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AZERBAIJAN - The Travellers' Destination | Travelwings
EXPLORE AZERBAIJAN - the land of fire where traditions meet futurism
Why to Visit
About Travel Safe History Geography Culture Why to Visit Time to Visit Things to Do Places to Visit Festivals & Events Visa Transportation How to Reach Travel Tips Nearbuy Places Interesting Facts Emergency Currency Why Book With Us
Travel to Azerbaijan country and get transported to a world where traditions and modernity unite. Globally famed as the'land of eternal fire', the country rests in the Eurasia region under the quaint shadow of the Caucasus mountains. Get a chance to observe the globe's largest number of mud volcanos, 40000 years old petroglyphs, the mountain with never-ending fire, all this while you experience the most delectable Middle Eastern cuisine of this country. Witness a fine fusion of multiple civilizations in its heart and body. Step on to the land of the ancient man and learn all about the primitive way of life. Drive a few hundred kilometres and travel into a futuristic world. Explore the multi-dimensional shades of wonderous Azerbaijan with us.
USEFUL INFO. ABOUT AZERBAIJAN
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Azerbaijan
CAPITAL & LARGEST CITY: Baku (Baki, Baky)
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S): Azerbaijani (Azeri)
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Azerbaijani (Azeri) 92.5%, Russian, Armenian, Other
ETHNICITY: Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, Other 2.4%
CURRENCY: Manat ₼ (AZN)
MAP REFERRED: ASIA (geopolitically, Azerbaijan considers itself part of Europe)
AREA: 86,600 Sq Km
LOWEST POINT: Caspian Sea 28 M
HIGHEST POINT: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 M
COASTLINE: 0 Km (landlocked)
NEIGHBOURING PLACES:
Armenia 996 km
Georgia 428 km
Iran 689 km
Russia 338 km
Turkey 17 km
FAMOUS FOR: Flaming Tower | Ancient Petroglyphs | Salt Caves | Islamic Architecture | Mud Volcanos | Caravanserais | Jam Teas | Carpet Museum | Music Sports | Gold Jewellery | Little Venice | Turk-Persian Cuisine | Mugham | Hammams | Karabakh Horse
NATIONAL SYMBOLS:Flames of Fire
TIME ZONE: AZT (UTC+04)
ETHNICITY:Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, Other 2.4%
DRIVING SIDE: Right
AIRPORTS IN AZERBAIJAN: Baku Airport | Ganja Airport | Nakhichevan Airport | Lankaran Airport | Zaqatala Airport
Network / Connectivity
Internet can be expensive in Azerbaijan. Hence, we advise you to make use of the Free Wi-Fi zones as much as possible. When in Baku, you would find several Free Wi-Fi zones like the National Flag Square, Airport, Sahil Park, Sabir Park, Winter Park, along with Port Baku and Port Baku Mall.
The primary internet service provider is Baktelekom. The government mostly keeps the internet free from any filters, but heavily monitors any kind of political opposition online. It has often led to the arrest of several political activists and bloggers.
The internet service is scarce in remote areas. So, use your data wisely. Heck! Keep creating that album, plug off and enjoy the simplicity of the place, before you are ready to reconnect to the digital world.
You would need to unlock your mobile phone to suit another sim card, should you choose to buy a local sim in Azerbaijan. Most mobile service providers offer good coverage in the country. All you need to do is activate International Roaming on your number.
International calling can be expensive though. It is better to go for VoIP service, i.e, Voice over Internet Protocol service such as Skype to make international calls for Free. You can easily find these at an internet cafe in the country.
EMBASSY Of UAE: (+994) (12) 594 70 31 / 2 | Click for more info here
Police: 110
Ambulance:115
Fire:125
The Azerbaijani Manat denotes the term'Money'. According to Roman Mythology, it symbolizes the goddess of memory. The currency is greatly inspired by the EURO design. During your stay in Azerbaijan, you can exchange the currency in banks and large hotels. Always carry cash with you and avoid any currency exchange in the streets as it can alert any muggers in the vicinity.
Symbol: ₼
Code: AZN
1 Manat = 100 Gopik
1 Azerbaijani Manat AZN = 2.16 United Arab Emirates Dirham (as on 27 Nov 2019)
Manat notes can be found in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200
Gopik coins can be found in the denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50
Please note that Travellers Cheques are NOT accepted in most places.
Azerbaijan is a secular nation with a majority of Turkic ethnicity (aka Azerbaijani). What once was a prominent stop on the Silk trading route is now most recognized for its oil reserves, mud volcanoes, flaming mountains and its capital'Baku'. It is one of the few countries that represent a blend of modernity and rich cultural heritage in one.
The history of Azerbaijan dates to the Paleolithic Era, where archaeologists discovered traces and remains of the ancient life from the lowest layers of the Azykh cave. Mixed traces of people from different regions have been discovered here as the history travels through Paganism, Early Medieval Era, Russian Culture and eventually, the Islamic culture. It is hard to define the Azerbaijani culture based on one bloodline. You would witness Persian, Russian, and Turkish influences.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Azerbaijan gained independence for some time before being ruled by the Soviet Union for about three decades. Following the year 1991, Azerbaijan elected its first President Ayaz Mutalibov. He was succeeded by Heydar Aliyev in 1993 via presidential election. Ever since the country remains the Presidential Republic and does not tolerate any type of political opposition or voice against the Aliyev family.
Formerly Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, also Azerbaijan USSR, the country was renamed to Republic of Azerbaijan following its independence from the Soviet rule. The new constitution of Azerbaijan came into force in October 1995. Even though every country had its fair share of struggle and sacrifices under the Soviet Rule, the sacrifices made by Azerbaijan are probably the worst.
To this date, Azerbaijan remains active in Nagorno-Karabakh region conflict with its neighbour Armenia. Civilians, including the tourists, are advised against entering the region on account of ceasefire operations and landmines spread all over the place. The eventual outcome of this conflict is yet to arrive. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group is trying to resolve the conflict peacefully. The Group is co-chaired by Russia, France, and the USA.
Despite the history of hardships, Azerbaijan has been successful in reducing the poverty rate by a major degree while its literacy rate is almost 100%. The country has invested in creating a futuristic vibe by directing revenues from oil and gas to its infrastructure development. However, the issues concerned around Azerbaijan politics and corruption continue to remain prevalent here.
Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea and lies between Iran and Russia. The country is officially recognized as a landlocked region despite being bordered by the Caspian Sea (the largest lake on the globe). It has official claim to 0 km coastline. Azerbaijan Geography also includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the conflicted Nagorno-Karabakh regions. The neighbouring countries of Azerbaijan include Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Turkey is the closest of all.
The terrain of Azerbaijan is large and flat towards the Kura-Araks lowlands, steep and rugged towards the Great Caucasus mountains to the North. To the west, lies the Karabakh upland (Qarabag Yaylasi), while the modern city of Azerbaijan, also its capital, Baku lies on the Apsheron Peninsula (Abseron Yasaqligi). The peninsula ends into the Caspian Sea (the largest lake in the world, almost sea-like).
The highest point is at Bazarduzu Dagi, one of the greatest peaks in the Caucasus mountains (about 4500 above sea level), while the lowest point is the Caspian Sea (about 30 m).
Due to high volcanic activity zone and being a country with the highest number of mud volcanos and naturally occurring fire, the country has abundant organic deposits of Petroleum, Natural Gas, Iron Ore, Bauxite, and many other non-ferrous metals.
The country's land is divided into three types - Agricultural, Forest, and Other. Almost 58% of the Azerbaijani land is used for harvesting purposes. The Arable land is used for cultivating crops like wheat, maize, rice. The country also cultivates vines, fruits, coffee, and rubber.
The culture and customs of Azerbaijan are wrapped in religious beliefs and centuries-old traditions. The country's patronage is a fine confluence of various times dating back from the primitive, pagan, early medieval to the Islamic, modern, and the Russian. You get a glimpse of this morphism are you travel from the Azerbaijan city of Baku towards the more remote regions. Further exploration can be done at the Petroglyphs of Gobustan.
Azerbaijani homes are intricately decked from the inside, esp. of the rich people. Carpets are indispensable commodities for each Azerbaijani household. You would not find a home without a carpet here. There are museums and schools dedicated to the art and craft of carpet weaving in the country.
Jewellery and Costume
You would find men and women both in modest clothing. Both men and women in the country love a variety of colours and prefer to don layers. The costumes differ according to the regions travelled. The art of jewellery making, particularly gold is popular here and inspired by Arabic styles, particularly filigree and enamel.
Azerbaijan's traditional music is popular across the world. In fact, Azerbaijani traditional mugams, i.e., folk musical compositions are registered in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. Mostly inspired by the daily lives of people, moral values, the theatre scene here has branched into different styles and performance. We advise you to book your ticket to one of these in advance.
You are in for a mouth-watering treat in Azerbaijan. The country's cuisine is strongly influenced by the East. Full spices and saffron are commonly added to the dishes for rich fragrance and health. Traditionally, they prepare and serve food in copper utensils. Discover age-old recipes and cooking methods that are preserved to this date.
Rice happens to be a staple here. Fresh herbs such as mint, coriander, basil, parsley, leek, chive, thyme, green onion, etc. are used to render a special aroma and garnish to the dish. The most popular dishes are prepared from lamb, beef, and other red meat. The place is a paradise for meat lovers. Make sure to treat yourself to the kebabs and shashliks from the appetizer menu. Feel the kebabs melt in your mouth in every morsel.
