We had a few good times doing some interesting activities in Azerbaijan. Above is our friend Nick who organized some lessons on a windsurfer for me and Curt Gervich. A great way to spend some time in the Caspian. I was not talented enough to take a selfie as I gracefully skimmed the shimmering ripples. Below, I finally got in some tennis in my last couple months in Baku. They have a very friendly tennis community and I should have started playing sooner because tennis is really a great way to meet nice people.

Beach tennis was a lot of fun. Our tennis friends organized a doubles tournament on the tennis courts one weekend and a beach tennis tournament on a different weekend. So nice to be included.

Michelle and I went on a birding trip that was excellent and I wrote about in a different post.

We attended a concert conducted by an Azerbaijani-American. Not something we normally get to do, but living in a capital city provides cultural opportunities.

As tourists, we partake in all kinds of “corny” activities. This picture is after riding the mountain roller coaster. Again no selfie as I didn’t want to lose my phone.

Non-activity activities. We saw some more developed but lots of undeveloped beach areas on the Caspian.

Bowling with my Fulbright friend Lincoln. I maintained my lifetime average of 104.

Really enjoyed Baku’s modern art museum.

I could cross the street by my apartment and ride a scooter through the beautiful seaside park. This little mini-outing was a simple pleasure on many occasions. I would tell myself I was going to go for a walk and then I would wizz around the cobblestones for 15-20 minutes. I thought I was going to skip the famous bath houses of Baku as I was running out of time. But, for Andrew’s last day in Azerbaijan we went to a Hammam that has been in operation for over 300 years in the old, walled city. There is another old hammam that is now a hammam museum.