Azerbaijan

Country Information:

  • It is in the epicenter of the Asian trade routes. The Caspian Sea dominates the landscape and has a significant impact on the country’s temperate climate
  • Sleek city streets with opportunities for shopping
  • Yet this country fought a brutal conflict with Armenia ( 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war), with a huge human and emotional toll

Here are the top things to do here:

  • Visit the Old City
  • Must Do: Go and see the Hieroglyphics
  • Mud volcanoes
  • See “The Flame”
  • Zoroastrian Temple
  • New football (soccer) stadium

Azerbaijan is located on the western shores of the Caspian sea (which is actually a large lake). 10 million people live here, 2 million of which are located in the capital city of Baku. It has been the center of many conflicts over the past 2,000 years, and has been important to the growth of Islamic culture. It became one of the Soviet republics in the 1920s, and declared its independence from the USSR in 1991.

Located in the heart of ancient cultures, Azerbaijan has been fought over and conquered on numerous occasions, including by Alexander the Great, the Romans, Genghis Khan, Russia and the USSR, just to name a few.

Azerbaijan = land of fire; Baku = city of wind

In 1500 BC the Zoroastrian religion was dominant in Azerbaijan. In the 7th century Muslim Arabs invaded Azerbaijan and introduced Islam to the Caucasus.

Since the 1850s, the oil industry has been the key industry in Azerbaijan. Alfred Nobel was one of the Azerbaijan oil magnates and used proceeds from his oil wealth to fund his esteemed prizes.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan declared its independence and has spared no expense to modernize the country.

Baku’s city streets are reminiscent of the finest cities in Europe, with wide thoroughfares, gardens, and statues. On swanky “Oil Workers’ Avenue” there are only the finest western shops including Bulgari, Tiffany, Dior etc.

Upscale western hotel chains include The Four Seasons (with a prime location downtown near the Old City), The Fairmont (simply amazing), and a new Trump Towers, which opened in 2016. I chose to stay (’16) in the middle of the Old City in The Sultan Inn, which offered huge and modern rooms, and fantastic service.

Slovakia

In 2009, while studying in Poland with my MBA classmates from the University of Tennessee, my friend Mike Zelinsky set up a meeting for a few colleagues and me to visit a Dover Company car part factory outside of Kosice, Slovakia. Since 2007, Slovakia has been the...

Libya

Country Information: The capital of Libya is Tripoli. There are approximately 7 million people living here. The official language of Libya is Arabic, with Italian and English spoken widely in all major cities. The majority of the population practices Islam. Tourists...

Brazil

Legendary Iguazu Falls Jim's Perspectives:  Tropical Brazil is the largest country in South America. After nearly three centuries of Portuguese rule, Brazil gained independence in 1822. Because of this Portuguese is the most widely spoken language of Brazil and is the...