The country serves delicious platters for both the vegetarians and the non-vegetarians. While its signature delicacy is Pulao - saffron sprinkled rice served with greens and meat both. There are more than 40 recipes of the pulao to cater to different taste buds. Vegetables are used according to the season of which tomato, aubergine, spinach, cabbage, radish, green beans, and cucumber are most common.
There is plenty here for seafood lovers too, thanks to the country's varied water bodies. Seafood lovers can enjoy mouthwatering delicacies sourced from the bountiful lakes, sea, and rivers of Azerbaijan. You must not leave without trying the white sturgeon and black caviar (one of the most sought-after delicacies in the world).
Azerbaijani love to serve tea with jam in traditional armudu glasses. Black tea is served after meals. Azerbaijanis treat their guests with love and a little too much food. If you are travelling during Summer, then do try the Azerbaijani Sherbet, a sweet beverage of thick consistency perfumed with rose water. It feels heavenly on the gut, especially when sipped after a long warm day.
You can explore various flavours of Sherbet including strawberry, lemon, pomegranate, mint, apricot, and more. It is the summer travellers' holy water.
The Sacred Relationship with Fire
The element of'Fire' is symbolic of Azerbaijan. It is considered the symbol of light and mystic since ancient times. You will find several places here that are inspired by the element of fire. Some of them include the Baku's Flaming Towers, burning water, Zoroastrian fire temples, the burning mountain of Yanar Dagh, and many more.
Traditions Carried On
Following traditions is important in the Azerbaijani culture. Outside of Baku, the locals continue to dwell in a rural lifestyle of simpletons. They grow fruits and veggies in their own yard while living in modest houses. Islamic traditions prevail in most areas.
The Culture of Drinking Tea in Armudas
Tea is sacred here. Traditional Azerbaijani tea is prepared from herbs with added sugar. It is served in pear-shaped glasses called Armudas. Milk is not added. The drink is as old as Medieval times. Sugar was added to detect poison and to satiate the fear of paranoid rulers. It is a popular custom to drink tea with jam.
Outstanding Hospitality
Azerbaijanis believe in hospitality. It is a part of their culture. Guests are considered precious and so, they serve them with love. Be ready to get treated with multiple cups of tea, snacks, and food if you plan to book a homestay. The young Azerbaijanis even carry your bags for you as a gesture of hospitality.
Must-Try Delicacies
Azerbaijani Pulao, Kebab, Shashlik, Kufta Bozbash & Dovga Soups, White Sturgeon, Black Caviar
Must-Try Drinks
Black Tea, Azerbaijani Sherbet, Azeri Wine, Ayran (cold yoghurt)
Experience a blend of old with the new, from the remote areas filled with traditions to the futuristic flaming towers of Baku.
Be a witness to the legacies of the land of fire featuring mud volcanoes and the mountains of natural fire, the Yanar Dagh.
Relish authentic middle eastern local delicacies spread along 7 courses.
Hike the imminent Caucasus range and spend some time in the eternal lap of nature.
Indulge in a promenade along the Caspian Sea boardwalk.
Study the petroglyphs at Gobustan to get an insight into the common lifestyle.
Admire the fine examples of Islamic architecture transferred from the luminaries of the Seljuk Dynasty.
Get a chance to dig into the Persian literature and poetry classics, including the Khamsa by Nizami.
Participate in a soulful sojourn at the Tears of Kyapaz, a series of seven breathtaking water bodies.
Create memories without shelling out the big bucks for Azerbaijan is one of the most affordable countries on the globe.
Explore one of the safest tourist destinations, a country that exerts severe punishment against the ones accused of any crime against the tourist, no matter how minuscule.
AZERBAIJAN CLIMATE | AZ WEATHER
Azerbaijan happens to be one of the rare countries that experience almost 9 out of 11 annual binomial zones. Azerbaijan climate is mostly temperate, especially in the lowlands. The Caucasus mountains protect the country from the cold Arctic winds. Hence, the cold in Azerbaijan is not particularly harsh.
Summers can go over 40 degrees in the plains and up to 15 degrees in the mountains. The Caspian Sea keeps fresh breeze flowing through the summers. You won't have to worry about breaking a sweat during the evenings.
The period of May, June, July, and August is the driest. Rainfall occurs between August and September.
Winters in Azerbaijan are snowy in the mountains with temperature falling below 20 degrees, on average. The weather is pleasant and mild in the capital and nearby regions.
April to July
Perfect time for Spring/Summer folks. During the months of April and June, the lowlands of Azerbaijan experience bloom. Whereas, the month of July is ideal for trekking the mountains.
July is the hottest month of the year and not advised for visiting the city areas due to excess heat.
October to March
Experience the Baku winter and you would be in awe with it. The ideal time to visit the country is in October and it only gets better from there. The lowlands do not get harshly cold, so you can enjoy plenty of activities with your loved ones. The higher regions can get cold though. The temperature can dip to as low as -20 degrees. Azerbaijan in December and January offers the perfect time for ski and other kinds of snow sports.
Visit Azerbaijan with Family
Go Horse riding in Sheki and the Caucasus
Participate in Skiing and other activities during the Azerbaijani winter
Indulge in Shopping in Baku for souvenirs and gifts
Visit the flaming tower of Baku
Visit Azerbaijan as a Couple
Take a gondola ride through the Little Venice, Baku
Attend an Azeri Wedding
Participate in Azeri wine tasting
Soak in the breathtaking views of the Caspian Sea
Visit Azerbaijan with Friends
Explore the petroglyphs and mud volcanoes at Gobustan
Visit Yanar Dagh, the mountain of fire
Enjoy a few drinks like the taverns at the old Caravanserais
Take a walking tour of the Baku Old city
Visit Azerbaijan with Kids
Let the kids enjoy at the Baku zoo and Shirvan National Park
Go shopping and fun at the Port Baku Mall
Visit the Palace of Shirvanshahs, Flag Square and Baku Crystal Hall
Visit the open-air rock museum in the Gobustan National Park
What to Buy?
Carpet from Baku, Shirvan, Guba, Tabriz, Karabakh, Ganja or Gazak
Azerbaijan's traditional dagger for men
Gold jewellery for women
Armudu Glass for tea
Nard or Backgammon
Crude Oil painting
Kelaghayi (national headscarf for women)
National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, Baku: The first thing on your Azerbaijan Itinerary should be a visit to the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan in Baku. It is the largest museum in the country and a treasure trove of more than 15000 artworks displayed in 60 rooms across two buildings that stand adjacent to one another. The museum was inaugurated in 1936 and reflects the finest artworks from Azerbaijan, East Asia, Western Europe and Russia. Under the Azerbaijani collections, you would travel across various eras that trace the progression of art and life from ancient to modern times.
Best Time to Visit:
Daily: 10.00-18.00
Ticket office operating hours: 10.00 hrs - 17.00 hrs
Closed: Monday
Entry Prices:
Students: 2 AZN
Local citizens: 5 AZN
Foreign citizens: 10 AZN
Baku Eye (or Baku Ferris Wheel), Baku Boulevard: Baku Eye is a popular Ferris wheel in the National Park of Baku, right on the Baku Boulevard. The wheel offers the riders the experience to wholly absorb the most panoramic views of this Azerbaijan city including the Baku Bay area, the Flag square, and the Crystal Hall from a height of about 200 ft above the ground. The wheel also goes by the name Satan's Wheel and the Devil's Wheel. With about 30 modern technology equipped cabinets made from transparent glass that accommodate up to 8 people, this has become one of the most awesome places to visit in Azerbaijan since 2014 (year of its establishment). Go there at night and see the wheel come alive like a circle of shimmery stars under the sparkling night sky.
Monday - Sunday: 12:00 hours - 22:30 hours
Entry Price:
5.5 AZN (approx. for foreign nationals)
Fountain Square Baku, Downtown Baku: One of the oldest marvels of Soviet Architecture in Azerbaijan, the Fountain Square derives its name from the presence of dozens of fountains in a public square. The fountain square established in 1868 now serves as a hosting ground for various public events and festivals. The square starts from the walls of Icheri Sheher and goes all the way through the Nizam Street (or Torgovaya) running parallelly to the Baku Boulevard. The place has a lavish salad named after it, known as the Fountain Square Salad.
Open 24 Hours a Day. Visit it at night for the best view.
Icheri Seher, Baku Old Town: Capture the feeling of the ancient world when Baku was first found at the Icheri Seher. Located in the heart of the city, it is also now a primal historical and cultural reserve and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. The city is made entirely of limestones with Caspian Sea on one side and protected on the remaining three sides by thick fortress walls.
The Fortress Wall, Icheri Sheher
Originally built in the 12th Century to protect the city of Baku from external contingencies, the Fortress Wall is built in two layers, one shorter than the other. The entire place has about 25 towers and five gates. The main entrance is marked with the city's shield, the head of Ox protected by lion heads and a moon and a sun. This denotes the 24*7 protection.
Gobustan National Park, Gobustan (or Qobustan): Travel 70 km south of Baku and you will be transported into the world of natural miracles (mud volcanos and petroglyphs) at the Gobustan National Park (a UNESCO Heritage Site). The site completely justifies the rich heritage and history that the county of Azerbaijan possesses.
All Days (0900 hours - 1700 hours)
5.5 AZN (approx.)
Petroglyphs of Gobustan:
Behold the knowledge of the primitive way of life expressed through more than 6000 rock engravings that are about 5000 years old. Study the remains of various settlements and burial grounds, caves that were inhabited once, each element exhibiting facts from the Upper Paleolithic Era to the Middle Ages. Again, praise to the artists and the creators from these periods who left such vivid stories for us and the archaeologists to unravel.
