From Wikitravel
|
| Location |
|
| Flag |
|
| Quick Facts |
| Capital | Baku(Baki) |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Azerbaijani manat (AZN) |
| Area | 86,600 km2 |
| Population | 8,832,000 (July 2009 est.) |
| Language | Azerbaijani (Azeri)93.4%,Russian2.5%, other 4.1% |
| Religion | Muslim 95.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.8%, other 1.8% |
| Electricity | 220V/50Hz (European plug) |
| Calling Code | +994 |
| Internet TLD | .az |
| Time Zone | UTC+4 |
- This article is about the country of Azerbaijan. There is also a region ofIrancalledAzerbaijan.
[edit]Understand
Azerbaijan[1][2]is a former Soviet republic in theCaucasusand variously considered part ofEuropeorAsia. The country lies on the Caspian Sea betweenRussiaandIranand is bordered to the west byGeorgiaandArmenia. The somewhat autonomous exclave ofNakhchivanlies betweenArmenia&Iranwith a short border withTurkey. Azerbaijan regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
TheNagorno-Karabakhenclave, which is part of Azerbaijan, was the subject of a war withArmeniathat has left it ade factoindependent republic, which is not internationally recognized, ironically including Armenia which "supports" it. Azerbaijan has lost 13% of its territory and must support some 800,000 refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Occupied by the local Armenian troops to this day, this conflict has not officially ended with minor skirmishes frequent, and is a major source of contention among Azerbaijanis.
The majority of the population (over 90%) is composed of Azeris, who share a culture very similar to Turkey. History, with Russian and Persian influence, has left the Azeris of Azerbaijan and Iran with some moderate differences. Minorities in Azerbaijan include Lezghins, Russians, Avars, Turks, Tatars, Ukrainians, & Georgians. Most inhabitants are Shia Muslim, although a long history of European and Russian colonialism has left many with very liberal, laisez-faire attitudes towards Islam and the country is staunchly secular. The government is a kleptocracy of the benevolent Aliyev family and their allies although, while opposition is often sacked or imprisoned, it is not as severe an authoritarian government as you'll find in Turkmenistan, Iran or the Russian Caucasus. Following independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has allowed western companies to develop its neglected, but extensive, oil fields and has seen oil production skyrocket especially since the mid-2000s. Despite this and related investments, most of the new-found wealth remains in the hands of a small number of people and the city of Baku. While Baku is full of new construction and a growing middle class, much of the country remains poor, rural agrarians and merchants. Corruption is ubiquitous compared with neighboring Georgia and Armenia.
[edit]Celebrate
These are the nationally recognized holidays for people living in Azerbaijan.
- New Year (January 1-2)
- Women’s Day (March 8)
- Victory Day (May 9)
- Republic Day (May 28)
- Day of National Salvation of Azerbaijan People (June 15)
- Day of Military Forces of Azerbaijan Republic (June 26)
- State Sovereignty Day (October 18)
- Constitution Day (November 12)
- National Rebirth Day (November 17)
- Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis (December 31)
- Novruz Bayram – five days
- Gurban Bayram (Day of Sacrifice) - two days
- Ramazan Eid (Days after Ramadan fasting)2-3 days
[edit]Climate
Subtropical forests near Lerik.
Azerbaijan is known for having nine of the 11 existing ecological zones. Much of the country is temperate year-round. Nation-wide the average temperature for the year is 14-15C. The Caucasus Mountains protect the country from the Arctic air masses that affect Russia in winter while the Caspian Sea shields it from the hot, dry air of Central Asia in the summer. Temperatures in the winter are mild (0-15C) at lower altitudes and along the coast and drops moderately as you head inland and drastically as you head into the mountains (-20C is possible in the Caucasus Mountains). Summers range from warm to hot(20-40C) throughout most of the country, although breezes off the Caspian make life pleasant along the coast. Nakhchivan is quite different, high and arid, summers here can easily surpass 40C while winter nights often drop below -20C...in fact the country's extreme minimum and maximum (-33C & 46C) were both recorded in southern Nakhchivan!
Snow is rare in Baku and along the coast in general while common inland and copious in the mountains, where many villages may be cut off during the winter. The southern forests are the wettest part of the country, with plenty of rain in late autumn and early spring. The western central coast is fairly dry. Lankaran receives the most annual precipitation (1600-1800mm) while the region around Baku averages 600mm. Baku is very breezy, much like Chicago or Wellington, most of the year.
