I especially enjoyed my walks across the city parks of Lankaran. These parks are not as active or vibrant as the jogging parks in bustling cities. The park is more laid-back, with loving couples deep in conversation, sitting tightly on a bench. People walk leisurely here, unlike the normal Westerner who takes his exercise and jogs very seriously. Here, people are more casual, and you can see ladies loitering around the park, just gossiping and chatting.
The traffic moves slowly as the population of the city is low; there are more vacant spaces here. The weather is cool, and it gets cooler as the night approaches, but the air is fresh and invigorating. I chatted with the local people and some street kids who stood outside a busy school. This was a typical morning in the city of Lankaran.
As I strolled around the park, deep in thought, trying to figure out who and what I should snap next, my eyes fell on a tree. A very fascinating tree. There was a plaque under the tree that gave the history of the tree away. This tree had a name; it was called the Iron Wood tree and was bang at the center of the park. I wandered around it, trying to figure out its importance. The tree was planted in honor of the other sister cities of Lankaran. It was a symbol of endurance and longevity, a symbol that true friendships will endure the test of time.
My eyes fell on the words written on the plaque that gave away its significance. This city has a certain pull and an old-world charm. Its people and lands seem trapped in another time and another zone.
So far, Azerbaijan has been a vast collage of contrasts. From the bustling high streets of Baku to the snow peaks of Batabat and the lakes and terrain of Ankara. But the people are the friendliest I have seen. They are hospitable and very knowledgeable.
People enjoy the sun, and the markets are busy in the afternoon. What I enjoyed most was the traditional Azerbaijani folk music that Usain would keep playing in his car. It was just mind-blowing; with the car moving at high speed, the scenic beauty of this land just whizzes past you, and the mix of the music can be very intoxicating. I did a video of my journey to and fro Lankaran to Ankara; it is worth a watch.”