Thursday 5-12-22 Tbilisi, Georgia to Baku, Azerbaijan

Got up at 6:00 AM. Finished packing. Went downstairs and made coffee. Had coffee and lemon wafer cookies from Carrefour

At 8:20 AM I ordered a BOLT to take us to the airport. A few minutes later Zaza showed up in a comfortable car. It was another Georgian holiday, the second of the week. This one was St. George Day. Traffic was light and it was a pleasant trip. Took 34 minutes and 59 seconds. Cost 42 GEL, about $14.00.

Got to the airport and got in line to check baggage on Buta Airlines

Checked the baggage and went upstairs to Passport Control. Went through security and went to Gate 101 to wait for boarding.

We boarded on time to a Buta Airlines Embraer 190 Aircraft. I had never heard of Embraer. It is a Brazilian aircraft company and third largest in the world behind Boeing and Air Bus. It had very comfortable seating with two seats on each side of the main aisle.

They served a real sandwich and water on the flight.

We took off and landed on time.

Went to the baggage return and waited quite awhile for our luggage. My bag had a red tape on it. They made me go through security and they checked all my baggage by having me open every thing, just like Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

Got outside and ordered a Bolt. Tried to talk to the driver, but he didn't speak English. We finally found the car, a small Kia. The driver was Qalib. We went 24 km in 33 minutes and 59 seconds. We passed many spectacular buildings.

When we got in slow traffic downtown, the car kept quitting on the driver. Finally a couple of blocks from the hotel he had to get out and push it. He did get it started again and got us to the hotel. Total cost 7.70 manat, about $4.00.

Got checked into our room, 1207. It is very nice. A spa like bathroom

big tub

nice living and sleeping area

At around 5:00 PM, Erik and Kathryn went out looking for a suitable place too eat with several small children. They found the Royal Restoran

Erik and AJ were singing Karaoke when we got there, very loud, to Frozen. They had a private room they called a closet. Erik ordered lots of food and wine. A mixture of Azerbaijanian, Indian and Oriental