This was my first trip to Azerbaijan. We were flying from Tbilisi to Baku, a short trip lasting 80 minutes. The purpose of the trip was to meet with the Azeri members of our team and discus their work.
The basis of Baku's economy is petroleum. The existence of petroleum has been known since the 8th century. By the 15th century oil for lamps was obtained from surface wells. Commercial exploitation began in 1872, and by the beginning of the 20th century the Baku oil field was the largest in the world and the economy booming.
Today's Baku is really four cities rolled into one: the old town, the first oil boomtown, the Soviet-built town, and the new town developments altogether with a population of 2 million people.
The centre of Baku is the old town, which is also a fortress. The walled city of Baku became in December 2000 the first location in Azerbaijan classified as world cultural site by UNESCO. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. The 11th-century Maiden's Tower is impressive.
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