It’s been a few years since I’ve done a Christmas letter. Perhaps that’s because my last one didn’t go over too well with relatives back home. Perhaps it was just the craziness of my schedule at the end of 2016 as I geared up for my third year in Korea. Perhaps it was just laziness. …
azerbaijan
Hiking to Gelersen Gorersen in Sheki
The town of Sheki has been controlled by many powers in the 2,700 or so years it’s been a major settlement. Persians, Albanians, Georgians, Arabs, Mongols, Russians, Soviets, and Azeris have all had a stake here, and the treasures that Sheki hides bear proof to that diverse heritage. One such remnant, the fortress of Gelersen …
How to Spend a Weekend in Baku
Baku is a bizarre place. A mash-up of fascinating historical architecture and Islamic influences combined with a modern and thriving city center that feels more like Western Europe make it a bit confusing to get used to — at least for me. But it’s an awesome city and well worth spending at least a few …
Hiking in Xinaliq
When I first read about Xinaliq in Jonny Blair from Don’t Stop Living’s excellent post on the town, I knew immediately I wanted to visit. Hiking in Xinaliq seemed like the perfect cure to my time spent in Baku. Dubbed ‘the most remote town in Europe’ by some and objectively the highest town at 2,350 meters above …
Hiking with Camping Azerbaijan
When Vasilii and Anna mentioned they were going on a hike with Camping Azerbaijan, I immediately perked up. I’d seen the company’s Facebook page and liked the thought of dipping my toes into the Azeri hiking scene with a guided tour.The trek for the coming day would cover 9 km with almost 700 meters of …
How to Get to Davit Gareja from Tbilisi
One of the perks of living in a country as small as Georgia is the relatively short amount of time in which you can access nearly any part of the country. Tbilisi is a great base from which you can do a number of awesome day trips. Visiting Gergeti Trinity Church at Kazbegi is one. Exploring …