What is the wealthiest country of the Caucasus? Oil rich
Azerbaijan. And if the Caucasus are considered as part of Europe,
then this is Turkish Europe. The Azeri language sounds like Turkish,
and following Turkey's example, the Azeri government has separated
church and state, creating a liberal atmosphere compared to other
Islamic nations.
When a guy told me he was from Baku I didn't know whether
to say "Gazuntite!" or check my atlas. He told us that Azerbaijan
used to be a terminus of the Silk Road. Bronze Age petroglyphs confirm
that this area has been inhabited since the beginning of civilization.
Then we shared some Halva, a thin layer of honeyed pastry that most
Azeris enjoy for dessert.
Highlight: Pretend you're a Silk Road merchant
and spend the night in an authentic caravanserai dating from that
period.