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Mövzu: Baku capital of Azerbaijan Fənn:İngilis diliADPU (2) (1)Bookstores
Baku Book Center is a lovely two-story bookshop offering a wide choice of literature in English,
Turkish, Russian, and of course, Azerbaijani. Here you can find everything from the newest bestsellers
to cookbooks and albums displaying local artwork. The store is located on Uzeir Hajibeyli Street just a
few steps away from the State Russian Drama Theater.
Eating in Baku
No Baku travel guide would be complete without mentioning local cuisine, for Azerbaijani food is as rich
as the country's history and culture. Dishes are full of contrasts due to the country's geopolitical
position at the intersection of Asia and Europe. Traditional recipes carry traces of Indian, Chinese,
Turkish, Iranian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences, and it is hard to imagine a better place to
sample those culinary treasures than in Baku.
Baku's dishes are mostly meat-based and served with fruits and vegetables.
The first and foremost dish to try in Baku is
plov, or pilaf. Azerbaijani plov uses basmati rice cooked with
saffron, herbs, fried meat and vegetables and may also be served with fruit, eggs, and various sauces.
Many restaurants have their own unique plov recipes, so you can have fun comparing a variety of
flavors.
Another dish to try is
bozbash, a meat stew in which large meatballs are boiled with potatoes, peas and
mutton bones. Ingredients added to the soup differ depending on the region.
There is also
dovga, a lovely soup made from plain yogurt and herbs. Some chefs add rice, spring
onions, or chickpeas to the mix. Dovga is served warm in winter and cold in summer, and often during
weddings between meat courses. Dovga is an excellent choice for vegetarians who wish to taste
traditional local cuisine.
Speaking of which, Baku has a couple of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. You can also find meatless
options in many upscale venues, as well as some cheaper places serving European and Indian cuisine.
But, if you want to try Azerbaijani cuisine in a local cafe, you are likely to discover that your options are
limited. In such cases, apart from dovga and salads, a good choice for you would be
qutab, a large
flatbread that can be stuffed with pumpkin, cheese, or spinach. Qutab can also include meat, so make
sure you order a vegetarian version. The dish is served with a yogurt sauce.
After finishing the main course, end your meal with an order of baklava. This delicious Middle Eastern
dessert is made of multiple layers of sweet pastry filled with nuts and soaked in syrup. A perfect
accompaniment to baklava is local black tea. It holds a permanent spot in the country's culture and is
undisputedly the national drink, always served in tulip-shaped glasses.
Of course, the dishes we mention in this article are just a tiny representation of what local cuisine has to
offer.
How to Get Around
Now that we have mentioned dozens of highlights spread before travelers who are visiting Baku, let's
talk about how to get to them.
Buses
Buses are an efficient and inexpensive way to explore Baku. The schedules can usually be found
posted at the bus stops, and each vehicle has its destination posted on the front or right-hand side.
Since Azerbaijan is using a modified version of the Latin alphabet, you should not have any problems
with reading your destination.
Baku has two types of buses:
Red buses, which belong to a company called BakuBus, are newer and have air conditioning. Each ride
costs 0.3 manat. You will need to buy and charge a smart card called BakiKart in order to ride this bus,
as the credits are deducted from the card when you scan it after boarding the bus. You can buy
BakiKart at the airport, metro stations, press kiosks, bus stops and other venues sporting the BakiKart
logo.
An alternative to BakiKart is to use Baku Card, an official city card which includes public transport, entry
fees for selected venues and various discount offers. There are 24-hour, 72-hour, and 7-day versions
of the card. You can buy it at the airport, tourist information points, travel agencies and some hotels.
The second type of bus operating in Baku is painted in purple and owned by the state. These buses are
older and in worse condition than BakuBus vehicles. You have to pay for each ride in cash by handing
money to the driver, so it may come in handy if you do not have BakiKart yet.
Buses in Baku stop operating by midnight and resume work around 6:00 am. On average, expect to
wait 5-15 minutes for each ride.
Unfortunately, Baku buses are not handicap accessible. If you have mobility issues, you may find it
impossible to board them due to their steep steps.
Metro
The Baku metro has three lines consisting of twenty-five stations. The trains run every three to six
minutes from 6:00 am to 1:00 am, with some stations shutting down a bit earlier. Fares are low, and as
of May 2020 a one-way ride cost 0.2 manat , no matter the length of the journey. To use the subway,
even for a single trip, you need either BakiKart or Baku Card (see the Buses section above for
information on where to purchase these cards).
Taxi
Several taxi companies operate in Baku. You can order a ride via phone, online application, or just by
flagging one down on the street. Expect travel fees for transport around the city to cost between four
and ten manat, depending on the length of the journey. A taxi from the airport may charge anywhere
from fifteen to twenty-five manat, again depending on your destination.
We recommend ordering a taxi in advance and double-checking the price to avoid the risk of being
overcharged. To avoid an unnecessary headache, many prefer using applications such as Uber, Bolt or
Yandex. You can also ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you in advance.
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