Oil and Water

At its closest points, Russia and Iran are less than two-hundred kilometres apart. It's an incredibly close distance for two cultures that, from the outside, seem so vastly different. But between the two monolithic nations is the nation of Azerbaijan.

I arrived in Baku a few days before the international climate summit, CO29, was due to commence. Whilst I had no intention of doing anything related to the event, it did mean that my time in the Azerbaijani capital was limited. During the conference, hostel prices were nine to ten times their usual price and so I could only stay a maximum of two nights.

Baku was a huge transition after the flight from central Asia but two nights was kind of enough. Baku's European architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere was striking. In downtown Baku, huge glass buildings rose from the edge of the Caspian sea (technically not a sea). BMWs drove down the streets in the centre of town, past the huge shopping centres and Rolls Royce dealerships. Marble adorned the pedestrian subways under major roads. Large cafes selling americanos and bubble tea ran through the main streets.

The oil industry had certainly built the city. I would come to discover whether that wealth was spread equally throughout the rest of the country.

(Spoiler alert: It wasn't.)