Travels in Azerbaijan

We recently traveled to Western Azerbaijan over the Gurban Bayram weekend.  Gurban is the local name of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, celebrated one month after the end of Ramadan.  This Festival of the Sacrifice honors Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to show his devotion to God.  On this holiday, Azerbaijanis slaughter a sheep.  Along the road, we passed a large sheep market, busy with men literally purchasing their sacrificial lamb.

"Come and get your sheep!"

We also passed this poor sheep, whose forlorn expression seemed to indicate he was aware he was tied up next to the skin of his recently slaughtered brethren.

"Oh boy...I'm next"

We stayed in Azerbaijan's 2nd largest city, Ganja.  (Yes, all you potheads, that's the real name of the city.)  My favorite spot in Ganja was Khan Garden, which was a lovely green oasis including a pond with a swan.  

Jeremy and Erica in Khan Garden

One of the curiosities of Ganja is the "Bottle House," whose exterior facade is decorated with designs made out of thousands of glass bottles.

Brian is overcome with excitement by the Bottle House

Outside the city, we ate fresh qutab from a roadside vendor.  Qutab is a bit like an Azerbaijani crepe.  It's made with a thin flatbread called lavash (similar to a tortilla) filled with yumminess (either herbs, meat, or pumpkin) that is folded in half, heated, and slathered with butter.

Qutab in the making

And of course, no Azerbaijani road trip is complete without tea...lots of tea!

Love that tablecloth!  Made me feel like I was back in Kenya!