[edit]Terrain
Mud volcanoes in Gobustan.
Large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea.
- Elevation extremes
- lowest point
- Caspian Sea -27 m
- highest point
- Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m
- Environment - current issues
- Local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton
[edit]Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 220V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack an adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Azerbaijan.
Additionally, some older buildings may be still equipped with Soviet-era outlets. The Soviet GOST-7396 standard was very similar to the current European CEE-7/7 "Schuko plug", but the pins were of a 4.0 mm diameter, while the Schuko features 4.8 mm pins. As such, the pins of a Schuko may be too large to fit into a Soviet-era outlet, although the smaller Europlug will still fit. Although the Soviet-era outlets have largely been phased out, travelers who are particularly concerned with having the ability to plug in at all times may consider packing an adapter for the Soviet-era outlets too, just in case.
Also, make sure to bring your own automated voltage adapter because the electricity in Azerbaijan short circuits and "jumps" a lot and many items may get shocked if you don't bring the adapter.
[edit]Regions
| Baku Region
The political, economic, and cultural center of Azerbaijan. Oil has been extracted here since 1871. |
| Nagorno-Karabakh
The territory controlled by the unrecognized government of Nagorno-Karabakh, remains under dispute and ceasefire |
| Northeastern Azerbaijan
An ethnically diverse region in the Greater Caucasus mountains covered with lush green forests |
| Sheki Region
A beautiful green mountainous region borderingGeorgia, containing Azerbaijan's loveliest city |
- Baku— The capital and largest, most cosmopolitan city of theCaucasus
- Ganja— Azerbaijan's second largest city has a long history and some important sites
- Lankaran— Southern city near theIranianborder
- Mingechivir— A mid-sized city on the large Mingechivir Reservoir
- Naftalan— A town best known for its special petroleum oil baths (spas)
- Nakhichevan City— The administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave
- Sheki— A beautiful city in the forested Caucasus Mountains with lots to see and do
- Sumqayit— Azerbaijan's third largest city, on the Absheron Peninsula
- Xachmaz— This is the largest tourist destination in Azerbaijan with great beaches and beautiful forests. Also spelled Khachmaz.
[edit]Other destinations
- Khinalug—scenic, remote mountain village once a center of Zoroastrianism; today the few inhabitants are an ethnic isolate believed to be decendants of the Caucasus Albanians (Not to be confused with modern-day Albanians of Albania in south-eastern Europe who are entirely unrelated to them).
- Mud volcanoeswhich spout up in over 300 locations nationwide, constitute more than half the total throughout the world, each site with its own character
- Caspian Hyrcanian forestsfound near the Iranian border
- Tears of Kyapaza string of seven idyllic mountain lakes near Mount Kyapaz and Nagorno-Karabakh
| Visa Restrictions:
Note that if your passport shows any evidence of travel to the separatist republic ofNagorno-Karabakh, such as a Nagorno-Karabakh visa, you will be denied entry (even if you already have an Azerbaijani visa). If you do intend to visit Nagorno-Karabakh, the authorities there can issue the visa on a separate piece of paper at your request. Insist on this to the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities, otherwise you could permanently be refused entry to Azerbaijan. Entry will be refused to citizens ofArmeniaand to all foreign citizens of Armenian descent and ancestry and those with Armenian names and surnames, as well as any products made in Armenia and with Armenian labeling, etc.see here. Travellers havereportedborder guards and police confiscating guidebooks which include info about Nagorno-Karabakh, especially the Lonely PlanetGeorgia, Armenia, & Azerbaijanguidebook, because Nagorno-Karabakh is introduced as separate from Azerbaijan. |
[edit]Visa Requirements
A passport and visa are required. Travelers may obtain single-entry visas by mail or in person from any Azerbaijani embassy offering consular services. Travelers may obtain single-entry, 30-day visas at Heydar Aliyev Airport in Baku upon arrival (with a Letter of Invitation). Visas on arrival are not available for visitors arriving by land or sea. Double-entry, 90-day visas and one-year multiple-entry visas are only available through an Azerbaijani embassy or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Multiple visas are generally not issued for tourists outside of Azerbaijan. The best deal you may get abroad is a 3 month double entry. EU nationals generally pay 60 AZN while US citizens pay US$131 (based on reciprocity) for any visa from 1 to 3 months length. For Information on visa requirements visit the relevant page in the web site of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.[3].
