Restaurants in the country

There are restaurants everywhere - and I mean everywhere. Basically it’s a big yard and there are all kinds of tables and chairs, each in their own little patio and roof. These are like dining room tables and chairs. Not outdoor furniture. There is always a table cloth on the table. Lunch or Dinner always starts with something like this: a first course of quartered tomatoes, quartered cucumbers, feta cheese, flat bread and maybe eggplant spread and some other spicy spread that i didn’t try. Then they bring meat - good meat and lots of it. The first night we had lamb and chicken. Today we had I don’t know what kind of meat but it was cooked in like a really thin pita and it was really, really good. Then they had another pita one that was filled with greens - you put some feta on it. Ayten thought it was better than the meat ones. I didn’t care for the veggie one. Now all of this always served on china with silverware. Glasses are used when they serve the drinks and it’s always water, sparkling water and then other kinds of stuff that I have no idea what it is but some of it is pretty good. Today they served this really sweet cherry juice so I added sparkling water to it and it was very good. Breakfast was the best feta cheese I have ever had, butter, honey and flat bread. Then they served eggs that were delish. Of course it goes without saying tea at every meal. Oh and there is always a play ground within the restaurant so the kids can eat and play at the same time  - genius! Too bad most of my restaurant pictures are on my camera and you'll have to wait because then you'll get to see some very interesting pictures. But here is what I had on my phone:

This was one of my favorite restaurants . One of the dining rooms almost looks like a tree house.

 This was the dining room we ate in. Really good food too!
 This time we had those those pita breads filled with meat and heated up -
and then the next course was Azberjain Raviloi!
And it would take some Italians I know back a few paces

This was some of the decorations at the restaurant. Notice the samovar in the center. They are pretty cool - there is some sort of heating element in there and you fill it with hot water. Then you have a tea pot with really strong tea in it. You fill your cup 3/4 full of hot water and top it off with the tea. The thing hanging from the tree is an old fashioned butter churn.

We wanted to have "A tea" and so they set up a table and chairs for us.

Farhod wanting to grab the biggest rock he can find to throw in the lake.

The houses in the background are for rent - notice the view of 

the mountains. Beautiful country!

No Javi is not going to the bathroom - he is holding a very heavy rock!

This is the last place we ate on our road trip. It reminded me of a state park. Ayten was

not happy about it - said it was too dirty. It was not my favorite place, but I have to 

say they had the best fresh tomatoes I have tasted all year.

Another view - I have to admit at this place I was a little concerned about food standards of which there are none out here in the countryside.

If you wanted to you could go for a horse back ride before or after lunch.

'Cause that's how they roll here.

A ride in a Soviet Jeep

There was a waterfall that Yusif wanted me to see. When we got to the base of the mountain we hired a jeep to take us to the waterfall. Yusif said "Now you can say you have ridden in a military vehicle produced by the Soviets"

After the cold war ended some enterprising men bought up the old military jeeps

and now some are used to take lazy Americans up the mountain!

The waterfall that we took our lives in our hands to view.

Many people drove part way up or hiked the whole way - what amazed me the most was that, as Americans we have an "outfit" for everything. Gym shorts, tennis shoes and t-shirts for a treck like this. Not so with our friends on the other side of the globe. They just go!

Even in a dress and good shoes  they hike.

I loved this one - the little girl got down the hill - layed on a rock and

sucked her thumb - she had enough!

Lots and lots of people going all the way up

This is Ayten's cousin who lives in the village we visited. The day we went on this adventure I said to Yusif "Let's bring Vergood (the little boy) with us, he probably doesn't get to go many places." Yusif didn't seem to pleased with this idea so I said the same thing to Sardar he said "I am not opposed." So we brought him - he was a delight to have on the trip. So helpful and kind and always smiling.

Farhod, Manzar and Javi

Aytena and Yusif making it safely back down with their precious cargo.

A picture of our driver - the man never said a word nor cracked a smile. 

Me thinks he was a left over for the Soviet days!

Speaking of English

Before I go on - I'm at Nez's apartment for the rest of my stay - she has no AC - it's 10:30PM and it is still rather warm in here. I asked her if she had a fan - she said "yes" and went and got her blow dryer. Then I pulled up a picture of a fan online and said "no - this" and she looked and said "no I have no fan" I said "take me to the store tomorrow I'm going to buy you one" then she said "Mary, please we can go to Ofa's house (that is one of her sisters - she is out of town and left her key with Nez in case I need AC) I said "no I'll be fine - I am one tough cookie." She looked at me like I have three heads and said "you are a cookie?" I said "A tough cookie." Now - try explaining that to someone! I said "you know if you leave a cookie out at night the next day it's hard?" she said "yes" I said "so it's a tough cookie - it's hard to break. I'm a tough cookie. I can take this heat." she said "Oh - let me go write this down - a tough cookie!"......wonder what else she is going to learn this week???? I guess this is preparation for Spain.

Azerbaijan - the first week

Left St Louis on Sunday - flew to NYC - left for Baku on Monday at noon - arrived in Baku Tuesday at 7AM! Peggy says I write to much and people would rather see pictures so I'm going to do a lot of pictures - but - I left the cable for the camera that allows pictures to load onto the computer at home! (either that or it's lost) So you are just going to have to be happy with the pictures from my phone for the time being.

 My first meal in Azerbaijan - I think they always use nice dishes.

 Yusif and his Mom, Manzar

 Farhad, Shamil (Aunt Ophelia's husband) & Javi and let

me tell you is there were ever two little boys that

keep the pot stirred you are looking

at them!

 On my first night we went downtown 

These buildings are lit up for the 2015 European Games

that were held in Baku in the Spring.

