Caviar - Baku Azerbaijan

We're leaving today. I have heard that the Azerbaijan Caviar is the finest in the world .I have had sturgeon here and it's the most delicious fish.  I liken the experience of eating to the joy I have had eating arctic char in the north. They're different fish, for sure, but the experience is equally joyful.
Well, to get caviar I went on an expedition. I walked about the markets and shops of the Old City and New City about here until I was told that I had to go to the Park Bulvar.  So I got a London taxi and off I went in search of caviar.  In Park Bulvar there is a food shop with everything, the Bazaar Store.  And there I found Caviar.  Hallelujah. In Canada this caviar is apparently  it's 5 to 10 times  or more the price.
There's a limit on how much I can take out of the country. I have several jars and couldn't wait. I ate one. My goodness it's good. It's the best caviar I've had and I've had fine caviar. Nothing so fine as this.  Wow!

Flying Carpet, Old City, Baku, Azerbaijan

At my request, Nancy took us to one of her favourite carpet stores, the Flying Carpet, in the Old City ,just by Maiden Tower in Baku, Azerbaijan.  Nancy loves carpets.  Even before I left Vancouver for Azerbaijan I'd read about their carpets, the finest in the world , hand made in homes.  A mother makes one for a daughter. They're passed along.
Over 70 years old they're antiques and sell for thousands. The ones made up to 50 years old in the Russian era are still for sale. And new ones are being made with different regions of Azerbaijan having different styles and quality.  There are silk and wool carpets which due to the quality of silk seem best for hanging on the wall. Cotton and wool are tough and feel lovely. Wool on wool is durable.
I wanted a simple 'runner' not a whole carpet. When we arrived who should we find but Dr. Katme, our colleague. He's befriended this fellow Muslim and they've been having tea and discussing scripture and family.  The owner spoke English fluently and was helped by his brother. He had a great sense of humour and much respect for our elder gentleman colleague, Dr. Ney.  Nancy had told me how Azerbaijan is so gracious and admiring of the older people. Here I saw it as the two bartered playfully the younger man holding his own barely against the wiley Dr. Ney who'd just been telling us of his time working with cannibals.
Dr. Ney wanted flying lessons to be included in the cost of carpets.
We were served tea while different carpets were laid out, their pros and cons discussed and the prices and materials and history of each given. It was an experience as much as anything.  Quite the delightful past time indeed.  When it came to buying I found he didn't take Visa, American Express and Mastercard being the preferred cards here. No problem because a bank ATM was located down the street and I was back with cash in flash.
Nancy's husband arrived with their children and off they went.  It was a too brief good bye to a lady whose coming and going deserved cymbals and violins at very least.    She's the kind of person that  makes me want to serve Jesus more.
Indeed all the men and women I met this week had me wanting to be the best person I could be.
Dr. Opah, Dr. Ney and I continued on to look at the outdoor stalls for more presents for Dr. Ney's family, children and grandchildren.  

Karvan Sara Lunch, Baku, Azerbaijan

Nancy has become one of my favourite anointed ones.  She is a humble Catholic lady whose heart and service are  amazing. She speaks of her husband and children with love and joy. Her being lights up as she cares for others. I enjoy being with her.  Her spirit is calm.
She has joined with Dr. Ney in the fight for the unborn babies.  Her friend, Angelique is equally kind. She's Dutch and speaks to the heart of matters. The two are friends and together have taken upon themselves the daunting work of pro life in Azerbaijan where state abortion was the normal. Women here  have been forced to have abortions mostly by men.  Now they struggle damaged with loss and grief.
Today we had lunch in Karvan Sara.  It was a unique experience. The sturgeon was incomparable.  Kebabs of lamb, chicken, with cold cuts of tongue, roast beef, cheeses and sauces were thoroughly salivatingly delicious.  We talked of silly things and serious things. It had been a week of intense work and service.  Dr. Opah from the Phillipines and Dr. Ney spoke to the international work of Hope Alive.  Developing counsellors to address the consequences of abortion. Healing words and practice.  We shared talk of our homes and local events. The old president is the new president.
On the walls were famous Azerbaijan carpets alongside black and white pictures of yesteryear.  A cat joined us and gravitated to Nancy and Angelique. Go Figure!
We talked of faith and God and Jesus.  It was a unique experience.  Here in this ancient building with the finest of food and the best of comrades.  When we had finished, we bid farewell to Angelique  What a remarkable woman, wife, mother, organizer. Nancy came along with me having agreed to help me buy a carpet, a passion of hers too, here in Azerbaijan where the carpets are known the world over.

Baku, Azerbaijan - More city and conference pictures

I am in Baku, the Old City, staying at the Noah's Ark Hotel, attending the 11th Annual International Hope Alive Counsellors Conference.  The principle focus of the conference which had a public forum at the Catholic Church, has been the abortion epidemic in the world and it's threat to the existence of the human species.
I've been taking picture with mainly my little breast pocket sized impeccable Canon Powershot SX 240 HS 12.1 megapixel or my iPhone 4S.  In addition I brought along my Nikon D5000 with a Sigma 10-20 wide angle lens.  It's the latter I've only taken along on actual outings.
Many of the pictures are from the tour of the Old City we did with the Palace and Maiden Tower.  Others are just out and about. With Dr. Ney I visited the pier and had tea in a lovely cafe alongside the promenade.  On return we passed the famed Opera House.
Having my MacBook Air along I've been downloading and blogging my pictures but forgot the cable that attaches the Nikon to the USB port. Just now I found out that this amazing MacBook Air camera has an SD card reader slot. So these are some of the pictures I found I had taken with the Nikon D5000.