Before coming to Azerbaijan, I had no idea about the history of oil and Azerbaijan. Turns out, at the turn of the last century, Azerbaijan produced more crude oil than the rest of the world put together!! The first oil rig was in Baku, and we were standing in front of it!!

After our day long trip, we were hungry. Hamid took us downhill from Bibi Heybat Mosque to this beautiful restaurant by the Caspian Sea – Bulbul.

Turns out Bulbul in Azerbaijani means the same as Bulbul in Bengali (and Hindi also, perhaps) – a small bird. I believe that would be a nightingale.

English was a bit problematic with the local staff but the fish was incredible! And this is from somebody who does not care about food much!!

This museum near the mud volcanoes had the skeletons of every conceivable animal – mammals, reptiles, birds and insects – you could think of.

The whole area is filled with mud volcanoes. Did you know that Azerbaijan has more mud volcanoes than the rest of the world put together?

And it is still growing!

You can see it bubbling and gurgling from inside.