Next, you would move towards the site of mud volcanoes, the largest number on Earth. There are about 300+ mud volcanoes spread across this land. The mud from these volcanoes is known for its healing qualities. Prepare for a rich, exfoliating mud spa from the infamous volcanic mud.
Ateshgah Fire Temple, Surakhani: The Ateshgah of Baku is the oldest temple and one of the most historical places of Azerbaijan. According to the Persian inscriptions, the temple was a ground of worship for the Hindus, Sikhs, and the Zoroastrians. As the population of these communities declined in the country, it was gradually abandoned. The naturally occurring flames of the temple were believed to denote the presence of God. However, the flames were exhausted due to excessive exploitation of natural gas reserves. The temple is now a popular museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Public Baths (Hammam), Baku: To experience the Hammam culture is a major reason as to why do people visit Azerbaijan's Baku city. In ancient times, these Hammams or public baths used to be the places of entertainment and hangouts for building new acquaintances and indulging in friendly interactions while taking a bath. The culture still prevails in Azerbaijan, only it is even more lavish and spa-like. Lose yourself in the steam bath and lukewarm water to escape from the chilly winds of the country during winters. For traditional Hammam experience, you can visit Tazebey Hammami and Meshedi Ehmed.
Between 12-60 AZN depending upon the services booked.
Bottle House, Ganja: You cross paths with another wonder of art at the Bottle House in the Ganja District. The place now a sightseeing spot was originally a private residence of Ibrahim Jafarov who went missing during WW II. This two-story house is designed entirely from glass bottles of various sizes and shapes incorporated with colourful stones. Marvel at this unique paradigm of fine engineering and art developed from over 48000 bottles. Since there are no guided tours or entry fee, you can be a part of supporting the maintenance of this house by shopping for Azerbaijan souvenirs from the souvenir stand under the porch.
Anytime 7 days a week
Khansarai (The Palace of the Sheki Khans), Sheki City: During your visit to the Sheki city, make sure you have kept 20 minutes for the Khansarai, aka, the Palace of the Sheki Khans. Once a summer residence to the Shaki Khanate, the Palace of Shaki Khans is a retreat for historians today. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it attracts explorers from all over the globe. Its grandeur lies in its marvellous architecture composed of colourful mosaic glass, a fine example of the ancient art of'shebeke'. The palace also has a beautiful lush courtyard. The splendidly designed fresco work on the walls and ceilings exhibit the lifestyle of Khans in a photogenic form. Do not miss out on this ancient invention if you desire to witness wonders through your naked eye.
5 AZN (for foreign nationals)
Visit The Caravanserais For A Few Drinks, Baku/Sheki: Being a part of the Silk Route adds to the rich heritage of Azerbaijan even more. In the old days when traders and businessmen used to pass by this country, they would rest and rejuvenate at these inns or hotels called Caravanserais. They would have a few drinks, meet like-minded people and make the most of their journeys. Two of these Caravanserais (one in Baku and other in Sheki) have been kept operational for the tourists and locals to chill and enjoy a few drinks under the blanket of sky and trees.
24 hours all Days
30 AZN (per night)
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Baku: If you have a'thing' for the art of weaving and handicrafts, then the carpet museum Baku, i.e., the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum must be on your Azerbaijan and Baku Itinerary. The museum has the world's largest collection of carpets and rugs of various weaves representing various time periods. As you walk along, you would be introduced to over 10,000 displays of ceramic, metalwork from the 14th century, jewellery from the Bronze Age, and carpets, garments, embroideries from the 17th-20th centuries.
7 Days a Week (1000 hours - 1800 hours)
Adults: 7 AZN
Entry is Free for Children under 6 years.
Tears of Kyapaz, Nagorno-Karabakh: If you happen to travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh region despite the risk, then the Tears of Kyapaz on the Mount Kyapaz are set to make the entire trip worthwhile. The Tears of Kyapaz, a union of seven breathtaking lakes, narrates a story of its own. The site is named Goy Gol State Reserve after the name of the most idyllic and cleanest lake from these seven. Other than these water beauties, you would also come across interesting species of wildlife and birds, such as the Persian Leopard, Badger, Boar, Jackal, Eurasian Woodcock, and many more.
2AZN per person and 1AZN per car
Yanar Dag, Absheron Peninsula: Azerbaijan's natural resources are plenty, which leads the country to exploit various markets, particularly gas. The Yanar Dag mountain has a prominent role to play in that. Of all the popular Azerbaijan mountains, this one takes the miracle trophy for its continuously burning fire that continues to exist even after 4 millennia (aka 4000 years). These flames are about 3 m high as they burn at the base of the Yanar Dagh mountain. Needless to say, the fire is a symbol of worship in both Azerbaijan and several other countries, including India.
All Days (0900 hours to 1800 hours)
3 AZN (approx.)
Maiden Tower, Baku Old City: This UNESCO Heritage Site, the Maiden Tower (Pearl of Baku), continues to amaze and confuse even the best archaeologists and historians for its purpose and shape. There are several stories and theories around the cause behind the existence of this 5/6th century architecture. It is assumed to be a part of the safety and defence strategy of the locals. Another theory discusses the study of celestial bodies that required a sky-high tower. While some believe that the tower was a temple of fire owing to its buta shape which symbolizes the fire and light.
8 AZN for foreigners
2 AZN for citizens of Azerbaijan
0.60 AZN for students (foreign student cards are also applicable)
Hiking in Azerbaijan, Multiple Trails: Azerbaijan might have fewer official trails, but those trails are worth taking for the love of culture-rich ancient mountain villages, history and of course, beautiful lush landscapes. Here are the paths less travelled that you can hike and explore. Make sure to hire a guide though for comfort and know-how both.
The Transcaucasian Trail in the Caucasus Mountains for Expert Trekkers
Beshbarmag Mountains in Guba for exploring Kinalug, the highest village in the whole of Europe.
Dubrar Dagh in Khizi District for climbing two peaks at once Dubrar and Kelani
Shopping in Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan is a haven for art, fashion, handicrafts, and antique shoppers. The most vouched Azerbaijan souvenirs you could take home are silk items, carpets, pottery items, crude oils paintings called Neft Paintings, and there is so much more. Shop your heart out at the Nizami Street for flea shopping, Taza Bazaar for the rarest variety of caviar, fruits and nuts; and the Fountain Square for hi-end stuff. Sharpen your bargaining skills before heading to these markets though.
Other Popular Places to Visit...
Museum of the Dwarf, Baku
Sheki Silk Factory for the admirers and explorers of Silk fabric
Juma Mosque for Ibadat (prayer)
Baku Museum of Modern art
Shirvan National Park with the Kids
Kanegah Complex
Beaches by the Caspian Sea (Bilgah & Nabran)….and more
Most Popular Cities in Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan: Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan and the only one with an international airport, just 22.8 km away from Baku city centre. Your trip starts from here. Keep a major chunk of your tour reserved for Baku city. Apart from the infamous flaming towers and the fortress wall, there are many more places to visit in Baku for all sorts of tastes. Stay at the Downtown Baku and explore away. Shop for Azerbaijan Souvenirs from Baku.
Famous Baku Visiting Places: Flaming towers | Baku Museum of Modern Art | Baku Shopping Mall | Port Baku Mall | Baku Ferris Wheel | Old City Baku | Fortress Wall | Maiden Tower | Theater | Street Food | Turkish Hammam (bath)
Qabala, Azerbaijan: About 290 km from Baku (close to the Russian and Georgian border), Qabala or Gabala is the lushest green place in Azerbaijan. It was also the Caucasian Albanian capital for 600 years.
Visit it for: Breathtaking Scenery | Rivers | Chestnut & Walnut Groves | Albanian Temple | Tufandag Mountain | Nohurgol Lake | Historical Mausoleums
Sheki, Azerbaijan: A beautiful cobbled town with vibrant houses, cafes, and a laidback life sandwiched between Tbilisi (Georgia) and Baku, this place is everything that defines an idyllic stay.
Visit For: Sheki Khan's Summer Palace | Silk Road Caravanserai | Throwback Retro | Shebeke Art | Piti Dish | Fresh Air & Green spaces
Quba, Azerbaijan: One of the oldest towns set in the 15th century, Quba is especially visited during the Spring season at the time of bloom. The place is also the carpet weaving capital of Azerbaijan and an organizer of several weaving workshops.
Visit For: Carpet weaving Workshop | Spring Flora | Nizami Park | Grand Synagogue | Chalette Restaurant
Gobustan, Azerbaijan: About an hour's drive from Baku (60km) lies the Gobustan, the land of natural wonders. The place has over 6000 petroglyphs, dating back to several millennia. You would also find mud volcanoes and the musical mountain (Gaval Dash) here.
Visit for: Mud Volcanos | Petroglyphs | Gaval Dash (a rock that sounds like tambourine when tapped) | Yanar Dagh (mountain of fire) | Gobustan National Park
Lankaran, Azerbaijan: A fantastic place for the seekers of eco-tourism with its sub-tropical climate and wildlife reserves. People also visit this place to unravel a few off the track historical sites.
Visit for: Lankaran tea | Hirkan National Park | Lankaran Fortress | Yanar Bulag Fire Spring
Khinaliq, Azerbaijan: One of the oldest villages on earth, the Khinalug village holds its name in the UNESCO list of World-Historical Monuments. Need we say more?
Visit for: Red Village | Mosque
Shahdag, Azerbaijan: A famous ski and adventure winter sports destination in Azerbaijan, the place is in the Caucasus region. Stay at the Shahdag Mountain Resort for a complete package stay.
