From Saki we headed to Qobustan to see the "mud volcanoes". What a strange sight! We couldn't find it from the directions in Lonely Planet (the book I am coming to least trust in the entire world) so we pulled into a police hut and asked for directions. So helpful, for just a small fee(!) one of the policemen rode with us and gave directions -to be fair we would never have found it!

On the way up we did notice lots of abandoned drill sites... the water/mud is not hot, or even warm... and it seems like its only on the top of this one hill... hmmmm! Apparently it is natural though, and we're told there are more in Romania!! Anyway, after we took some photos and some video we dropped off the policeman and continued into Baku.

Under lots of construction! We drove along the coast and found a place to stay for the night... It is strange to see small, battered houses next to enormous glass plated buildings. Pristine manicured gardens and pedestrian shopping malls with the next street along looking dusty, dingy shops with the paint peeling off the walls.

On our second day in Baku - having got the final visa (Turkmenistan!) we went to the port and met two Belgian guys who are cycling to China! They had met an Azeri girl who was helping them get their ferry tickets, who then offered to help us!! How lucky! Seeing as the ticket office lady only speaks Azeri and Russian we consider this lovely girl, Tahira, our miracle!