After submitting the Kazakh visa we stopped at an internet cafe to check emails. An older man approached us and he seemed so excited that we were traveling on bicycles. He seemed desperate to talk to us. One of two Efes bier sales people who had just made a quick stop at the store next door spoke some English. She told us that he would like to invite us for tea and then show us his cycling museum in his home. This is a bit odd but sure we will come. He insisted on the girl coming to have tea too and then follow to his house so she could translate. It turns out that this man, Aladdin Shabanov, was a very successful professional road cyclist who represented Azerbaijan in over 50 countries at European and World Championships about fourty years ago. His apartment was quite the sight since it was filled with countless trophies, cycling artifacts, bicycle nic-nacs and photographs of him with various presidents and other famous cyclists. Very impressive!
CONGRATULATIONS, ALADDIN, ON YOUR SUCCESS! THANKS FOR THE TOUR OF YOUR MUSEUM.
Since we had received no replies on our couchsurf requests we decided it was necessary to treat ourselves to two quiet nights in an airconditioned hotel room in order to retain our sanity. It was hot, humid and just so busy here. We found a double room at the Azeri Hotel in the old town for $40/ night. A lot of money but a good deal for Baku. It was wonderful to shut out the world with all its honking cars and just stretch out on a bed in a cool room after a much needed shower. Just wonderful.
In the evening we went for a stroll through the old town, over to the Maiden Tower and Fountain Square. Very nice. It's always a treat to go for a walk without the bikes. We can just mingle with the crowd without attracting any attention. Nobody turns their head when we walk past them nor does anyone bother asking us the usual questions: where we are from etc. For the first while getting attention and interest is fun but it soon becomes very tiring, especially in countries where people are so openly curious and just stare in your direction watching your every move trying to understand what in the world you are up to.
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