A letter of invitation from a contact in Azerbaijan is required. Travelers have reported, however, that the embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia does not require LOIs, with a turnaround time of 1-3 days. According to Azerbaijani law, foreign nationals intending to remain in Azerbaijan for more than 30 days must register with local police within three days of their arrival. Foreign citizens should approach the passport section of the local district police office and fill out an application form. The registration fee is AZN 9.90 (approximately USD 12).
[edit]By plane
The primary international gateway is Heydar Aliyev International Airport inBaku, with additional international airports (whose international routes are basically just Moscow & Istanbul) found inNakhchivan City,Ganja, &Lankaran.
National air company AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) is the main carrier which flies to Ganja, Nakhchivan, Yevlakh, Lenkoran, Tbilisi, Aktau, Tehran, Tel-Aviv, Ankara, Istanbul, Trabzon, Antalya, Aleppo, Dubai, Moscow,Saint Petersburg, Kiev, Nizhniy Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Urumqi, Mineralniye Vodi, Milan, London and Paris. BMI flies seven days a week to Baku. Lufthansa also has a couple flights a week to Baku (which continue onwards toAshgabat). Turkish Airlines is another carrier connecting Baku with and via Istanbul. Also, there are several Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Iranian, and Austrian airlines connecting Baku with several cities of the world.
[edit]By train
Trains connect Azerbaijan withGeorgia&Russia. The Russian border is closed to non-CIS passport holders with no change likely in the foreseeable future (they don't want foreigners seeing what they're up to in the Caucasus), so the weekly trains toMoscowviaMahachkalaare not a viable option for most.
There is an overnight train connectingTbilisi,Georgiaand Baku. Heading out of Azerbaijan, this costs 26AZN and departs nightly from Baku at 20:00. The time of the trip varies considerably based on how long is spent at the border (longer when entering Azerbaijan). This segment of track is currently being modernized as part of a project, financed in part by Azerbaijan, which includes the construction of a rail segment from Akhalkalaki, Georgia withKars,Turkey. Originally scheduled to open in 2010, it is now planned to finish in 2012 connecting the railroads of Azerbaijan with Turkey via Georgia. Look out for Baku-Istanbul service once completed!
There is a domestic train line running from Astara on the Iranian border to Baku and there are high hopes to get a 300km connector line built from Astara toQazvin,Iranto connect the Azerbaijani and Iranian rail networks. Rail service to Iran, which once existed from Nakhchivan after crossing through southern Armenia, was severed after the border with Armenia was closed.
There are roads to all cities of Azerbaijan. They are not really wide and most of them have only two lanes. Local travel agents can arrange private cars to the borders. Some Georgian travel agents such as Exotour can arrange pickup in Baku to delivery in Tbilisi. Although more expensive than bus or train, it will be faster and can be combined with sightseeing along the way. Pay attention to the fact that Azerbaijani customs will request you to pay adeposit of several thousand US dollarsfor your car.
There are buses that run daily fromGeorgia,Turkey,IranandRussiato Azerbaijan.
[edit]By boat
There is currently no ferry or cruise service with any other country on the Caspian.Be forewarned that the much talked about "ferries" on the Caspian are simply cargo ships with some extra space to take on passengers. Getting a ride on one of these "ferries" is no easy task. First you must find the notoriously difficult to find ticket office, which basically keeps track of ship which are departing. If you manage to find the ticket office and manage to get a booking, you still have little idea of when the ship will depart. Give them a phone number to reach you and be prepared, they may call you an hour or two prior to departure...two days after the first departure the office gave you and the day before the second departure date they gave you! This is only the first of you troubles. After paying for your place on the boat (about US$50-100), the captain and perhaps other crew members will expect an additional amount to get a bed and a shower. You are expected to bring your own food. The crossing will only take 1 day (Turkmenistan) or 2-3 days (Kazakhstan). Most ships go to Turkmenistan, where ships must wait for an open berth...so you can wait 2-5 days on the boat just waiting for a place to dock! Unless you are on averysmall budget or have a bike and especially if you are on a short timeschedule, you should pay twice as much (~US$200-250) for a one way airfare to Kazakhstan, Russia, or Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
[edit]Get around
[edit]By train
- Highways
- total:36,700 km
paved:31,800 km (includes some all-weather gravel-surfaced roads)
unpaved:4,900 km (These roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather.) (1990)
Buses, minibuses (marshrutka), and taxis connect most cities. There is often a hub such as a bus station near the bazaar in these cities. The fares for buses and minibuses are posted usually in both old and new manat(qupik). Taxies on the other hand require negotiating skills, and this usually takes a proficiency in the language that ordinary non-Azeri/Russian/Turkish speakers do not have.
