Caspian Plaza Baku

... a "Bridge Fee" which was apparently for the privilege of using the loading ramp to get off the damn boat! Monies exchanged, the port officials became all smiles and handshakes and waved us on our way.<br><br>Out into nigh time Baku at about 11.30 in the evening, and it seemed like it was rush-hour in New York, with cars racing each other at stupid speeds through the heavy traffic. At this point, Tim ...

... to stop her sliding off the oily deck into the sea. Fantastic. I have met a Russian lorry driver called Alexander, who has taught me to play Kazio. He thinks the crossing will take 3 days. I hope he's wrong but he has apparently done this journey many times.

... lost on the metro, but eventually got back to the Gordons. They had a few friends over and we spent all evening outside chatting and barbequeing. It was fantastic and we will all be reluctant to leave the land of real food, showers and beds.

... on the wrong side, we are only allowed in the country for 3 days, despite having 30 day visas. Glad we paid for those. I was carted away, alone, to buy the car insurance. This is becoming routine &#8211; only the registered owner of the vehicle can do it, and has to do it by himself. The insurance office was rammed with shouting truck drivers, and I would never have made it to ...

... brakes had given up...The climb out of the valley was tough, but manageable and rewarded by a restaurant on the top which served cold drinks. We all put salt and sugar in our drinks to get our salt levels back into place as we musty have each lost around 3 litres going up the hill. After the climb we descended into Shameki, a great day on the bike. In the evening we went out for dinner as 3 of the guys on the tour were celebrating their b-day on the same days...quite amazing ...

... just may have food. Various helpers rally to find someone who can help. Finally in the absence of a menu, we get out the food section of the LP, and they show us which ones they have and we order. Start off with a good supply of appetisers, including a sour-cherry sauce, borsch, bread, then cigirtma (a soft omelette and quite tasty), while others had kebabi lamb cutlets, big bottle of coke, some had local beer. Quite reasonably ...

... a pro, and had the stomach to prove it. Ma noticed a spot on my face and, after making me a special garlic brew to keep potential colds at bay, wiped some ointment on it without question. Ahh. How motherly! A family away from home. The next morning the hospitality didn't stop. Pascha's brother giving me dry insoles to replace my wet ones, two more puncture repair kits, another head torch, and offerings of warm clothes and a spare inner tube. I was truly touched by their ...

... com for those who don't know, this is a great site where people from all around the world travel all around the world and stay on each other's couches. marko likes beer too. i just got a message that my boat to aktau, kazakhstan should be leaving about 11am tomorrow. one boat on the very same line sunk about 3 years ago. eeeek!!!! anyway, next message'll be from central asia..... inshallah! (i like beer)

... istunud, teatab juht, et veel keegi tuleb peale. Sõber. Kahtlane, sõber istub peale ega tee piuksugi. Meid veendakse ümber, et mitte keegi ei sõida rongiga Astarasse ja buss läheb iga kell ja maksab 5$ nägu. Olgu. Kihutamine läbi pimeda Bakuu, punased tuled üldiselt ei häiri kedagi. Meid viiaksegi täitsa õigesse kohta. Bussijaamas käib pilkases pimeduses täielik elu ja sebimine. Ah muidugi, kohalik kell on pool seitse. Esimene info: bussi ei lähe, on takso ...

... at the front, brushed off the offers for a morning quicky from the resident hookers and their respective pimps and left the floating brothel to find a new hotel. Scrambling through my book, I found one hotel which wasn't 200$US, a rarity in oil rich Baku. I finally ended up at the Cenub hotel. It wasn't much better, with a broken mirror, a toilet that didn't flush, a rusted faucet, no hot water, no bathroom light and a tap which fell into my hands as I attempted to turn the ...