Crown Hotel Baku

... to cut across several lanes of heavy traffic and disappeared into the night, not to be seen again as it happened for many days!<br><br>Bas and myself, with Pete in tow, paused at the roadside and pondered our options and decided on a hotel, preferably close, and even more important with a cold beer and a hot shower. At this point a small crowd gathered and one bloke came up to us and started to chat ...

Well, it's taken all day, but we've made it onto the boat. This is one dodgy affair. Happily the few other passengers on this filthy freighter are mostly British, travelling around the world on motorbikes. Everything is filthy, and there is nothing but Molly's ...

Chris didn't feel great, so Damien and I went into town to investigate the ferry, and while we were relieved to discover there was one the next day, we were surprised to find they were after over $600 for the privilege. We got a bit separated ...

Spent the day in Baku and met up with the Gordons in the early evening. We had showers! I was disappointed to find that most of my tan was ingrained dirt. Graeme took us out for a curry and few beers and we returned to sleep in beds! Chris and I shared a double bed, but he only hugged me once in his sleep. It was a special moment.

... même qu'en Ouzbekistan disais-je, on pourrait dire que ici le president (qui a succede a son pere) a mange son pain et plafonne son codevi en Suisse et consacre donc son pognon au developpement du pays. Du coup c'est beau, c'est propre, et ca cuote aussi cher qu'en France eul cafe au bistro. Apres avoir ecume les ruelles de la vieille ville ou fourmillent mossquees, madrasas et caravanserails (bah oui, on est toujours sur la route de la soie), j'ai ...

... 5 to dress them as a pirate). Down to have a look at the seafront, which has a walkway all along it, with parks, fountains and fun rides in it. Today is a public holiday, National Salvation Day (celebrating the day Parliament asked Heydar Aliyev to lead the country in 1993), and the park is full of families out enjoying the sunshine. Just about to go back to the hotel, as we've promised ourselves an easy day, when Dianne reads ...

... Am naechsten Morgen hatten wir doch glatt das Dock v**lassen, Turkmenbashi leid** jedoch nicht! Jetzt lagen auch wir draussen vor Ank**! Da wir we***** als 10 Mann Besatzung hatten und auch nur 3 Passagi**e (einen Truck gab es auch noch), kam einem das Schiff wie ein Geist**schiff vor... D** Maschinist sprach ein wenig englisch (will nach Norwegen, weil ** auf d** Faehre nur US$300 v**dient) und d** Kapitaen ebenso. Wegen schlechtem Wett** konnten ...

... messy and badly kept though and the traffic...!!! Azeris seem to have discovered technology and cars yesterday! They drive like crazy and their cars produce all kinds of strange noises with the tackiest horns you can possibly imagine. Overall, I have never seen such tacky people in my life!!! Azeris are quite friendly and reserved though. In Baku I have the impression of being in an overpopulated country town! To be continued...

... special plants in a kettle and pouring the hot water into a chamber pot. Woman are not allowed to touch or prepare food until this is done as it is said they are not clean. The women embrace this process, as do Mary and I as we truly want to have the complete village experience. Besides that, it is the first hot water for bathing I have seen since coming to Suriname six weeks again and if you know me well you know that a hot bath at the end of the day is a ritual ...

... sleep when I heard, through my paper thin walls, a large Russian man burst into his room and slamming the door shut. He laughed a Vodka soaked cry and so did a second, female, voice. "Ohh god... no more sleep for Luc" I thought realizing that he was one of the hourly customers and would keep me from getting any possible sleep. When 9am rolled around, the noise finally faded as the boat-load of activity died down. I was tired. I ripped off my blanket and confronted the vicious ...