Sheki

 

Something I forgot to mention about the big chugging Soviet relic of a bus was that it did not have any heat.  We know the temperature is at least in the low 30's since water is freezing in puddles.  Three and a half cold hours later, we arrived in Sheki.  The ride was certainly cold, but really a great slice of life here in Azerbaijan.  Hours of country-side, shepherds with their herds, small towns, super polluting aluminum producing factories, cattle grazing, farmers tending their crops.  Beautiful really. Arriving in Sheki, we walked a short way to catch a minibus into the town center. It immediately went the wrong way, passed our stop after righting itself, and then dropped us in front of the wrong hotel. Perfect. We then wandered around looking for what our travel guide described as "a hulking relic looming over the square".  Finding it we promptly got into an argument with the manager over the price he was asking and the advertised price.  He wanted three times the amount at first, but when the advertised price was pointed out, he dropped that to only twice the advertised amount. OK.  So we left on not so happy terms with him shooing us off, and us laughing at his huge EMPTY hotel.  We made our way past the market and found a much nicer place who when asked the price, offered the room at the advertised rate.  What a great idea! Nice room, shower, toilet...no heat.  We'll take it.