2009 - July 27 (Baku)

Ok. The hotel has interesting concepts of service. For one, no top sheet on bed. There is a bottom fitted sheet and comforter. My feet stuck out. There is also a lot of furniture in suite. There are no creamer packets for coffee but there are packets of hot chocolate (I think) and cappuccino. But only decaf regular coffee. I have a breakfast of scrambled eggs (completely over-cooked and water fills the plate) and bacon (under-cooked with squishy fat and lots of oil). Coffee is made from espresso and water to make "Americano". The dining room is elegant and silly. The tables are too high for the chairs. My plate is above chest high. The coffee cups can only be used right handed patrons due to really sophisticated curved handle design. The knives are offset like plastering or cake icing blades. The forks have almost no tines. And the spoons shaped like marrow spoons and too small to stir coffee or eat soups. Too stylish and nearly non-functional.


I get a ride to work and get my planned activities set up for the week. I have meetings with the various people I will be working with and renew acquaintances with my friends. At lunch time Rufat, the IT manager for the region, suggests we have our meal at the hotel across from work.

Drinks at hotel sushi bar. waiter in room. Me and five other guests. Idle hands but labour is cheap. No one but manager speaks English. Boy is it lonely in a crowded room.

Leave bar to step over to Chinese restaurant to have some Chicken and Corn Soup, Steamed Pork Dumplings, and some Pork with Mushrooms and white rice. Sparkling water to drink is becoming a standard for me on travel.

Baku is a windy city. All night the winds blow hard enough to make the windows creak on the 14th floor of the hotel. In the morning the winds are strong and cool. Temperatures are about mid 70's when I leave to go to the office. Skies are clear with a warm sunrise. The effect is pleasant and make the day start off really nice. Skipping breakfast in the morning is preferable to eating what the hotel restaurant provides. Perhaps if I just have some fruit, croissant, and coffee it will be better. Sweet rolls are out and I won't go near the eggs or bacon again, at least here. Talked with Roy yesterday and confirmed that my first food craving to satisfy when i get home is some chicken-fried steak. And then a good breakfast. You know, like Waffle House (G)! Don't try to explain grits to someone in Baku. The closest thing they can imagine is polenta. And don't try that as a substitute. It might be corn-based but it ain't grits. I don't think they know what hominy is anyway, so the conversion from polenta to grits is a mental leap.