Iceland - Colorful Landmannalaugar
Foto: The Mud Volcano (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Azerbaijan - South of the town of Gobustan lie several mud volcanoes. "It’s more fun than it sounds," writes the Lonely Planet. On a whim, we take a turnoff a few kilometers before Gobustan. It turns out to lead to a small airfield — clearly not the right place. After asking a taxi driver, we learn that it’s on a distant hill. "Just take the dirt path here and you’ll get there," he says. Really? This might not be the exact location described in the Lonely Planet, but Azerbaijan has over 800 mud volcanoes. Let’s see where we end up. The narrow road winds through a rocky and sandy, desolate landscape. Not a soul in sight. When our car, Brutus, can go no farther, we hike up the final stretch of the hill. No sign of mud, noise, or smell. But after climbing one last ridge, we suddenly find ourselves at the edge of a bubbling mud pool. Unexpected and fascinating. A bit further along, we discover several more pools. We dig a small channel with our hands, and the liquid mud flows down the side like a tiny river. Amusing.
Old City of Baku
Azerbaijan - We quickly head into Baku’s old city. One of the highlights is the Maiden Tower. Large groups of children and local tourists gather in front of it — everyone seems eager to go inside. This creates bottlenecks on the narrow spiral staircase. Since ...
Sheki Palace
Azerbaijan - Just after ten o'clock we arrive in Sheki. Inside the fortress walls stands the summer palace of the Sheki Khans. We park our car near the fort and walk through the gate. On either side, women call out asking if we want to visit their museums. We decline. ...
The Fire Temple of the Zoroastrians
Azerbaijan - Our guide Mehmet explains that Azerbaijan is rich in oil, a resource that helps the country develop economically. Outside the city, we see oil pump jacks scattered across the landscape, continuously pumping oil from the ground. Our first stop is Ateshgah, ...
The Prehistoric Rock Engravings
Azerbaijan - South of Baku lies the impressive Gobustan National Park, an area famous for its prehistoric rock carvings. Some of these engravings are more than seven thousand years old, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of the early inhabitants of the region. ...