Forgive me if this is a little jumbled but I am still on a different time zone, very tired and trying desperately to stay awake!
Ok, I shall begin at the beginning and try to remember everything as I am going along. Tuesday got picked up by some friends, had a cup of tea and a chat before we went, filled in the visas etc. Went off to phills mums had more tea, and then went down to the pub for a meal, about 9pm. His sister came down and met with me and the two friends, did my head in and at one point I really wanted to come home, as they started talking about phills ex’s and how they had all fucked him over and got a house out of him, which at that point I had to say uhm “I didn’t”. To be honest it was hard as his sister was saying all this stuff about him that wasn’t true, I didn’t want to rock any boats so found the only thing I could do which was to bite several holes in my tongue and keep going outside to smoke!
Anyway, after a crap night’s sleep we was up at the crack of dawn and off to the airport, boy was it busy, we queued then queued and queued some more. I of course got patted down at the airport, they were very strict at what you could take and not take! At one point they changed the direction of the queue, talk about confusing! Eventually we got through then on to the plane, which took forever to load and we set off late. 5 and ½ hours later, we were landing in Baku. Then the fun really began, passport control, then visa, then passport control, wait and hour for the bags, customs and then we was through! Phill and Sveta and the littlelun met us at the airport think it was about 10.30 ish by then and it was HOT!!!
Short trip to where we was staying, but that gave me the first taste of how they drive...very fast and not keen on giving way or stopping, to say it was a bit scary is an understatement. The apartment was lovely, big rooms, air-con, two bathrooms and kitchen; they had also stocked up the fridge with some beer and food...YAY! Phills mum wasn’t very well so went off to bed and we went to phills apartment for dinner, this was now about 11.30 ish. We were also joined by Svetas mother and her friend Niela and her daughter Sabrina. The kids were playing in the bedroom with plasticine (I really wanted to play, but had to have dinner first) so, there was myself, rick, Sharon, Tim (phills brother) and his dad with Sveta, Vera, niela and phill. Sveta had made a lovely dinner, all types of salad, rice, chicken and bread. You don’t as such sit down to a meal that has been put on a dinner plate, you have a small plate and take a little of the salads and meat, then keep topping up.
I did get to play with the plasticine, after I had eaten and drunk some wine; I missed the vodka as I was making hogs out of the plasticine. The girls are lovely full of energy especially Nata (Svetas daughter) nonstop and this was now getting on to 2 am! Think it was about 3 am ish that we went back to the apartment, not tired as still on UK time so we sat up had a few beers and a chat till about 5 am, then went off to bed!
Not a particularly early start to the day on Thursday. Everyone was tired, bit dazed and man it was hot and sunny. The heat wasn’t humid but very very very hot. The type of heat you can’t stay out in for long as it is just too hot. We walked in to the main part of the city, I never realised it would be so big, but it’s HUGE! Lots of shops and everything is so much cheaper over there than the UK. For example packet of 20 cigarettes......50p. Can’t go wrong with that can you! Changed up some money, had a look round the shops, had some dinner, then Sveta, Nata, phills mum and I went off to the wedding venue for some last minute checks. It was a subway ride; there subways are so much cleaner than in London, just as packed though. The venue was lovely and the way it was all decorated looked beautiful really did.
After that, we all met up again on the boulevard. Now people in Baku being a Muslim country don’t really drink, so you don’t see lots of pubs or bars etc. Instead they all walk down the boulevard and sit and drink tea. Doesn’t matter what time it is, normally the later the better they will all be out and down there. It’s a very family and friend orientated place, so all the families get together and sit drink tea, talk and laugh. Such a change from the UK way of life, big eye opener. A lot of these people have nothing, yet they would give you anything that they do have, their selflessness has had a big impact on me. We met up with some of phills friends, drank tea and ate cake.
That night Phill was staying at the apartment as he couldn’t see Sveta before the wedding, unfortunately he had come down with a bad tummy, so instead of going out, we got a take away, it was lovely, kebabs and salad. We sat, drank and ate. Phill went off to bed quite early, so Tim, his dad, Sharon and I sat up again til about 4 am...I was still on UK time, it was a killer I can tell you.
Next morning, again not an early one! Tim had come down with a bad tummy. My hay fever was dreadful and the old tonsillitis was threatening again! Still it was the day if the wedding and none of us was going to miss that! I went down to get my hair done at the local hair dressers where Sveta was getting hers done. They washed it then styled it (took a while I can tell you), had my nails done, well to be fair the lady kept telling me off and shaking her head as I bite my nails. I also then had my eyebrows done, they use the twisted cotton method, it is much quicker but man does it smart! At one point I had tears rolling down my cheeks, but they did a good job. All of that for £12...can you believe that £12 that was all! Right result.
