Baku day excursion

We had a 40 minute mosquito hunt around 1am.
Unbelievably. Could not kill the little bastard. We were tying to hit him, sprayed him with deodorant, threw towels at the roof with no success.
We are at least happy he is the culprit of Wills new bites and not bed bug saga #2.
Will jumped up suddenly around 2am after we had given up and got the prick.
Great sleep if it had been longer but woke up ok this morning. There was hot water so Will jumped in. My hair desperately needs a clean but it think it will have to wait. The shower is too small even for me.
We left at 8:40 to go the bank next door - very efficient so left us standing on the street waiting for 15 minutes.
Something was clearly going on. The streets were littered with police.
Traffic stopped too and it was a little earily quiet for my comfort …
There was a policeman standing directly in front of us but he didn’t tell us to move so we stayed put. 🤷🏼‍♀️
Eventually police car after police car came racing down the street and a few other vehicles. Must be someone very important.

Then it was like it never happened. Police walked away and traffic and city came back to life.

Our driver was a little late because of this but he did turn up so that’s always a plus 😆

Drove for about 40 minutes to reach Gobustan reserve. We went past so many oil rigs it was insane.
The further out from the city the more obvious the oil money wasn’t shared with everyone. 😅

Arrived and paid 35 Manat for both our entries and a private guide. She first took us through the museum. She was a bit stiff at first and explained all the info boards very robotically. She would only make eye contact with me. Maybe Will made her uncomfortable 🤷🏼‍♀️
It was basically this is what a rock drawing is. Here are examples worldwide. Here is what you will find here. Examples of shelters and lifestyle. Some cooking and hunting stuff and animal bones.
She asked where we were from as we drove to the rocks. She became much more friendly after we said Australian.
The rock carvings were really cool. Neither of us had seen any before. About 4000 years old and some of them really clear. Lots of goats and hunter depictions. Very very cool. She had a little laser which was very helpful at showing us things we missed.
We didn’t really need her for the museum part but for this part I’m very glad we had a guide.
She showed us lots and lots of different rocks and one part where they use to live. They found a child’s bones recently and there is old campfire leftovers. The cave is now open due to earthquakes but it was once enclosed.
Lots of the rocks had drawings on top of drawings showing different time periods and groups. The area nearby was very flat. You could see out to the Caspian Sea (not sea, biggest lake in the world).
Our driver drove us all back to the museum, she jumped out and off we went to the mud volcanoes.
We had to swap cars. Our driver stayed behind and we had new random man to drive us who thought he spoke English but most certainly didn’t
Nothing like a bit of off roading in a crap box.
About 15km away.
The volcanos were awesome! He took us to a bigger one first and we stuck our hand in. Just thick cold mud.
Loved watching it bubble.
Then washed our hands in a big salt water pond. He couldn’t explain properly but it was a bit random to be there.
Then went to a section with lots of little mud piles.
A deceptive surface - completely ruined my shoes and fell in a 20cm mud pile lol.
Will told me I was a goose then did it too.
Had to get back in the car and felt really bad about it cause shoes were a mess.
He drove us back to our driver and I felt so sick.
It was now past 12 and hadn’t eaten and the motion was making me so nauseous.
Had a difference of opinion on price. I got told 20m Manat but he reckoned 30 and tip.
I asked our driver to help. Driver though it was 30 too so I gave 30 but no tip. I asked for change from 40. He wasn’t happy but gave it to me.
He was like no 40 is fine.
40 might be fine for you but not fine for me 😆
Got back in with our driver and headed back to city. 1pm by now and I couldn’t continue. Had to get food. Stopped at some Resturant and i firstly spent 15 mins in the bathroom trying to clean my shoes cause it was while polish stone floors. Eek.
Bathroom had no running water which made for a challenge. Did the best I could.
Will ordered for the both of us (now fired from this job after we got the bill)
I ate as much bread as I could and some of the tomato but couldn’t do it. Will ate a lot of the meat. Bill was 130 😬😬😬😬😬
All places we have been to keep trying to change our order. “You will want this”
No. I have given you my order. I think he got conned into a meat platter rather than 3 separate kebabs options which would have come in under 40.
Is what it is.
Extra annoying cause I couldn’t eat it or I would vomit.
I was so disappointed but had to call it a day.
Asked the driver to drive us back. he has agreed to do the next half tomorrow morning for the same price so we gave him 50 euro today and will give him other half tomorrow. Happy with this arrangement.

Got home and crashed for a few hours.

It’s a big problem the not eating properly or only waiting salads because I don’t like or understand the menus. What I wouldn’t give for a kitchen to cook my own food.
Need more water too but it’s so costly only buying bottles and Europe’s tap water is gross tasting 😒

Have had dinner and got Oreos and bread for breakfast. Nothing in supermarket, just alcohol and pasta/sauces. The food diet continues.

I’d like to stop with the better, not better, better rubbish.
Hopefully tomorrow I’m better whole day.

Wills throat is sore again so that’s also fun.Read more