Ugogo wami ukhulele eBaku, wahlala lapho iminyaka engama-30, emva kwalokho wathuthela eRussia. Abazali bakhe bangcwatshwa kuleli dolobha, ngakho-ke sizama ukuza kubo emathuneni okungenani kanye iminyaka emi-2-3. Okokugcina lapho ngiseBaku ngo-2012.
Ngiya lapho ngenenjabulo, ngokuhamba kweminyaka ukubonakala kwedolobha kushintsha kube ngcono, kwezinye izindawo kuyangikhumbuza ngeDubai. Ekufikeni kwethu kokugcina, sahlala eHilton Hotel, sitholakala ngqo enkabeni yeBaku.
Kunezindawo eziningi ezikhangayo edolobheni, Baku Boulevard, Maiden tower, Shirvanshah Palace, Caspian Embankment, Fontanov Square. Ngendlela, ezinye izigcawu ze-movie "Diamond Pand" zidutshulwe eBaku.
Lapho ugogo esemncane, eBaku, ngokwezindaba zakhe, konke kwakuhlukile. Kwakungekho ukucindezelwa kwama-Armenia, amaRussia namaJuda (amaKristu), ubungane bezizwe buyeneka edolobheni. Manje konke kuhluke ngokuphelele ngokushesha nje lapho ushiya ipapo yendiza, uyakuqonda ukuthi usezweni lamaSulumane. Izikhulungezi ezinjengaseGibhithe, kungcono ukungavumeli yena, ukuhamba uzungeze idolobha esikalini esifushane bengingeke ngibe. Ngokuvamile nginolwazi oluningi ngamaSulumane, ngakho-ke ngiyaqonda ukuthi baziphatha kabi ngokubekezelela maqondana nezivakashi.
Ugogo uthanda ukuhamba ngezinyawo embonini wasolwandle waseCaspian. Ulwandle olungajulile futhi olufudumele, olunesihlabathi, ngokwesimiso kuyindlela enhle yokuzijabulisa nezingane. Yize iBaku ingeyona idolobha elithandwa kakhulu yilelo dolobha, kepha namanje liya lapho ukuze liphumule. Amabhishi amahhotela njengoba ngiqonda hhayi okuningi, iningi lamabhishi asemadolobheni nasendle.
Lapho ngifika eBaku, ngiqala ukuthenga i-pahlav yabo, ngidla i-kebab kusuka eWundlu futhi ngithenga bonke abangane bewayini langempela le-Azerbaijani. Ngincoma ukuvakashela umgwaqo wezitolo, kunezindawo eziningi zokuphumula ezinamanani akhangayo. Idolobha lithakazelisa kakhulu kusuka endaweni yokubuka izivakashi, kepha labo abafuna ukuvakashela ngesizathu esithile. Ukube bengingenasizathu sokuya eBaku, bengingeke ngiye edolobheni ngenxa nje yenzalo, futhi ngiphumule kakhulu.