So the countdown to the wedding begins, the heat has made everyone a bit dozy, the cars are set to pick us up at 5.30, but there is the camera man coming round before that. I got back from the salon about 3.30 to find no on getting ready really, phill was still un shaven, Tim still in bed. I did what I do best, I got bossy!
First thing first food, I helped Sharon get bacon sarnies for everyone and of course tea! Now its 4pm, Phill is fannying about, I put the shower on and push him in it, get his shaving gear ready for when he gets out. He is out, Tim goes in. After I have trimmed Phills eye brows, I can then get in the bath, and it’s now 4.30 pm. Quick bath, make up on, check hair, go outside sweat make up off, go back in put back on! 5.10 The groom isn’t dressed nor anyone else. Soon sort that out. 5.20 everyone dressed and ready....phew!
Take a few photos, and then the camera and video man show up. Then the fun began, now I won’t describe this very well as you would really have to see it to believe it, but when I get the DVD of the wedding I will put some on here as you will be amazed! Two white mercs came to pick us up. Phill and his mum and dad went in one and the rest of us in the other. If you are getting married over there, its tradition for the cars to drive with their hazards on, with a wedding horn constantly being pressed! It was mad! It was a three lane road and every now and then we would stop, block up the road and the horns would be going, then we would speed up like something out of wacky races, trying to beat the other cars, and then break suddenly. To say my tummy was in my throat.... At one point we stopped 3 cars abreast, not sure why we did that. Then another car that was in the party that had gone off ahead saw that we were stopped...oh I remember why now. The man that was videoing the wedding was in another car, that had its boot propped open with a broom stick and was hanging out the back and the side door, filming the cars, his broom stick had fell out so we stopped for him to put back in again. Anyway the other car, then turned round, drove against the traffic (which was heavy) at full speed, hurtling towards us, then did a hand break turn spun the car round and joined us. All our mouths were open in shock and he just looked shrugged his shoulders and grinned! Boy of boy that was one hell of a ride!
We got to the restaurant in one piece...just! Took some photos outside then went in. They had the ceremony in the restaurant. It was basically signing the paperwork, then a drink, and then they bought in this thing that looked like a rocket launcher and shot shiny confetti everywhere. Had a few tears at the wedding part, it was really lovely.
Then the meal and OMG what a spread, it was the same as other meals, lots of salads, we had small plates, but we couldn’t help ourselves everything was served to us. I made the mistake of picking something up and the chap who was looking after out table came running over and took it out of my hand. Every time you finished something, he would bring more up, after changing your plate. Every time your glass was half empty it was filled back up again. I managed to avoid most of the vodka by pouring it into a glass that had some fruit juice in, but then as it was so hot I was drinking the fruit juice forgetting it was full of vodka...so yeah I was worse for wear by the end of the evening, but not my fault!
Everyone was again really friendly, got on the dance floor and was dancing away with everyone, took loads of photos, actually at one point, Sabrina was going round taking photos for me, they love photos over there, it was quite funny to see a little girl with a big camera, mind I have a lot of photos of tables and the floor now...bless. Oh and I had to make a speach too! I of course couldnt do it. It was sprung on me, wasnt prepared and got emotional. I stood holding phills dads hand and managed to get a few words out, not looking forward to seeing that on the wedding video!
There was lots going on throughout the wedding, a lot of tradition, bride and groom had to walk up and down the restaurant several times, not quite sure what it was all about, but it was a very good and different wedding, one I will always remember. Got home, had a few cups of tea, then off to bed!
Saturday was spent chilling out, in the evening we met up with some more of their friends and had a meal; we walked round the old part of Baku, plus went on a boat trip around the harbour. This again was on the boulevard. So many people all out there, the boats were packed, they have such a simple way of life, and it’s very endearing and tempting for me to change to something like that. Certainly been an eye opener! The thing that I will take the most is the way the people are; it’s very much your family is my family. I know if I was to go back there, there would be several places that I would be able to turn up and stay. I think that phill and sveta would have a house over there as well as here, hope so as I would really like to be able to go back and see everyone again.
Well now, that was a long post, but I’m sure ive missed a lot out. I’m now going to work on the photos, should have some up on here too later. My tummy has now taken a turn for the worse, so am going to go get some Imodium to block me up!
All in all it has been a fantastic trip it really has and one that I will defiantly take again.
