NOTATION LOG DATED: May 08, 2008

LOCATION:  Baku, Azerbaijan, Hyatt Regency Hotel

“…….At $350 per night, it is the best that there is in this part of the world but the rooms could be designed better. The Sandman Inn in Castlegar has more room between the beds.

The buffet breakfast is very comparable to the other places where I have stayed but is a seven (7) to the buffets I had experienced in “all inclusive” in Cuba and Dominican Republic.

The prices are commensurate to a typical Hyatt. Drinks are $4.50 Manats ($7.20 US). We bought some beer on the waterfront for $2.40 Manats for two (2) beer………….a gross difference and affordable for the local populace.

We toured a museum in the “mountains” which is a broken up limestone formation. There were caves and rock art that dated some 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.

The interpreter was good and gave us the entire interpretation of what the Stone Age Artists were trying to depict. There was pottery also.

What impressed me was that this area faced the Caspian Sea which level was some 100 meters higher at that time. Apparently, the Caspian, Mediterrean and Black Seas were all interconnected at that time. The Caspian is 1/5 the salt in the oceans and is fed by the Volga River from Russia. Apparently the Volga is quite polluted but people swim in the Caspian so it must be okay.

 The Caspian Sea is well known for its Sturgeon.

Everything is very expensive and we did not find places where the locals eat and shop to experience the lower prices.

The economy is buoyed by the petroleum industry. Apparently oil was known in Baku since prehistoric times. A castle built in 1200 AD on about 65 acres, still has the original walls all around it. Apparently the original moat was defended by pouring oil over the water and then lit during an enemy attack to discourage the actual scaling of the castle walls.

Many local buildings are being sand blasted and stuccoed to bring up the original finish. It is really pleasing to see. Apartments are being constructed in huge quantities. The apartments are multistory and are concrete construction with masonry non load bearing walls, similar to the West.

Prices for apartments range from US$300,000 to US$400,000 which must be very high for many locals cannot afford that. The value of the apartments is similar to that in Vancouver, B.C….………….”

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