December 20, 2015 to January 3, 2016: Baku is a beautiful city to explore. I never get tired of meandering through the narrow streets and walkways of the Old City or strolling the promenade along the Caspian Sea. While Chris was busy working, I took the opportunity on a few glorious sunny days before Christmas to get out and see the sights. On the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, the weather took a turn for the worse. Biting winds and snow were best avoided altogether. On these days, I browsed the shops trying (and failing) to justify purchasing all sorts of incredible pairs of winter boots when I live on a boat in the tropics, ate hearty soups for lunch and took plentiful breaks inside warm coffee shops and tea houses. Or simply hid out in the apartment and watched movies.

Chris’ day off is Sunday. On our first Sunday, we were warmly welcomed by Medjid and his family for a lavish dinner at their home. It was a real treat to meet the extended family.

The following Sunday, Medjid took us exploring up the coast through small towns and beaches popular with local fishermen. I wanted to see the offshore road that goes out to some of the oil rigs, but apparently this is now off limits. Even the mere sight of it is prohibited these days. Instead, we enjoyed a lavish Azeri lunch overlooking the Caspian.

The sun made its return on my last day in Baku, another Sunday. It was perfect weather for lunch overlooking the Old City and one final walk along the promenade. It seems everybody else had the same idea too. We ditched the crowds for a bit by ducking inside the national carpet museum. More on that in the next post. Yes, a whole post about carpets. You won’t want to miss it.