Azeriis the official language. This is a Turkic language, closely related to Turkish itself. However, English is spoken in some places frequented by Westerners. Most people speak Russian (which is now declining and slowly being replaced by English), especially in the capital city, Baku.
Atesgah of Baku (the "Fire Temple") is a 16th century Zoroastrian compound near Baku.
- Try to attend an Azerbaijani Wedding
[edit]Shopping
Currency: New Azerbaijani manat (Yeni Manat)
Currency code: AZN
Exchange rates(approximate, jul-aug 2009):
- €1 = 1.1438 manat
- US$1 = 0.804 manat
For more rates please visit web page of Central Bank of Azerbaijan Republic[4]
Keep in mind that import and export of manatis strictly forbidden.
Economy - overview: Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. An obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth.
Cabbage, grape leaves, and eggplant wrapped meat (kelem, yarpaq, badimjan - dolmasi), kabab (kebab), rice with chicken and other stuff (plov- It is said thatplovis the king of Azerbaijani cuisine),gutabs and meatballs (kufta) are some of the specialties of Azerbaijan.
Bread is a staple, and is quite revered by the people of Azerbaijan. Insulting or refusing to eat bread with a meal (if uninterested, at least a small corner) is nearly equivalent to insulting the Koran.
Georgian food, in particular kajpuri (a cheese-filled bread), along with some Russian staples (borsh) have become throughout Azerbaijan. Other cuisines such as Turkish, Western & fast food, along with Asian food can be found in Baku.
Some local drinks include ayran (a yogurt drink based on sour milk) and sherbet (made from rose petals or saffron). There are also different sorts of quite decent wines produced from local grapes and a wide array of mineral waters from natural springs.In some areas of Azerbaijan the markets offer lemonades (limonat/dushes) made from pears, antibiotics and green tea.
There is a good selection of hotels inBaku, including many Western chains, but options elsewhere in the country are limited. Prices for the hotels start from $60 and higher. Rental apartments might be a good choice as they are cheaper than hotels and sometimes are even more comfortable.
You can get the information you need about Azerbaijan from the hotels where you will stay. They have different guides for Azerbaijan. Also at some new bus stations in Baku there are maps of the capital.
There is a great deal of work to be done in Azerbaijan from teaching and NGO work to work in the oil and tourism sectors.
[edit]Stay safe
Corruption is widespread. But as a foreigner you have a fairly strong position in refusing to pay "hörmet" (bribe). Do it - never give any bribe. Often Azeris are so ashamed of their corrupt economy, that they might hide it from you anyway.
Only use licensed taxis. Watch out for beggars. Also, the international soft drinks (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc.) may be homemade and contaminated, so watch out when buying such drinks. To make sure they are safe, buy them from big supermarkets and stores.
Robbing and pickpocketing in the capital Baku, especially in poor and sparsely populated areas is high and is higher across the capital at night. Common sense is useful as in all other countries.
[edit]Safety tips
- Pack a flashlight as the streets are not always well lit.
- Travel outside the city only during the day time, unless taking a night train. The roads can be treacherous at night due to unseen potholes and dimly lit cars.
[edit]Emergency contact numbers
- Ambulance: 103
- Fire: 101
- Gas Emergency 104
- Speaking Clock 106
- Police: 102
You must speak in Azeri, Turkish or Russian to communicate your needs. It would be a good idea to memorize key phrases before coming to Azerbaijan - see theTalksectionfor phrasebooks.
[edit]Stay healthy
Make sure to get your shots a couple weeks before departure. The air in the cities where oil is produced isn't as clean as in other countries so that results in diseases. Some meats are also old or spoiled, so make sure to buy them from a clean, respected place and watch out for roadside sellers.
[edit]Respect
Bridge of Separation ("Ayriliq Korpusu") on the Iranian border which, through two treaties, separated the Azeri people between Persia & Russia.
Azerbaijanis are a very reserved but very polite and well mannered people.
