Shaki

     We continued driving in a northwesterly direction. Our next overnight stop was in Shaki, about 150 miles from Baku. Shaki was founded in the 8th century B.C. It's in the southern part of the Greater Caucasus mountain range and about 2,300 feet elevation. The town has a population of about 70,000 people. The Palace of Shaki Khans was the center of the city. The palace and the city of Shaki have unique architecture and history as an important trading center along the northern alternate route of the Silk Road.

     Shaki was an interesting city to visit. Much of the town is scattered amongst the hills in which the town is located.

Going back to the Silk Road days, the central caravanserai was probably the primary stopping point, besides the Shaki Palace. The caravanserai is still in business today. Our guide said a room for a night only costs $25. We asked why it was so cheap. He said because it had no internet and offered no food service. It still seemed like a bargain to me.

  We were in the middle of town, standing in front of the caravanserai, when we heard a fire truck coming up the road. The truck made it to where you see in the photo and then couldn't keep going. It took them five or six tries to get into gear or whatever the problem was before they finally advanced, very slowly, up the hill to whatever emergency was taking place.

Much of the walls of the old Shaki Fortress are still standing. They surrounded the Palace of Shaki Khans. It was like a small town. It was the summer residence of the Shaki Khans, built in 1797.

You can see Vicky standing in front of the Shaki Palace below. I liked that the Sycamore trees were huge. It lends credibility to the fact that the palace is a really an old palace.