ALL AT SEA
So just when we thought we were back on track the gods (particularly Neptune it seems) were once again against us.
Having enjoyed the highlights (the old city is a real treat) and lowlights (the velodrome hotel is in urgent need of demolition) Baku had to offer we peddled our way to the port and merrily stood in line to board the good ship Professor Gul. And stood, and stood, and stood, and SLEPT and CAMPED and stood AGAIN, AND CAMPED AGAIN and SLEPT AGAIN!
TWO AND A HALF DAYS LATER we were on board and ready to set sail. The crossing was smooth, the cabins comfortable and the crew hospitable - some of us we almost enjoying our 'cruise' when once again fate intervened and the crunch and grind of the anchor told us we were coming to a stop - 10km from shore!
ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER DOLLAR - or in this case Azeri/Turkmen Manat! Back to bed we went (in fact moist of us preferred to sleep on deck to catch what there was of a breeze). So another day's delay but we would not be thwarted!
We docked the next morning and after a mere 4 hours of thumb-twiddling we were allowed off the boat. That is when true ennui set in! TWELVE HOURS later the last of us (poor Manon and Nicole) had been processed through customs and we were allowed into the cardboard cut-out town of Turkmenbashi.
One of us had joked that this 12 hour crossing was known to take up to 20 hours depending on how drunk the captain was - in fact it took us 5 DAYS!!!! That captain must have some hangover right now!!
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Posted August 27, 2008 by Paul Wilson
Turkmenistan |
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