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Leaving Baku – flight problem

I left Baku to travel to Warsaw today. This involved a very early start (6.15am) from the hotel, a taxi ride to the airport then a queue to check in followed by a queue to pass through passport control then boarding – all this occurred on time. Having boarded the aircraft it then proceeded to leave the stand on time. At this point I drifted of to sleep. I was aware of some noise in the aircraft cabin – a baby was crying intensely.

To my surprise the aircraft seemed to come to complete stop and I was aware of an announcement from the cabin staff. I immediately became fully conscious and followed the rest of the passengers to disembark. It seems that the mother of baby had decided that she did not want to travel after all and insisted that the flight be stopped!

All passengers disembarked and were bused back to the terminal.

About 20 minutes alter we all went through the security screening and then were take back to the plane. When we arrived there we had to identify our own luggage which had been empted form the hold and places on the tarmac. Once back on board I resumed my sleep and the flight continued on the 3 hour leg to – of course I was rather concerned about my connection from Istanbul to Warsaw! As it happens we landed in time for me to see that flight to Warsaw status set to last call. So I had to run through the airport ( which I have never seen before) to the gate and board the flight! Phew!!!!

Probably the most interesting thing about this was to total lack of any attempt but the Baku ground staff to provide an explanation about this incident.

Of course I might sometimes feel a little anxious when traveling alone to a destination that I have not visited before! This was a baptism of fire for sure! That said it all worked out OK in then and I am now at my hotel in Warsaw having room service since I don’t have a traveling partner today! I will be meeting with new colleagues for meetings over the next couple of days!

Just as well that you cannot see what is ahead till it happens!

Another first tonight!

Room service delivered on a trolley with a flower! See below 😉

Lunch in Baku

Each of the days I have been working in Baku we have been able to enjoy lunch Azerbiajan style.

Today we whet to a restaurant some where in Baku – when we arrived we went inside to be find a long building which had lots of smaller rooms of to each side. One of these had been booked for our group. The image below shows the long room
Once inside the room which was kept warm with a heater in the corner

Some of our group who we have been working with during this two day trip
And of course John and I before the meal was served

And not least the food!!! It always stated with a selection of leaves, yoghurt and raw vegetables and then some meat which is shown below. Both memorable and enjoyable.

Fish Tank in Baku

Yes a fish tank in a meeting room 😉


Thought I would make this post especially for my son Philip how has in interest in fish!!. For the last two days I have been working in a room which had as one of its walls a big fish tank. You could actually see right through the tank to the stairwell at the other side! The tank stands about 1 meter tall and about 2.5 meters long. It is as thick as the wall is!!!

Certainly a very pleasant thing to have in a meeting room. It provides a suitable distraction at points when the meeting pauses!

Think it would be a good idea to incorporate one of these in to an ideal house design!

‘Armud’ cup of tea with a difference

During my first day in Baku I have tasted a number of things for the first time. At lunch time we enjoyed some typical Azeri food including a range of herbs and meats. I tested camel meat which was I have to say very pleasant indeed.

I was intrigued to have tea served in a uniquely shaped class. The glass is called an Armud and I was told that this is a traditional story about why it is shaped like it is! The story states that if the tea is served very hot that that wide top allows it to cool so as you sip form the top of the class the tea is cooler and easy to drink.


I do think there might be some truth as I reminisce on a traditional Scottish custom. I remember my own grand father decanting hot tea from his cup and into his saucer. The idea here is that by putting the tea into a saucer it would be spread out more and the increased surface area would allow it to cool easily. You could also blow on it to accelerate the cooling effect. He would then drink ( or slurp ) it directly from the saucer. Thus was a habit that disgusted my Grandmother who was not slow to rebuke him when he did this!! I do not think I have see this done for at least 25 years – an old habit which seems to have died out.

First Assingment – new job

I am in Baku ( capital of Azerbijan) today starting work on my first assignment proper with my new employer. Baku is 4 hours ahead of the UK and when we arrived here last evening it was already after 10pm.

First experience was to queue for an entry visa which to about 1.5 hours in all. We were not last in the queue!!!!

After a 30 min taxi ride we arrived at the hotel and this was the welcome which greeted me.
The fruit was welcome as we signed in at about midnight and of course there was no food available as the restaurants were closed.

I took a photo from my window which shows a couple of towers one which looks like a telecommunications tower and the other which looks like a mini Blackpool Tower. Although its not clear from the photo the hotel actually looks on to the Caspian Sea which is the are to the left of the photo.


I will be working today with some local partners to plan a project which aims to provide connectivity and IT systems for school both in Baku and beyond.