Like in the United States weather often brings damage and destruction. This week there has been major flooding in Sabirabad and Salyan regions. These are to the west and south of Shirvan along the Kur river which passes through all three. There was a lot of mountain snow this year and it has been an exceptionally wet spring. We are fortunate that the Kur remained in its banks in Shirvan, but thousands are displaced due to the flooding.
Many people go and live with relatives nearby. One girl named Sabina is an example. There are now 35 people living in their home. I said, “where do they sleep” – “everywhere” was the answer. Cooking is a continual process. It is what families do.
However, not everyone has nearby family and the government has erected a tent city here in Shirvan. Linda and I walk by and wish there was something more we could do to ease the human suffering due to massive flooding and destruction of homes.
In one way I wanted to take a picture of the tent city to post, but felt like I would exploiting their suffering and discomfort. Fortunately this week there has been no rain, and the weather has been sunny and very hot these past two days. No word on when people may be able to return to homes, or when homes will be rebuilt which were destroyed by the ravages of the weather.
Last week we went to the village of Lahic (pronounced Lahuj). The mature women volunteers are having a retreat on June 4&5. Linda has organized the retreat as did the AZ5’s did for the AZ6’s last year. Linda wanted to make sure everything was prepared for the retreat, so we made the journey.
It was a great weekend. We traveled to Lahic on Friday. We first took a taxi to Baku, then a city bus to the new bus station, then a bus to Ismaylli, then a bus to Lahic. The entire trip was about 9 hours, and not without incident. Everything was fine except on the way from Baku to Ismaylli our bus had a blowout. All the men, Linda and I got out to take a look while all the Azeri women remain on the bus even though their presence on the bus made the van heavier to lift with the jack. Azeri culture has the women remain seated, all the men get out and check out the problem each making their suggestions, then the repair if possible. We were so happy to see that this van had a spare tire.
In Ismaylli we had about an hour and a half layover. There is a picture of Linda taking in some beautiful scenery from the teahouse where we had tea. Now, that may not seem unusual to you, but we had to ask to make sure Linda would be served. Because Ismaylli and Lahic have some tourist trade, it was acceptable. It is quite unusual for a woman to drink tea in a teahouse. It galls Americans to have this gender difference, but the culture is what it is.
In Lahic we had marvelous weather after many days of rain and flooding in the Shirvan area. The days began with sun shinning, then clouds forming, a short rain shower, then clearing again. The mountains were cooler and very pleasant.
We saw some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Azerbaijan, only thought we would perish a half-dozen times. The driving is always scary enough, but add narrow unpaved mountain roads, we tried to concentrate on the scenery and the Lord’s prayer.
The bus stopped at the entrance to the village, and we asked where was the school. We were lucky to find out there is really only 1 main road in the village of 2,000 people. The street lead us to the school where we met with a fellow Volunteer, Tim Cone.
Tim was a member of Linda’s language cluster during training. Being in the same cluster forms a great friendship and bond. Lahic is Tim’s site, and he showed us his school (more information to come in later postings), and then on to our hotel.
The cost of the hotel was 20AZN a night. We had a wood heater, and would have shared a bathroom, but it is very early in the tourist season there, and we were the only occupants of the hotel. The hotel has 13 rooms, and 8 on the second floor. We had hot water, were comfortable, and ate one meal there at the hotel.
Lahic is known for its scenery, cool weather in the summer, and copper artisans. The narrow streets, and ancient history make it a remarkable site. Again, we will post more information on the copper shops and our trip to Lahic in the next few weeks. These pictures give you an idea of the scenery.
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