[edit]Things to do
- Women in Azerbaijan are traditionally treated with utmost respect, as it is also the case in the entire CIS/former USSR area. Female travellers should not act surprised or indignant when their Azerbaijani male friends pay their bills at restaurants, open every door in front of them, offer their hand to help them climb down that little step or help them carry anything heavier than a handbag - this is not sexual harassment or being condescending to females. Male travellers should understand that this is exactly the sort of behavior that most Azerbaijani girls and women will expect from them, too.
- When you are invited into an Azerbaijani home, make sure to bring them a gift. Anything is fine from flowers (be sure to get an odd number of flowers, as an even number is associated with funerals) to chocolate (but not wine and other alcoholic beverages), and indeed something representative from your country. In Azerbaijani culture it is the thought behind the gift, rather than the price, that matters. And if you really want their respect, thank your host for the invitation and compliment them. The host will make sure to make you feel at home, so don't take advantage of their kindness.
- When you arrive at the house take off your shoesjust outside or immediately inside the door, unless the owner explicitly allows you to keep them on. Even then, it might be more polite to remove your shoes. You may be offered slippers to wear. Do not worry that your feet will get dirty - the floors are just as clean as the walls - Azerbaijanis are very neat and clean people.
- Azerbaijanis respect elderly people, so in a bus, tram, subway and in other forms public transportation, young(er) people will always offer you a place to sit if you are an old(er) person as well as a handicapped person or a pregnant woman or have children with you.
- It is respectful to bend slightly (not a complete bow) when greeting someone older or in a position of authority. Younger people always initiate greetings with older people or those in a position of authority.
- As mentioned above, it is considered polite to let women first to board and leave the bus, tram, subway and in other forms public transportation or to enter and leave a room.
- If you do not know the person well, use their first name followed by an appropriate honorific. For women, use "Xanım" - pronounced "hanm" ("Mrs."). For men, use "Cənab" - pronounced "jenab" ("Mr"). If they do speak English use their last name preceded by the appropriate English honorific "Mr." or "Mrs.". The English honorific "Ms." does not exist in the Azerbaijani language, as women arenotdistinguished (or discriminated) according to married and unmarried status and addressing a young woman "Ms" would be considered inappropriate and offensive.
[edit]Things to avoid
Politics:
- At all costs, do not insult or speak badly of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as his direct predecessor his father, the latePresident Haydar Aliyevand theAliyev familyin general, who rule Azerbaijan. This carries a prison sentence, or if you are a foreign citizen, the remote possibility of deportation from the country. In late 2009, two young men were sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for depicting President Ilham Aliyev as a donkey giving a news conference in a video that was put on YouTube.
- At all costs, do not mention Armenia and the Armenians and the very bitter Nagorno-Karabakh conflictthat has been ongoing with neighboring Armenia which has occupied the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Azerbaijan has lost 13% of its territory and must support some 800,000 refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Bitterness and hatred against Armenians run very high.
Religion:
- Even though 95% of the population is officiallyShiite Muslim, Azerbaijan is officially a strictlysecular stateis by and large anagnostic and non-religious nation. This is true not only in large cities but even in villages and rural areas as well. Don't assume that anyone you do not know believes in God or has a passion for Islam or in other faiths. Investigations into people's faith is largely unwelcome, and outside places of worship, displays of your faith should be kept private. Saying grace for example, is likely to be met with bewilderment and silence. Religious attire such as Muslim headscarves, Kippahs or even t-shirts with religious slogans, will - while tolerated - also make many Azerbaijanis feel uncomfortable. Those with long beards may arouse the suspicion of the authorities. Respect that and you will also be respected.
Social custom and ettiquette breaches:
- Don't blow your nose during meals, even discreetly. This is considered extremely rude.
- Don't pick your teeth during meals, even discreetly. This is considered extremely rude.
- Don't put your feet up while sitting and try not to show the bottom of your feet to someone. This is considered very rude.
- Don't point with your finger at someone, even discreetly. This is considered rude.
- Don't chew gum while having a conversationand during public occasions. This is considered extremely rude.
- Don't touch someone without permission. This is considered extremely rude.
- Don't bear hug or back slap someone, especially in formal situations and occasions and with someone you just met and/or you do not know well enough. This is considered very rude.
- Don't raise your voice or shout in public, especially on public transportation. This is considered extremely rude.
- Don't use swear wordsduring conversation or while talking to oneself in public and also among friends. This is considered extremely rude.
