Day 24:Mon 12 May 2025 Baku - Shemakha - Sheki
Monday, May 12th.
Today we had a long, full day of travel and sightseeing. We drove north-west through the heartland of Azerbaijan, exploring ancient cities steeped in history and natural beauty. Our first stop was Shemakha, once a thriving capital and trade center. We visited the majestic Juma Mosque, originally built in 743AD and rebuilt three times, twice from earthquake damage and once from a a fire when Armenians deliberately burned over a thousand Azerbijians who were sheltering inside. Then we visited the Yedi Gumbez, or Seven Tombs, which offered a glimpse into the region's royal past, as we explored the ornate mausoleums of the Khans of Shemakha. Continuing our journey, we arrived in the picturesque town of Sheki, nestled amidst the forested hills of the Caucasus Mountains. This ancient settlement, dating back over 2,700 years, boasts stunning architecture and a rich cultural heritage. We'll visit the Khan's Palace, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture adorned with intricate mosaics, stained glass windows and ornate paintings. We watched a workshop where an expert demonstrated the art of creating the glass windows from pieces without glow and only held with wooden pieces. After that we went to the Karavansaray of S Sheki. This is a huge rebuilt complex that was used as a waystation for caravans traveling east or west as a stopping off place or a place of rest for camels, horses and traders. Then we had dinner in a local restaurant before driving into the mountains to our five star hotel for the night. John, although feeling better, went straight to bed while I went for a swim in the pool before meeting Pauline and Sherril in the bar. Then off to sleep by 10.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander! Very modest look, Joe.
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