Visit for: Ski | Fresh Air & Greenery | Horse Riding | Snow Gliding | Tubing | Zip Lining | Quad Biking
Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan: An exclave bordered with Turkey, it is the health and wellness centre of the country famous for salt caves and mineral water springs.
Visit For: Salt Caves of Duzdag Mountain | Lake Batabat | Duzdag Salt Therapy | Momina Khatun Mausoleum | Garabaghlar Mausoleum | Chalkan Gala Fortress | ShakhTakhti Govur Fortress | Heydar Aliyev Park
Shamakhi, Azerbaijan: An ancient Azerbaijani city that goes back to the Shirvan Dynasty, it is the cradle of Azerbaijan literature since it is the birthland of several Azerbaijani-origin poets.
Visit for: Juma Mosque of Shamakhi | Yeddi Gumbaz mausoleum | Gulistan Fortress | Addy-Gyumbez (seven domed)
Ganja, Azerbaijan: the third-largest city of AZ, Ganja represents a confluence of various civilizations (Russian, Turkish, Arab, Persian) in its architecture and way of life. The place has the largest park in the Caucasus region.
Visit for: Juma Mosque | Shah Abbas Caravanserai | Kvas Place | Heydar Aliyev Park | Bottle House | Javad Khan Street | Lake Goygol | Mausoleums | Ganja City Hall | Chokak Baths (Turkish Hammam) | Alexander Levsky Church
If you can make time...Other Places to Explore in Armenia
Qobustan, Azerbaijan
Laza, Azerbaijan
Khinaliq, Azerbaijan
Shahdag Baku
Naftalan, Azerbaijan
Qax, Azerbaijan
Zaqatala, Azerbaijan
Lahic, Azerbaijan
Mingachevir, Azerbaijan
Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
Qusar, Azerbaijan
International Baku Jazz Festival
Commenced in the year 2005, the International Baku Jazz Festival is one of the biggest and most popular events in Azerbaijan. It is attended by thousands of locals, tourists and of course, music lovers from all over the country. Watching hundreds of musicians from across the globe performing jazz music and witnessing rare art forms is surely a moment to treasure forever. If you are an avid lover of jazz, this high-spirited festival is for you. The event also includes exhibitions of art and images.
Location: Baku
Date: October
Pomegranate Festival
This is one of a kind cultural festival in the entire world and has been celebrated since its inception in the year 2006. The festival completely focuses on one fruit, i.e., pomegranate, and exhibits its beauty by displaying amazing varieties and savoury by-products. Every substantial thing made or displayed in this annual festival revolves around pomegranate. You will see starfishes, plants and more made from this wonderful fruit. Isn't that phenomenal!
Location: Goychay
Date: November
Gabala International Music Festival
Gabala International Music Festival is the ultimate carnival for those who are extremely fond of world music. This is where you get the opportunity of listening to jazz, pop, classical, rock, blues and more. The participants of the festival include pianists, guitarist, composers, etc., from all over the world. In other words, you get to savour different styles of music from several parts of the world.
Location: Gabala
Date: July - August
Kata Festival
If you wouldn't mind exploring the less-popular customs and festivals of Azerbaijan, then Kata Festival must be on your bucket list. This annual festival, which is all about promoting the preparation of Kata and its varieties, is celebrated with great fervour. But what is Kata? Well, it is a flat pie in the shape of an envelope and is made from wild spinach, desert candle, beans, pumpkin, asphodel and several other ingredients. It is prepared in a tandoor. So, how about exploring your taste buds in this beautiful festival?
Location: Nakhchivan
Date: April
Mugham World International Festival
The Festival is one of the few events that showcase the culture of Azerbaijan. It is at this festival you get the chance to relish the soothing Mugham music, which consists of folk compositions. Since its inauguration in the year 2009, it has become immensely popular worldwide. Today, the festival is attended by hundreds of musicians and tourists from more than 40 countries of the world. Well, that's something you must look forward to.
Location: Shaki
Date: March
Novruz Bayram
Also called the Zoroastrian New Year, Novruz Bayram marks the beginning of the spring season and is another significant festival of Azerbaijan. On this day, the houses across the country are lit with colourful lights; families gather and spend wonderful time together by singing and dancing. It is compulsory to serve seven dishes starting from Azeri letter's' on this day. According to several beliefs, the doors must not be closed during Novruz Bayram. As the festival lasts for around seven days, the entire country seems to ride high on joy and glee. Isn't that a wonderful spectacle to capture?
Location: Throughout the country
Azerbaijan National Day
Azerbaijan National Day celebrates the anniversary of independence. It was on this day when the constitutional act related to the state independence was implemented by the parliament. Hence, it is also known as State Sovereignty Day. Fireworks, concerts and parades happen throughout the country and being a public holiday, people come out in the open to commemorate this historic day.
Date: 18 October
Ramadan Bayram
As Azerbaijan is a Muslim dominated country, Ramadan Bayram is one of the important festivals in the country. It marks the end of the month of Ramadan and is celebrated as Eid in other parts of the world. On this day, people come together, exchange sweets and gifts and wish each other a prosperous and happy life. Throughout the country, you get to witness scenes of jubilation. If you would love to learn about Azerbaijan culture through its festivals, do visit the country during the period of Ramadan Bayram.
Date: April - May
Apple Festival
Just like the Pomegranate Festival, Apple Festival is all about displaying different varieties of apple and its luscious products. Even though it is not as popular as pomegranate festival, it surely attracts a large amount of audience. The festival aims at nurturing brotherhood and is celebrated with great enthusiasm during the harvesting days of fruit crops.
Location: Guba
Date: October - November
In order to travel to AZ, you require a passport with a minimum validity of 3 months from the applied visa expiry date. Obtaining a visa is not required for those countries that have entered into a bilateral interstates' agreement with the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Other than the foreigner who are applicants of Permanent Residence or Temporary Residence in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the citizens of the following countries can enjoy Visa-Free travel to Azerbaijan.
15 Days Visa-Free Travel: Iran
Up to 1-Month Visa-Free Travel: Turkey
Up to 3 Months Visa-Free Travel: Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Belarus.
Visa-On-Arrival / E-Visa
With the aim to promote tourism, AZ has introduced the eVisa facility for citizens from over 94 countries, including the USA, Australia, UK, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and many more. The eVisa can be availed through the electronic visa system at their official site. The visas are issued for a period of up to 30 days. The same can be availed through the Visa on Arrival process. The average cost of a Single-entry Visa is 55 USD.
Single Entry Visas can be availed for a term of 3 days to 3 months
Transit visas are best for those travelling to other places via Azerbaijan. You can stay up to 5 days on a transit visa.
Get more information on'How to get a visa to Azerbaijan' through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan or the Official website of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
**Please note that the information is subject to change. For the latest information and updates, please contact your embassy.
You can travel via local buses. However, most of them are in a dilapidated state. Avoid travelling in buses at night since they are prone to getting attacked. Avoid travelling outside the capital during the night.
The Minibuses or Marshrutkas are by far the cheapest and best way to get around Azerbaijan. These vans ply between most major cities and won't cost you more than 5 AZN. Make sure to grab a seat before it gets full though as they can get mighty crowded.
Taxis/Cabs
Taxis are remotely available for hire. You would need to hon those negotiation skills if you want to get the best price. Taxis are considered the best modes of transport hereafter the Metro. You can hire a car in advance at Baku airport. There are several international and local car hire firms there.
You would require an International Driving License permit to be able to drive a car here. Unless you are an expert motorist, we do not advise you to drive around here.
Via Bicycle
Not recommended due to poor road quality.
Via Train
You can explore the city via the Metro rail route. It is well connected to various corners of the capital. It is more hygienic and faster. Not recommended post 9 pm though since it can be dangerous at night.
Via Plane
Azerbaijani Airlines connects Baku to most popular cities including the Azeri "exclave" Nakhchivan via several local flights. Tickets can be directly booked at the airport. However, prior booking is recommended at the time of the holidays.
Via Air Route
Azerbaijan is served by 1 international airport, the Baku Airport, formally known as Heydar Aliyev International Airport about 20 km northwest of Baku city center. The airport is one of the busiest in the entire Caucasus region. It connects all major cities and countries on the globe, including London, NYC, Europe, UAE, Germany, Istanbul, Doha, China, Spain, Georgia, and more. Fun fact - the airport is home of the Azerbaijan Airlines. These airlines happen to be the national flag carrier of AZ. The airport was formerly known as the Bina International Airport.
You can reach the Baku city center from the Airport via Airport Express (Hava Limani Exp) in under 1.50 AZN. It can't get any sweeter or cheaper!
The city of Baku can be reached via non-stop flight in mere 3-hour 15 min.
Via Rail Route
You can travel via overnight train from Georgia to Baku. Azerbaijan rail route also connects with Russia and Turkey. On-way train ride would cost you around 30 AZN.
Via Road Route
Daily buses ply between Iran, Georgia, and Turkey. You can take a bus from Red Bridge in Georgia for plying to Azerbaijan for about 10 AZN. The journey is about 8 hours long. There are two border crossings when visiting Azerbaijan via Iran, namely Jolfa in Iran and Julfa in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. You can board these buses from any of the bazaars in the city.
You can reach Baku from Dubai via bus or taxi in a duration of 35 hours. Beware though, the rugged and narrow terrain of Azerbaijan does not equip the road for safe travelling. If possible, then do not self-drive a rental. Hire a practised driver only.
Via Water Route
There is no cruise as such. However, you can reach Azerbaijan via ship from Turkmenistan.
UAE residents can avail a 1-month tourist visa for Azerbaijan. The same can be availed upon a visit to the Azeri consulate in UAE.