[edit]Other things to watch for
- Don't smile at an Azerbaijani in the street, because if you do they most likely will not respond in kind and they will regard you either as odd or think that you are mentally handicapped. Smiling in Azerbaijan in public is not done and will be considered inappropriate. Smiling is traditionally reserved for family and friends; smiling at a stranger will be considered offensive, as they will either think that you are making fun of them and there is something wrong with their clothes or hair. Furthermore, an automatic "Western smile" is widely regarded as insincere, as in "You don't really mean it". Smiling is still very rare in customer service as sales assistants, public servants and the like are expected to look serious and businesslike. On television, news presenters, weather presenters and even show hosts very rarely smile. Hence the very common misconception about Azerbaijanis is that they are a cold people and never smile - they do, once they get to know you, and become very welcoming and kind.
- Public displays of affectionin larger cities and tourist resorts is tolerated but might invite unnecessary stares from the public. In more rural areas it is frowned upon and is to be avoided. Gay and lesbian travellers should avoid any outward signs of affection, as this will definately invite unnecessary stares from the public. However overt displays of affection regardless of sexual orientation is regarded as inappropriate.
- You will notice how Azerbaijanis tend to keep their voices down in public places. Do not raise your voice in a conversation. A decent silent conversation is the Azerbaijani way of doing business and will be much appreciated. Talking on a mobile phone on public transportation and in restaurants is considered normal, unless the conversation is loud and too "private".
- Littering is considered a very bad mannerand you may be fined. There are many waste containers and trash cans on the sidewalks and near most stores.
[edit]Gay and lesbian travelers
Homosexuality is no longer criminalized in Azerbaijan, but the negative stigma still is strong throughout Azerbaijan. Homosexual citizens of Azerbaijan have reported harrasment by police and possible surveillance and blackmail by the government and its agencies. Same-sex relationships are not recognized by the government and showing your orientation openly is very likely to draw stares and whispers, at the very least. The few establishments geared towards homosexuals are almost (if not exclusively) in Baku and and are mostly underground. Azerbaijan is not the happiest place in the world for GLBT travellers; be quite cautious when travelling as a GLBT traveller.
[edit]Contact
There are three mobile operators: Azercell, Bakcell, Nar Mobile, Azerfon-Vodafone. Azercell is the largest one. To dial an Azercell number you need to dial (050) or (051) and then the number. Only with Azercell can you talk in the metro(subway) in Baku. Nar Mobile is pretty cheap but doesn't work in some regions. For dialing Nar Mobile numbers you need to dial (070) and then the number. Azerfon-Vodafone is new operator have 3G. For dialing Azerfon-Vodafone numbers you need to dial (077) and then the number. Bakcell is ok. It works almost everywhere and is cheaper that Azercell. To dial a Bakcell number you need to dial (055) and then the number.The numbers have a 3 digit code (different for each operator) + 7 digits number. For example (050)xxx xx xx, (051)xxx xx xx, or (055)xxx xx xx, or (070)xxx xx xx, or (077)xxx xx xxYou can buy cards for use with different operators almost in every store.
[edit]Area Codes
City Code Agjabedi 113 Agdam 192Agdash 193 Agsu 198Agstafa 244 Ali-Bayramli 197Astara 195Babek 136 Baku 12Balaken 119 Berde 110Beylagan 152 Bilesuvar 159Dashkesen 216Devechi 115 Fizuli 141Gedebey 232Genje 22 Goranboy 234Goychay 167 Hajigabul 140Horadiz 141 İmishli 154İsmayilli 178 Jebrayil 118 Jelilabad 114Julfa 36 Kelbejer 137Kurdemir 145 Lachin 146Lenkeran 171 Lerik 157Masalli 151 Mereze 150Mingechevir 147 Nabran 156Naftalan 255 Nakhchivan 136Neftchala 153 Oguz 111Ordubad 136 Gakh 144Gazakh 279 Gazi Memmed 140Gebele 160 Gobustan 150Guba 169 Gubadli 133Gusar 138 Saatli 168Sabirabad 143 Shahbuz 136Salyan 163 Shamakhi 176Samukh 265 Sederek 136Sheki 177 Shemkir 241Sherur 136 Siyezen 190Sumgayit 18-64 Shusha 191Terter 246 Tovuz 231Ujar 170 Khachmaz 172Khankendi 162 Khanlar 230Khizi 199 Khojali 102Khudat 172 Yardimli 175Yevlakh 166 Zagatala 174Zengilan 196 Zerdab 135