Leigh in Azerbaijan

While on my fitness walk up the funicular steps yesterday I took a few photos of the steps and the Caspian Sea.

Two policemen behind me became agitated. After getting my attention by calling “Monsieur”, in sign language they told me not to take photos. When I pointed at the Caspian, implicitly asking what the issue was, they then indicated that that was okay but not to take photos in the other direction, which was just trees and apartments. Further down there were government buildings which were obviously of concern to them. I agreed with that and walked off in the direction of the government offices where there is a newly refurbished garden (opened two or three weeks ago) in the style of 18th Century lawns, footpaths, waterfalls and fountains. There were people everywhere with mobile phone cameras taking happy family shots. Seems there are too many police with too little to do. I didn’t take any photos of the building however. Here are some of the garden shots. It’s a pity that more isn’t done to help the people begging on the streets.

My apartment is around 300m from these new gardens. Some weeks back before they were opened, there were workers everywhere completing concrete edging, planting, cleaning. Something was afoot. There are dozens of other gardens and statues around town that are being refurbished. In the space of my twelve months here the place has changed enormously. Those who have been here five or more years say the change is astounding.