The country is referred to as AZ in most places.
Bring a wardrobe full of modest feminine clothes.
You can make use of South EU/Middle East Adapters for charging your phones and other electronic devices.
Azerbaijanis love fried meat and fish. If you do not have the gut for it, then do not worry. The country is rich in food prepared from fresh vegetables and fruits.
Internet can be expensive here. Hence, it is better to hook onto the Wi-Fi as much as possible. Plug off otherwise.
Carry hard cash in the form of local currency, i.e., Manat (AZN). You won't find ATMs or credit card machines in most areas outside Baku.
DO NOT insult any political figure, esp. the president of Azerbaijan.
DO NOT mention Armenia when in Azerbaijan. There is a bitter clash going on between the two countries which need not be brought into the light.
Avoid planning any tour to the Nagorno-Karabakh region owing to safety issues. Most of the region is planted with landmines.
Even though the practice of bribery is common in Azerbaijan. You can choose not to participate in it by simply saying,'No'. Good luck! In getting your job done.
Signing for travel insurance is highly RECOMMENDED.
Do not indulge in any sort of photography related to the armed forces or anywhere near the defence area.
A handshake goes a long way here. It is the most accepted form of greeting among men.
Tipping is common at the restaurants. The ideal tipping amount is 10%.
Instead of grouping at the centre of a building, you can try to spread towards the edges of it as it is considered polite.
Avoid travelling outside the capital, Baku during night.
It is advised that you bring a gift for the host if you are invited to an Azerbaijani home.
Removing the shoes outside the door is considered a sign of respect for the house.
It is honourable to bow a little when greeting an Azerbaijani. It is a part of their culture.
To address an Azerbaijani female or male who you are not well acquainted with, you need to use the apt salutation followed by their first name. The salutation Ms. does not exist in the Azerbaijani language.
Tap water in Azerbaijan can be contaminated. Hence, we advise you to drink bottled water only.
What is once lost in Azerbaijan can be difficult to find. Hence, keep your money, card, and documents safe with you by keeping them on your person.
As a precaution, take photocopies of all necessary documents and tickets.
Keep the business card of your hotel with you when going out. Hotels can be helpful in urgent situations.
Men are advised to NOT keep their wallet in their hip pockets. Pick pocketers can be plenty here.
Keep all your valuables hidden under your clothes when in crowded places.
Do not accept drinks from strangers and keep an eye on the drinks you have ordered at a bar. There is a chance that the drinks can get laced and you could be robbed.
Even male tourists need to remain aware of getting scammed at a bar by an Azerbaijani female.
Keep an attentive eye on the road while walking or driving as the roads here are not in the best condition. To top it, locals are not careful drivers.
Fake police are another major scam in the city during which criminals dress up like cops to extract money from the tourists for one thing or another. If you are stopped due to any reason, please ask them to take you to the nearest police station.
Women should avoid going out alone post 8:30 or 9 pm.
Park your vehicle in legit parking spaces for optimum safety of the vehicle.
You can carry medication along with proper prescription for personal use. The prescription is considered valid for 3 months.
Get information in prior from your embassy to ensure that your medication is legal there.
Medicine needs to be transported in their original containers as a carry-on.
Carry an adequate supply of medication through the entire duration of your trip.
Most painkillers, even though legally prescribed fall under the banned medication list. It is better that you apply to your country's consulate for this.
Always Carry hand sanitizer and tissue with you. It is not unusual to find paperless Turkish-style (mud holes in the ground) restrooms here. Also, restrooms might not have the provision to wash hands well.
Women need to carry feminine hygiene bags and supplies along.
Vaccination-wise, make a note of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hep A and Hep B.
The lowland Azerbaijan can pose a risk of Malaria.
Shoes -- running shoes, hiking shoes, winter boots
Medium-weight jackets
Hygiene and toiletry items
Prescription medication supplies
Sunglasses and hats
Poncho and folding umbrella
Camera with cover
Travel documents and tickets
DRESS CODE & ETIQUETTE
Being a Muslim country, modesty is a part of life here, particularly among women. As a foreign tourist, you would not be expected to follow the same set of regulations. However, carrying clothes that are modest (skirts and dresses that fall below the knee & tops that cover the neck, bosom, and shoulders) and feminine are recommended.
Carry a headscarf with you at all times as the heat can soar here and the sun is bright. Men and Women are expected to cover their head when entering holy places.
Men should wear ankle or calf-length trousers.
Few more cultural etiquettes in Azerbaijan include - avoid the use of lip balm in public areas as it is considered provocative. Walking around with wet hair in public areas imply that you just got laid.
Do not drink water directly from the bottle. Pour it into the glass first. Else, be prepared for getting frowned upon.
Women tourists should avoid smoking in public. Most public places prohibit smoking.
Armenia (996 km)
A beautiful landlocked country and a stark enemy of Azerbaijan, Armenia is situated along the great silk route. The place is famous for old-world architecture, wine, natural attractions. Armenia is also recognized for being the first country to have officially adopted Christianity. It is also home to the oldest cathedral in the world and the longest cable ropeway.
Georgia (428 km)
A small yet breathtaking country with traces of the Medieval era is popular as the cradle of winemaking and scenic beauty. Its capital Tbilisi is known for cobblestoned, maize-like streets and the art of winemaking. Experience the magic of old-world charm in this friendly neighbour of Azerbaijan.
Iran (689 km)
Formerly called Persia, Iran is another Islamic country famous for art, history, culture, food, and what not! Alongside rich heritage, the place is visited for its gardens, naturally occurring hot springs, poets, and Persian crafts. The place has 21 UNESCO-recognized world heritage sites for you to explore. Need we say more?
Russia (338 km)
The city-life of Russia welcomes you to the world of art, party, music, wild nightlife much like New York in the USA. The country has more than 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is a place sprawled with libraries, music theatres, concert halls, art galleries and so much more. On the other hand, the country is home to Omyakon village, the only inhabited place that records the lowest temperature in the world (almost -72 degrees). The shades of Russia are plenty that there is no term like'boredom' here.
Turkey (17 km)
Enjoy lip-smacking food, explore rich historical sites and museums. There is something interesting to explore in Turkey every step of the way. Rest your tired body like a royal in the Hammams, or the Turkish Baths. Go back in time at the Mount Nemrut, also a UNESCO Heritage Site. Prepare to be amazed at the white and azure pools of Pamukkale, one of the plenty UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the country.
Distance Between Places of Importance in and Around Armenia
Azerbaijan to UAE: 2929 km
Baku to Armenia: 996 km
Azerbaijan to Georgia: 428 km
Azerbaijan to Iran: 689 km
Azerbaijan to Russia: 338 km
Baku to Turkey: 17 km
Baku To Gabala: 215 km
Baku To Shahdag: 210 km
Baku to Quba: 168 km
The Azerbaijanis love pancakes, aka, Kutabi. These savoury pancakes are traditionally stuffed with fresh veggies, meat along with herb sprinkles before being toasted on a griddle.
Azerbaijan is believed to the home to early men dating back to 1.5 million years. The fact is based on research conducted by Archaeologists in the Azokh cave where prehistoric remains and tools were discovered.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is officially recognized as a part of Azerbaijan even though the region has self-declared itself to be an autonomous body. You can find the most epic ranges and vineyards and mulberry groves here.
Azerbaijanis love their tea and they love it with Jam. Yes, that is right! The tea here is often sweetened and served with Jam.
Sugar is auspicious in Azerbaijan. They are known for the sweet tooth. No wedding is considered complete without Sugar.
The horses of Azerbaijan are honoured and cherished. The Karabakh horse, known for its speed, stamina and IQ is one of the national symbols of Azerbaijan.
The country enjoys the use of proverbs. For instance, Politeness is not sold in the bazaar.
Natural Gas happens to be a major business for Azerbaijan. All thanks to the famed Yanar Dag (the fire mountain) that blazes all year-round while feeding the huge underground gas deposits.
Even though Azerbaijan earns most of its living from oil and gas, it also exploits grapes, cotton, grains, and livestock industry. Tough competition to its neighbours.
Azerbaijani currency, aka Manat, is greatly inspired by the Euros.
The city is home to Arm Wrestling Federation. People here take an avid interest in this sport.
Azerbaijan is the breeding ground of maximum number of mud volcanoes (more than 400). Owing to this, the gas leaves an eggy smell in the air each time a volcano erupts.
Carpet weaving is a much-appreciated art in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's Carpet Museum is a fine representation of the same.
Chovkan is the national game of Azerbaijan. Like the game of Polo, this sport, however, is played to the tunes of music in traditional outfits.
The craft of Crochet happens to be a'cool' factor among the Azerbaijani kids and teens.
Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, is admired by travellers even more than Dubai for its architecture and love for gold.
You can literally float through the entire capital of Azerbaijan in a Gondola. For this reason, Baku is also known as Little Venice.
After the Azeri, Russian happens to be the language widely spoken here. English is not recognized so much on the streets of Azerbaijan, esp. the remote areas.
Bread is a sacred item here. Azerbaijanis do not throw it in the trash if it goes unconsumed. Instead, they hang it in bags as a sign of respect. If you accidentally drop it, it is customary to kiss it as a mark of respect and apology.
The rights of Press and human rights are not clearly defined in the constitution of Azerbaijan.
You will find several Azerbaijanis, especially, the seniors with gold teeth.
The country has the largest collection of farms. Up until the Soviet rule, they used to live on what they grew and made on their farms. Talk about living green and living simpler!
The newborns in Azerbaijan are bathed in salt water with the aim to make them strong, truthful, and strong-willed.
