Qax	210	(1)
North of Qax	211	(1)
Qax to Zaqatala	212	(1)
Zaqatala	213	(1)
North of Zaqatala	214	(2)
Zaqatala to Balakan	216	(1)
Balakan	216	(1)
Postbina (Crossing the border to/from Georgia)	217	(1)
PART 6: CENTRAL AZERBAIJAN
Practical information	218	(1)
Alat to Kurdamir	219	(5)
Mingachevir	224	(2)
Barda	226	(3)
Naftalan	229	(2)
Ganja	231	(5)
Around Ganja	236	(4)
Bayan-Dashkasan-Hosh Bulaq	240	(2)
Ganja to Shamkir	242	(1)
Old Shamkir and Shamkir	242	(1)
Shamkir Tovuz loop	243	(3)
Tovuz-Qazax	246	(2)
Qazax	248	(2)
Qazax to the Georgian border	250	(2)
Towards Karabagh
Background	252	(1)
Shusha	252	(1)
Getting to Karabagh	253	(1)
Towards the occupied area	254	(1)
PART 7: THE SOUTH
Practical information	255	(1)
Alat to Salyan	256	(1)
Salyan to Neftchala	257	(2)
Salyan to Masalli	259	(2)
Masalli	261	(1)
Masalli to Yardimli	262	(1)
Yardimli	263	(1)
Around Yardimli	263	(2)
Yardimli to Lerik	265	(1)
Masalli to Lankaran	265	(1)
Lankaran	266	(2)
Around Lankaran	268	(3)
Lankaran to Lerik	271	(1)
Lerik	272	(1)
Beyond Lerik	273	(1)
Astara region	273	(2)
Astara town	275	(1)
PART 8: NAKHCHIVAN
History	276	(2)
Practical Information	278	(2)
Nakhchivan City	280	(2)
Southern Nakhchivan	282	(3)
Central Nakhchivan	285	(1)
Northern Nakhchivan	286	(2)
PART 9: EXCURSIONS TO GEORGIA (SAKARTVELO)
Facts about the country
Introduction	288	(1)
History	288	(3)
Religion	291	(1)
Visas	291	(1)
Getting around	291	(1)
Money	291	(1)
Accommodation	292	(1)
Food	293	(1)
Health	293	(1)
Climate	293	(1)
Sources of information	293	(1)
Staying in touch	293	(1)
Tbilisi and around
Exploring the centre	294	(4)
Accommodation in Tbilisi	298	(2)
Where to eat and drink in Tbilisi	300	(2)
Out of the centre and around Tbilisi	302	(3)
Kaheti and routes to Azerbaijan
Tbilisi to Lagodekhi	305	(1)
Tbilisi to Telavi	305	(2)
Telavi	307	(1)
Telavi to Lagodekhi/Azerbaijan border	307	(2)
David Gareja cave monasteries	309	(1)
Routes to Turkey
Tbilisi to Posof via Akhaltsikhe	309	(4)
Tbilisi to Trabzon via Batumi	313	(4)
Into the Georgian Mountains	317	(2)
APPENDICES
Bibliography	319	(1)
Menu decoder	320	(5)
Glossary	325	(5)
Who's who	330	(10)
Useful words and phrases	340	(3)
Names	343
Index