We left Baku Wednesday morning and went to a resort in the country. Everyone goes to the country during the summer to escape the heat - not to hurt any Azerbaijaini’s feelings but it’s hot everywhere so there is no escape. I told Yusif I’m going to start a business here and sell fans. If people just had a small fan it would be life changing. Meanwhile - you do get used to the heat and it is cooler out here in the country.

Naz and I shared a room - the others
stayed in one of the houses.
This is two pictures of our room

 Notice the chickens wandering around? I thought this was really something.....but as the week progressed....

This was the view outside our room. Notice the outdoor restaurant, where I had my first real dining experience.

One of the houses that you could rent.

 

Before we go any further maybe you should meet the cast of characters:

You already saw Yusif, his Mom and Frick and Frack

 Ayten, (pronounced I-ten) Yusif's wife

  Konul (Ayten’s sister) Sardar (Kernal’s husband) 

  

 Ahu - their daughter -I think her Mom had just washed her

 hair and I thought she looked so cute in the scarf!

Davud - their son

Manzar - Yusif's Mom on left

Alina - Ayten’s Mom on right

Naz - Ayten's Aunt

OK - so you have met the cast and crew. I will write more in a few....put I'll post this now.

Another Adventure begins..........

Twenty years ago this month Yusif, an exchange student from Azerbaijan came to live with me for nine months. Now twenty years later I'm going to visit him and meet his family in Azerbaijan! More pictures and stories to follow. I leave on Sunday for New York, spend the night and then Monday head over to a country that is sure to bring lots of surprises!

I'm packed and ready for two weeks of international travel.

I wanted to do it with only a back pack but sister said I was nuts and "For the love 

of God bring a suitcase!" So I am........

Musing from the Emerald Isle

Yesterday as we were driving to Dingle we came to an area where there were mountains on one side of us and the sea on the other. It was beautiful, so beautiful that I decided we needed to get off the carriage way (that would be a two lane road to those of you in the States) and onto a side road (that would be a country lane to us). I got us as close to the sea as I could. Along the way we got to see up front and personal lots of darling Irish cottages. As we were meandering the road it began to get really grassy - almost like a drive way, but what could we do? We continued on our path. Soon we see an older gentlemen out for a fine walk with his dog. He looked the typical Irish country man - tall black rain boots, a tweet jacket and the ever present skimmer hat. He was carrying a walking stick. I knew that the both of us couldn't make it down the path so I pulled over as best I could, stopped and let him pass. He nodded his head in thanks and made his way down the path. The dog followed. I had not driven 5 feet til the girls started yelling. I said "what?" they said "the dog is following us - oh no he isn't the man called him - he's going to the man. - OH! the man just bonked him on the head with his walking stick!"God love the Irish - they treat their dogs like dogs - unlike some I know....

We have decided that when we get home we are changing out all of our curtains to lace.

Spotted Dick you say? We were in the big grocery store in Limerick and Peggy said to me "I wonder if they have spotted dick here." I said "No that is England." She said, "Well I thought maybe since we are so close." I should have gone with my gut, but no, I saw a store clerk - a young man about 28 - 30 years old and asked him "Excuse me Sir, do you have cans of spotted dick?" He looked at me rather agast and replied "What?" I said "Spotted...." I smiled and glanced at his crouch and said "Dick" He looked at me searchingly and said real slowly "S....p...o..t..t..e...d" and I said "Dick". He smiled and said "I've never seen it, but I don't work in this department. I will go check with someone who does." Peggy is behind me crying she is laughing so hard and he looks are me and says "Are you messing with me?" I "No, no I promise - it's a real thing." He leaves and comes back says "well, they said if we have it, it would be around here." We all started looking. He looked at me and said, "So what is it?" I said "Well, I don't really know - we just have a can of it and keep wrapping it up and giving it away at Christmas as a joke." He laughed and said, "Excellent!!" There was no spotted dick to be found in Ireland.

A long day getting to Dingle...

Last night at the pub our new friends told us about a village about 5 miles from here that was full of gypsies! They told us they steal everything in site, but when you see their houses you will notice they have bars and wires covering their windows and doors so that no one steals from them! They also told us about this cemetery that had very unusual head stones. So on our way to Dingle today we stopped at gypsy-ville and took a look around. It was very unusual! Then on to the cemetery!

 This is a grave for a little baby boy 

 I zoomed in on this. These are present at a lot of the sites. They are really stone, just carved to look like a pillow.

 I read this lovely poem, but the reason I had to post this is because I love the last three lines.....go on zoom in and read 'em

 Guess why I posted this one? Check out the mans name! (or nickname)

The same man above must have loved music because this was the remembrance from his grandsons.

After the gypsy town we headed on to Dingle. That was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life! The cursing that went on in our car would put the devil himself in hell! We went over Conner pass to get there and right when we got on the pass the weather took a turn and it started raining in sheets and the wind damn near knocked us off the road. But we persevered and made it into town. There we found the bar that our Uncle Dub frequented when he went to Ireland. His picture was up on the wall so Peggy and I got our picture taken along side of his.

Sister and I toasting "the man"

The Man - our Uncle Dub - born, raised and lived on a farm in NW Missouri.

I would upload more pictures but the connection here is pure crap and I can't! Will try later though....On the way home (or was it on the way there?) Peggy and Caroline both decided they have seen enough of the world and will never leave the states again. The roads scared them too much! Marge and I were in the front seat and as I drove through the pass into the gates of hell Peggy just yelled "Look at them Caroline - just call them Thelma and Louise - they won't turn back!"

By the time we got home we were exhausted from fighting the rain and wind. So we stayed home and ate ice cream.....lots and lots of ice cream!