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Azerbaijan Adventure Package
With an abundance of waterfowl including pheasants, wild ducks and geese, our Azerbaijan expert guided tours are perfect to master the art of hunting, and tour Baku in absolute comfort.
Azerbaijan Family Package
Lying on the cross roads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, visiting Baku is the best opportunity to experience a blend of futuristic architecture and unique history, with the old city recognized as s a UNESCO heritage site.
Azerbaijan Beach Package
Azerbaijan has a unique energy that attracts explorers from around the world; a blend of cultural, historic and modern influences, the city is a treat to explore. Indulge in blissful beachside relaxation in Azerbaijan, with a chic 5* holiday experience.
Azerbaijan Honeymoon Package
Azerbaijan is a guaranteed way to experience awe in a relaxed setting. A unique blend of Arabic and Mediterranean cultures, see the ever-evolving city of Baku with natural wonders, palaces, bazaars and modern nightlife.
Azerbaijan Nature Package
Azerbaijan's beauty is a rare combination of nature, culture, history and hospitality that make it the complete package to satisfy your wanderlust. Visit Baku's old city, explore stunning Qechresh, Mestergah Forest and Shahdag Mountain Resort.
Enquire for Azerbaijan Tour Package


Half-hour excerpts of talks by Sri Harold Klemp.
An Excerpt from "Doing Our Part"
An Excerpt from "Going Home to God"
An Excerpt from "How Does the Holy Spirit Work?"
An Excerpt from "Just Keep Trying"
An Excerpt from "Life Is a Chancy Thing"
An Excerpt from "On Holy Ground"
An Excerpt from "The Language of Love (2014)"
An Excerpt from "The Subtle Golden Thread of Love"


text:
Soviet Cuba: Identities in Transition
A site devoted to the study and promotion of the Soviet-Cuban cultural crossroads
← Punto de partida
Poster accompanying the expo →
Cuba Today: A Soviet Inventory
Posted on October 20, 2012 by Soviet Cuba: Identities in Transition
(Text read during the inauguration of the photo exhibition)
Damaris Puñales–Alpízar.
The first thing that I have to ask you is that, please, do not judge me as a photographer because I am not. The pictures that you are going to see today, and hopefully, also in the next few days, are part of my research. When I was researching about my topic, the Soviet influence in the Cuban cultural production after the nineties, I realized that there are still a lot of physical traces of the Soviet presence in Cuba. And I started wondering what these physical objects meant to the formation of the Cuban identity. That's why I started photographing the objects that you are seeing today –and in that sense I am really grateful to all the persons in Cuba who opened the doors of their houses and allowed me to take pictures of their personal belongings. My final inquire here is how the materiality is intertwined with the Cuban identity after the 90s.
As many of you know, Cuba and the Soviet Union had a strong relationship for more than 30 years, from the 60s until the collapse of the Soviet Union in '91. These 30 years of relations between the two countries meant not only economic, political and, of course, ideological ties but also a cultural relation that covered basically every aspect of the Cuba life during those years. In a sense, we can say that in those days, or at least in most of them, Cuba was kind of isolated in relation to the rest of the world. The main ties were with the Soviet Union and other countries from the Socialist block, so this isolation and the consumption of symbolic and material Soviet goods allowed the formation of an identity that is in so many ways linked to the Russian heritage.
At least two generations that were born and educated during those Soviet years in Cuba, became adults after the end of the Soviet Union, or close to its end. I have labeled that group of Cubans a sentimental community because all the memories from their childhoods are directly connected with the soviet experience. This is a community formed by Cubans born and educated on the island between the 60s and the 80s, who studied Russian language and literature, watched Soviet cartoons and movies, and in many cases, went to the Soviet Union to study.
In the pictures here, I wanted to also present the artistic work of some of them, so you can have an idea of how much the Soviet influence is present in their cultural production. As it is obvious in these framed images, and also in some of the books that are on display, daily contact with the Soviet experience produced an aesthetic where the use of Soviet references is frequent. This Soviet aesthetic includes literature, cinematography, music, theatrical performances and even online sites. This presence appears not just as physical traces but also as the representation of a nostalgic space and as the allegory of an identity in transition.
The objects you are going to see in these photos are still in use in Cuba. How have these objects constructed a historical identity related to the former Soviet Union and how do they work as symbols of that identity? Is it possible to talk about cultures in suspension taking into consideration that many of these objects work only as an empty shell that it is necessary to fill now?
I hope this exhibition opens a debate about these and many other questions regarding cultural formations in different societies. I believe that these pictures will work as a perfect complement to the research I have been doing during the last few years. They will illustrate many of the main points I address in my work as literary critic. This exhibition is an example of an innovative approach to literary and cultural criticism, usually confined to academic articles to be read only by scholars working on a specific topic. My project goes beyond traditional ways of thinking about cultural production because it becomes a cultural production itself. The debate and discussion that I hope it will open will help me to advance my research and to incorporate the results of the debates into my analysis.
Since this project is based on the intercultural relations between Cuba and the former Soviet Union, it opens a space to discuss how different societies are configured differently. It will work as a snapshot of a period of time: the decades between the 60s and the 80s, and how those decades have influenced, modified and shaped contemporary Cuban society and cultural production. Cuba, so close to the United States, remains unknown in many aspects to our students and communities. This exposition will function as a starting point to allow a wider vision of Cuban society, its history and its day–to–day problems.
Although these pictures were taken with the main goal of illustrating my book, where I make some theoretical analysis of the contemporary cultural production in Cuba and the role that Soviet aesthetics plays in it, I feel their exhibition might contribute to broaden the understanding of cultural differences and make us aware of how cultures in contact interact with each other. Our campus being such a diverse community with a focus on an international perspective, I believe the exhibit will contribute to discussions and debates among our students and faculty and the surrounding community as well.
About Soviet Cuba: Identities in Transition
A site devoted to the study and promotion of the Soviet-Cuban cultural crossroads. An open space of convergence and exchange of ideas related to the sentimental Soviet-Cuban community (in English, Spanish, and even Russian!)
View all posts by Soviet Cuba: Identities in Transition →
2 Responses to Cuba Today: A Soviet Inventory
Ana Lopez says:
Felicidades Damaris. This is a brilliant project! We have to talk about bringing you down to Tulane for a talk, an exhibit, whatever your heart desires!
Pingback: The Russians in Cuba | Soviet Cuba: Identities in Transition
Documental sobre las niñas de la guerra en Cuba
Poetas cubanos en la XI Bienal de Poesía en Moscú
Clandestina presentó su colección "Glorias Deportivas" inspirada en la cultura soviética
La comunidad sentimental soviético/ruso-cubana explicada en pocos minutos
Semana de cine cubano en Moscú
Damaris Punales-Alpizar
Bibliography on the topic (continually updating)
Childhood's Memories
Nuestra infancia en Cuba
Muñequitos rusos
Trivial Koniec Free
Homenaje a los muñequitos rusos
Inolvidables los muñequitos rusos en Cuba
Los muñes de las 6:00
Rusias de mi cabeza o las astillas de Los bolos en Cuba
La Habana Elegante. Dossier "Cuba: el sabor soviético de una isla tropical. Una visita 20 años después"
Cine cubano. La pupila insomne
Cuba: el archivo de Connie
Russian Film
Historia de la animación rusa
El regreso de los 'muñequitos' rusos
Nostalgia de Misha
Revista Matanzas: sobre lo soviético en Cuba
El martillo y la hoz y otros cuentos
Cuban missile crisis: The other, secret one
Vladimir Gregorevich Suteev (V. Suteiev)
Crisis de los misiles
Cuba Material

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
by Don Boudreaux on November 27, 2016
in Complexity & Emergence, Crony Capitalism, Cuba, Economics, Growth, History, Immigration, Monetary Policy, Myths and Fallacies, Regulation, Trade
Vincent Geloso weighs in thoughtfully and informatively on Josh Barro's unthoughtful and uninformed criticism of John Allison and Cato Institute scholars' analyses of monetary policy.
Tyler Cowen points us to a paper that casts doubt on protectionists' frequent assertion that America's impressive economic growth during the 19th century was the result of high tariffs. (Indeed, as did Cecil Bohanon and T. Norman Van Cott, the finding of the author that Tyler points us to is that "the large increase in labour force is the single most important factor behind the development of the U.S. economy.")
Pete Boettke offers this quotation from Jim Buchanan on the scientific role of the economist.
Richard Ebeling writes about Adam Ferguson.
William O'Keefe rightly calls for an end to Uncle Sam's cronyist ethanol mandate.
Ed Krayewski warns against the hagiography now pouring forth following the death of the ruthless and calamitous Fidel Castro. (HT Hans Bader)
And David Henderson points us to Cuban native George Borjas's remembrance of Castro.
Tim Worstall gets Castro right. A slice:
It is polite, human and common to withhold criticism of the dead in the immediate aftermath of their demise. But leaving 11 million people grossly poorer than they ought to be in the name of a bankrupt ideology is not the stuff of which hagiographic obituaries are made.
Jeff Tucker also gets Castro right. A slice:
Very soon after Castro took power, however, he celebrated the public execution of political rivals, confiscated private lands, proclaimed his attachment to Marxism-Leninism, and a solidified totalitarian rule that would last half a century. The result was not the democracy and freedom that people wanted but an incredible nightmare for a struggling country.
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Observing large in-house systems which either use SOA approaches or even attempt to mimic microservices, I constantly notice a pattern which makes those systems sub-optimal and difficult to maintain.
