When viewed on Google Maps, the city of Baku appears to be rather spread out. However, as one discovered today, its quite walkable providing that you choose your route carefully.
As mentioned previously, the hotel is situated a few minutes from the Caspian Sea. A large boulevard runs parallel to the shore and is an easy and picturesque way of avoiding the city streets heading into Old City. In addition, said boulevard is accessible for wheelchair users if one wishes not to gamble with the Soviet-era road system…
Before heading into Old City, one decided to resume the ongoing battle with Soviet-era streets. If one is unfamiliar with this blog, let me briefly elaborate. During the period of the USSR, Soviet city planning consisted of constructing streets with up to 6 lanes of traffic, however, in a bid to improve traffic flow, the only way to safely cross said roads is to use underpasses. Of course, it is unlikely that wheelchair users were consulted hence the majority possess steps. As a result, one is required to cross wherever possible and hope for the best.
Anyway, one soon arrived at the Old City walls…
As with the majority of Old City/Town districts, the majority of surfaces comprise of cobbles. In addition, Baku’s Old City is located on a rather steep hill meaning that steps are plentiful and the gradient of streets are something to be desired…
The most challenging aspect of Baku’s Old City for a wheelchair user is not knowing the location of steps. This means it is possible that one may turn a corner and then have to retrace their steps. Ever more steps are present when the Palace of the Shirvanshahs is reached, however, it does boast a great view of the iconic Flame Towers…
