h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Baku, Azerbaijan - A1157609
Author: Mickey Thomas' Right Foot - squad number 11 - U162376

I notice there was not a single entry on Azerbaijan in the guide, so here is my attempt - any comments gratefully accepted

Great entry!

Like your writing style - concise but giving plenty of information.

The paragraph about taxi drivers is entertaining but rather unbalances the entry. I feel that an entry on Baku shouldn't be 25% history, 25% sights and 50% taxi drivers, but perhaps that's just me!

I get the impression you could say a lot more about the experience of being a tourist/traveller in Baku, and it would be nice to get some more information about, say, the people, the markets, social life etc. What effect has the oil industry had on the city? I've heard that it has caused all sorts of problems, especially environmental.

Also perhaps a bit more on the connection with Persia, the fact that the Azeri people are also found in northern Iran. Many readers may be rather hazy about exactly where Azerbaijan is....

A couple of notes on the text itself: you use the first person under the heading 'A Warning', and the comment about seat-belts isn't confined to Baku, it's anywhere in Russia (or rather, the former Soviet Union).

Gubernatrix

Thanks for your kind words.

Do you think the taxi driver bit should be pulled altogether (and maybe made into a seperate article)?

No, I think you should cut it down and add more of the same flavour on further topics within this entry.

I've made a few adjustments and added a bit about sport, but I'm not sure if it's now teetering toward an Azerbaijan entry rather than Baku

Good Entry!

The section on taxis will have to be changed. You're not supposed to mention yourself specifically in the entry.

Some typos:

wether --> whether
vehichle --> vehicle
stamp commemorate --> stamp to commemorate
by, unfortunantely --> by. Unfortunately
Shirvan-Shas --> Shirvan-Shahs

Hi! This is a good entry, but a bit like a starter in a posh resturant. Nicely presented but it left me wanting more. I was wondering if you could deal perhaps post a little more on the city it's self today, are the people rich or poor? what is the main industary? It is cheap or expensive for the traveller?

please feel free to ignore if you want

Typos will be corrected asap



Z - I never ignore any comments and will work on it tonight

Another world-famous living son of Baku is Mstislav Rostropovich.

OK, boosted by my Wladfa entry being accepted into the guide - I've made some more adjustments

Any comments?

Thanks

Was Baku on the Silk Route?

Who are the Shirvan-Shahs? Were they muslim, or part of the Ottoman Empire, or independent Golden Horde Mongols?

It'd be nice to know if there are any known places to stay and what they are like.

Hiya,

It's definitely improved, but still missing something. You've basically included enough information for someone visiting Baku for the day and wanting something to do to pass the time.

I feel that a guide entry on the capital city of such an interesting place merits rather more.

From the comments in this thread, it seems like people would really like to know what life is like there, how aspects like the Soviet era and the oil industry have affected the city. The history in the entry is also very patchy.

Perhaps its time to leave off writing from personal experience and do a bit of research so that you can add some body to the entry. It has the makings of a good piece of work, but it doesn't yet do justice to the size and scope of its subject.

How's it going with the latest version?

Haven't had time to update the actual text as yet, but have some serious research notes from surfing the www

Will try and get it done over the weekend ...

Thanks for asking

Excellent! Best of luck tomorrow, by the way - traditionally we tend to do quite well at the Racecourse...

We'll need it - our strikers couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo at the moment

Good work, MTRF! A very entertaining, informative read. I simply can't imagine what could have brought you to Baku , but this is a fine souvenir of the trip.

Have you added all that you wanted to add yet?

The entry's looking good!

Progressing nicely... I sense the scouts circling around this one like a gang of hungry sharks. Are you planning to add any more along the lines suggested by Sea Change and Gubernatrix above?