A tiny Hello World-style application can easily have all its logic as a monolithic piece of code. It can incorporate some logic, and even be relatively well organized with a bunch of goto. As the application grows, maintenance would become more and more difficult. So the code will be split in sections, usually called functions. If the growth continues, the large number of functions become impossible to maintain effectively, so they become methods within classes. The number of classes grow, and it becomes necessary to organize them within the namespaces, which, in turn, are put in packages. Large products contain hundreds or even thousands of packages, which requires an additional level of organization, and services are one of them.
Take a private method within a class. How much documentation it needs? Since the method is hopefully short and is used by a relatively small number of persons (that is, developers who work on the given class), there is no need for lots of documentation: usually, a simple comment and the explanation of the arguments and the return value is largely enough. In the same way, if a mistake is made within the interface, it doesn't matter much—it is easy to change it later, and reflect the change in the class methods which call the concerned method. This leads us to conclude that at low compartmentalization levels, interfaces may be poorly documented and poorly designed.
When it comes to a class, the size of its interface (which is the sum of all the public methods within the class) and the potential cascading impact of the change of this interface means that one has to design this interface more carefully.
But what about packages and things such as services? Here, we deal with an even larger interface, which may be used by different teams within the company, or even by the actual customers if the package is distributed publicly or if the service is opened to public, making any change very difficult to propagate. Good design and good documentation become key, given the way the interface is used.
The compartmentalization of code through methods, classes, namespaces, packages and services has a bunch of limitations, including the fact that a change within a compartment could necessitate the change of its interface. Let's explain it through an example. An e-commerce website has a namespace which handles product data. Each product has an unique identifier stored as smallint, which means that a maximum of 32,767 products can be stored in database. The website scales, and business needs to store hundreds of thousands of products; moreover, it is deemed unpractical to have auto-incremented identifiers, and business decides to go for globally unique IDs which in technical terms means using UUIDs. This type change affects not only the package which accesses the products table, but also its interface, and, as a direct consequence, the packages which rely on it. A typeless interface could prevent such change to propagate to the callers.
This leads us to a notion of the ease of propagation of changes. If an interface is transparent, this means that changes within the interfaced code will often lead to changes within the interface itself and propagate to other components. An opaque interface, however, will be more resilient to change within the interfaced component.
The abstraction in relation to the underlying code. An interface which is built based on business needs will be more stable compared to an interface which is built based on technical considerations. For instance, Amazon S3's interface gives no clue about the actual implementation of the service. The service could use PostgreSQL or CouchDB or Dynamo: one could know how the service is implemented only by having the insider knowledge and not through the introspection of the interface.
The abstraction in relation to the clients. An interface which is built based on the specific needs of the caller would have a high level of volatility. Since the caller's needs change over time, being dependent of the caller would necessarily influence the interface. Taking the previous example of Amazon S3, the service works the same way when storing videos for a video sharing website, or product descriptions for a product management system. If S3 was built specifically with a given e-commerce website in mind (should I mention its name?), not only it won't work well for other types of websites, but won't even fit well the needs of a different e-commerce website; it will also change a lot when the e-commerce website changes. Amazon's architects did a great job of abstracting the client away from the design of the interface, which means that the service can now be used by millions of clients with a good amount of diversity between them.
As you can guess, opaque interfaces are essential at services level. However, when I observe large in-house systems (especially the ones which try to look like microservices), interfaces are rather transparent in both directions: they change when the abstracted system changes, and they change when the caller's needs evolve. A major reason is that both the caller and the callee are developed by the same company, and are used in pair. This leads to a difficulty of putting a decent level of abstraction, given that both sides are within reach. The resulting volatility of the interface makes it difficult to properly document (and keep the documentation up to date), and even properly architect it in the first place; thus, we end up with poorly done, cryptic and constantly changing interfaces.
Is it bad? Absolutely. The only goal of compartmentalization is to decrease complexity of a system: a developer can focus on a given component, without having to know the other components. A poorly done, cryptic and volatile interface prevents this—most developers working on those in-house systems find themselves working on not one, but multiple components at the same time. There are other negative side effects. For instance, proper versioning is missing in practically every case: since interfaces change too often with changes propagated to the callers, it's practically impossible to keep up with the pace of change.
The solution? Designing the services as if they were public (or actually make them public). If comparison can be made, at Pelican Design & Development, the services were always created with public usage in mind. While this has a lot of benefits in terms of security and other aspects, it also helps focusing on important thing—the service interface itself. The fact that the service is public means that I won't build it for my specific usage case; instead, it's built considering exclusively the business needs of the service itself, not one specific client. It also means that the service ends up with well-designed interface and high-quality documentation, which helps tremendously myself when I have to develop another client six months ago.


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Indian Premier League 2015 »
IPL 8: Of Mumbai's comeback and Chennai's jinx
Tags: Indian Premier League 2015, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rohit Gurunath Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Final - Mumbai Indians Vs Chennai Super Kings at Kolkata - May 24, 2015, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
This was their second triumph in three years, having won the trophy after beating Chennai Super Kings at Kolkata in 2013
This was their second triumph in three years, having won the trophy after beating Chennai Super Kings at Kolkata in 2013. This year too the venue, the opponents as well as the results were the same. But, what was most striking was the manner in which they fought back from adversity. After the first couple of weeks, they were languishing at the bottom of the points table, having tasted one defeat after the other. No one gave them much of a chance after that. But, they returned, and how!
In contrast, Chennai Super Kings again tasted disappointment in the final. No doubt, they are the most consistent, and most successful franchise in the short history of the T20 league. The fact that they have made it to six out of the eight finals so far is incredible. At the same time, the record of losing four out of six finals is not so impressive. The fact that they possess such a poor record in IPL finals definitely points to a weakness in their game. Chennai have constantly been a danger in the league stages. This year as well, they finished on top of the points table. But, the end result wasn't in their favour.
Looking back at their wonderful comeback, Mumbai would be grateful that a number of their players put their hands up and delivered. Kieron Pollard was their talisman, making the difference on numerous occasions with his splendid big hitting skills. And, who can forget that last over against Kolkata. Pollard shone in the final as well. At the top, Lendl Simmons was consistently getting half-centuries. In the final as well, he came up with a critical knock. Skipper Rohit Sharma had a mixed season, but his failures would matter for little as he played a match-winning knock in the final. Ambati Rayudu too stood up to be counted.
Mumbai's success was built on successful contributions in the bowling department as well. Lasith Malinga led the attack from the front, after a poor start, proving that he still has some fire left. He found perfect support in Mitchell McClenaghan, something that was missing early in the event. And, Harbhajan Singh was potent as ever. Their bowling outfit was among the most impressive of all teams.
With Chennai, the case was the reverse, specially when it came to facing Mumbai. Their weaknesses were exposed. Their batting failed miserably both times against Rohit Sharma's men. Suresh Raina's poor form was one of the chief reasons for Chennai's failure in crunch matches. Lack of runs from Dwayne Smith, and the middle order made matters worse. They were significantly handicapped once Brendon McCullum left. Even in the bowling, while Dwayne Bravo and Ashish Nehra shone, they were second best when it came to facing Mumbai.
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layout: page
title: About me
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My name is Scott Smerchek. I work in Kansas City for {% include smrxt.html %} (pronounced _smart_)
crafting back-end services and APIs to process and interpret messages from
innovative pill bottles with a weight sensor in them. Yes, I get to actually work
with real IoT devices!

I've spoken at several local conferences and have helped with KC user groups over
the years.

I primarily work with node.js and Postgres. I'm very excited about learning
more about functional programming, especially Haskell. For several years, I
spent a lot of time working with search technologies Lucene and Solr, even writing
custom search and highlighting plugins to search millions of medical documents.

Outside of software, I enjoy cycling, crossfit, ultimate frisbee, hiking,
constantly learning, and reading epic fantasy.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Home Commentaries 2021 CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) Sign Up Dashboard, By Krista Swanson University...
2021 CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) Sign Up Dashboard, By Krista Swanson University of Illinois
This article discusses acres enrolled in CRP (Conservation Reserve Program), including acres accepted for 2021 sign up. Compared with the acres enrolled in CRP as of July 31, 2021; 2021 accepted acres emphasize the Grassland CRP sub-program. The Appendix contains a brief description of CRP and its 3 sub-programs: General CRP, Continuous CRP, and Grassland CRP.
CRP acres: As of July 31, 2021, 20.6 million acres were enrolled in CRP (see Figure 1) (USDA, FSA (US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency), 2021c). Sub-program shares were General CRP (54%), Continuous CRP (37%), and Grassland CRP (9%).
All but 2 (Illinois and Mississippi) of the 15 states with the most acres enrolled in CRP are west of the Mississippi River (see Figure 2). The 6 states that lie on the north-south longitude from Texas to North Dakota account for 41% of CRP acres. Texas has the largest individual state share at 11%.
Changes for 2021 Sign Up: Changes for General and Continuous CRP included greater flexibility in soil rental rates (increased in some situations), a 10% life-of-contract increase in rental rate, and 3%, 5% or 10% incentive payments for adopting practices designated as sequestering more carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The latter included establishment of trees and permanent grasses, development of wildlife habitat, and wetland restoration. For Continuous CRP only, the incentive payments for adopting water quality benefiting practices was increased from 10% to 20%. For Grassland CRP, a $15/acre minimum rental rate was established and National Grassland Priority Zones were designated with a focus on migratory corridors and environmentally sensitive areas. For a complete list of 2021 sign up changes, see the "What's New" factsheet (USDA, FSA, 2021b).
2021 Accepted Acres: Acres accepted for General CRP totaled 1.9 million (USDA, FSA, 2021c). Half were in Texas, Colorado, and Kansas while 92% were in the 15 states with the most accepted acres (see Figure 3). Note, an accepted acre is not necessarily a future enrolled acre as an owner can opt out of an accepted offer before the enrollment period starts.
Acres accepted into Grassland CRP totaled 2.5 million (USDA, FSA, 2021c). Colorado, South Dakota, and Nebraska accounted for 54% while 99% were in the 15 states with the largest accepted acres (see Figure 4).
Figure 5 contains the difference between a state's share of combined acres accepted into General and Grassland CRP in 2021 and its share of acres enrolled in CRP as of July 2021 for states with a share difference of 1 or more percentage point (pp). Colorado stand outs. Its 2021 acceptance share was 13 pp greater than its July 2021 enrollment share (20.5% vs. 7.6%). On the other hand, Iowa's share difference was -7.6 pp (0.5% vs. 8.1%). The 7 states with a +1 or more pp difference were among the 8 states with the largest 2021 grassland sign up (compare Figures 4 and 5). This relationship is not surprising since Grassland CRP accounted for 58% of Grassland and General CRP 2021 accepted acres but only 9% of enrolled CRP acres as of July 31, 2021.
USDA, FSA (2021f) has also reported that 897,000 acres have been accepted for enrollment in the Continuous CRP as of August 23, 2021. No state breakout is available at present.
Summary Observations
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a conservation portfolio program.
General CRP is arguably the sub-program most associated with CRP with its historic emphasis on removing highly erodible whole fields from crop production. However, only slightly more than half of current enrolled CRP acres are in the General CRP.
Over one third of enrolled CRP acres are in the Continuous CRP. It couples environmentally beneficial farm practices to a specific site, often a sub-field area, to achieve environmental benefits while keeping some to most of the field in production.
Grassland CRP, currently the smallest of the 3 sub-programs, had the largest share of 2021 accepted acres. Potential reasons for high sign up are establishment of a minimum US Grassland CRP rental rate, high crop prices that limited interest in enrolling cropland in CRP, and low profitability in cattle.
Given the wide-spread interest in carbon sequestration, an interesting policy question is how much additional carbon will be sequestered because of the 2021 sign up. This question is of particular interest for the acres accepted into the Grassland CRP since many were probably used as pasture.
Data Sources and References
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2019. Conservation Reserve Program Fact Sheet: General Signup 56 Enrollment Period, Jan. 4, 2021 through July 23, 2021. December. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2021a. Conservation Reserve Program Fact Sheet: General Signup 56 Enrollment Period, Jan. 4, 2021 through July 23, 2021. June. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2021b. Conservation Reserve Program Fact Sheet: What's New? June. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2021c. Conservation Reserve Program Statistics. October. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/reports-and-statistics/conservation-reserve-program-statistics/index
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2021d. Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Fact Sheet: Working Lands. July. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2021e. Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Fact Sheet: Sign Up 203 Ranking Factors. Working Lands. June. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2021f. USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres for the Conservation Reserve Program. News Release. August 23. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2021/usda-accepts-28-million-acres-for-the-conservation-reserve-program
Appendix: Brief Description of CRP and Its Sub-Programs
(Compiled from the 5 USDA, FSA fact sheets listed in Data Sources and References.)
Long-term CRP goals are to establish land cover to help improve water quality, improve soil health and sequester carbon, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. CRP was initially authorized in the 1985 farm bill. The 2018 farm bill capped total CRP acres at 25 million acres in 2021, increasing to 27 million by 2023.
General CRP contracts have a duration between 10 and 15 years. To be eligible for general CRP, land must be cropland (including field margins) planted, or considered planted, to an agricultural commodity 4 of the 6 crop years from 2012 to 2017, and has no physical or legal restriction, such as an easement, that prevents the land from being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity. Alfalfa or other multiyear grasses and legumes grown in a rotation of 12 or fewer years may also be eligible. The land must also either have a weighted average erosion index of 8 or more, be in an expiring CRP contract, or be in a national or state CRP conservation priority area.
General CRP ranks offers based on an Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). EBI factors include: 1) wildlife habitat benefits; 2) water quality benefits from reduced erosion, runoff, and leaching; 3) on-farm benefits from reduced erosion; 4) benefits that likely endure beyond the contract period; 5) air quality benefits from reduced wind erosion; and 6) cost.
Rental rates are based on the relative productivity of the soils within each county and the average cash rent using data provided by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Continuous CRP has the same land eligibility requirements as the general CRP. Continuous CRP is not focused on whole farm or field enrollment. It targets the most environmentally beneficial land and practices, which include wetlands, filter strips, riparian buffers, and locally identified critical habitats. Marginal pastureland is eligible for some practices in continuous CRP. No cropping history is required for marginal pastureland. Provided the land is eligible, an offer is accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no ranking or selection criteria. Acres can be enrolled at any time.
Grassland CRP emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and eligible land containing shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion. A Conservation Plan is developed, with certain restriction for haying during the primary nesting season. A permanent cover is maintained In exchange for an annual rent payment. Land with more than 5% tree canopy is ineligible. Acceptance is based on ranking results. For the 203 Grassland sign up, ranking factors were expiring CRP acres; existing grassland; existing multi-species cover and predominance of native species; located within a State Focus Area; beginning, veteran or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher; cost; existing small livestock operation; and other factors determined by FSA. Grassland CRP acres do not have to be previously cropped. Grassland CRP rental rates are based on the pasture rental rate reported by NASS.
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This the next post in my series discussing why it is important to hire a criminal defense attorney when one is looking to have their conviction set aside (or expunged) in Arizona. My last post provided an overview of topics that I will be discussing throughout my series. This article will discuss one of the most common questions I receive during consultations: what is the difference between an expungement and a set aside? After reading this you should understand what a set aside is and why it is well worth it to have your Arizona conviction set aside by a qualified expungement lawyer.
Fifty years ago almost every state had expungement. The legal dictionary used by lawyers (Black's Law Dictionary) created a definition in 1966: "The removal of a conviction from a person's criminal record." In 1966 it was easy to remove the conviction from a person's record; this was before computers, before background check companies, and even before the FBI had background checks. Much has changed since 1966, and that includes the availability of expungement.
Now the FBI has a large database for criminal records, as does each state. Furthermore you can now easily go online and get information that is available to the public through the Courts, the police, and of course companies that will charge you a fee. Unfortunately, once that information is available, it is not possible to have it removed, even with an expungement. For example, if you live in one of the very few states that has expungement, although your record could be removed from the FBI database, there is no law that says private companies have to remove the conviction. And even in those few states, some, like Indiana, specifically state that while you can have your record expunged, your record must show that the conviction was expunged (instead of erasing it completely).
It is wrong to think that once you have a criminal record your life is over because it will always be there. Although you cannot have your conviction erased completely, in Arizona you can have it set aside. And this is really good news.
Don't be fooled into thinking that a set aside is worthless. If it were, people would not spend the time and the money that it takes to successfully have their convictions set aside. I cannot tell you the number of clients I have had who have come to me because they were offered a job, but were told that they could not start until their conviction was set aside. This alone makes the stakes high enough to justify hiring a lawyer. An additional reason to seek counsel is that an expungement lawyer can often obtain the result you want the first time. Having filed hundreds of these motions throughout the state, from Nogales to Lake Havasu City, I have come to learn that each Court handles these a little bit differently. Those differences often mean the difference between having your motion granted or denied. It is common for my clients to have already tried to do it on their own, sometimes multiple times, only to be denied again and again. The important thing in hiring an attorney is to make sure that you find one that has plenty of experience in this specific area of law.
Consulting with an Arizona expungement attorney, in my opinion, is a must for anyone thinking about getting their conviction set aside in Phoenix or Maricopa County Courts. Most lawyers offer free consultations, so there is no reason to not contact one today.


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Welcome to our Lillibridge Place Community Office in Port Allegany, PA. JVB Lillibridge is one of our three new Northern Tier locations, part of our 2015 expansion to North Central PA. Located in the Lillibridge Place shopping center off of West Mill Street, we are next to the Shop n Save grocery store. Banking is convenient at JVB Lillibridge, open six days a week for lobby and drive-in service.
The branch manager is Denise Russell. She's been with us since 1998 and is always available to say hello to everyone who visits JVB Lillibridge Place. Denise welcomes your questions and suggestions. She's a great source of information about JVB's financial products and services.
You will feel welcome when you visit JVB. All of our employees operate on the basis of the 4C's: caring, capable, committed and connected. You already know and like them because the people who work at JVB also live in your community. We want you to have a pleasant and user-friendly banking experience every time you visit.
Here at JVB Lillibridge Place, we know how important local banks are to their communities. We want to win your business and your loyalty.
Comparing banks in Port Allegany or looking for a local lenders? Contact us today, stop by the Lillibridge Place Office, or visit our other Port Allegany Office located on N Main St. to find out what it means to BANK RIGHT. The Juniata Valley Bank has been a trusted community bank serving the people and businesses of Central Pennsylvania, and more recently North Central PA, since 1867 (150 years!). We continue to provide financial services to our customers with the integrity, respect, and excellent customer service that our founders established.


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Yuliya Barysik –en bielorruso, Юлія Барысік– (11 de febrero de 1984) es una deportista bielorrusa que compitió en judo. Ganó dos medallas de bronce en el Campeonato Europeo de Judo de 2006, en las categorías de +78 kg y abierta.

Palmarés internacional

Referencias

Judokas de Bielorrusia

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