Prices and Some Observations

One US Dollar is equal to about 4,600 manats. Exchange places are common (three are on the street outside my apartment) and give good two way prices on USD, Euro, Pounds, and Rubles.

Two hours in an internet cafe and three coffees cost 11,500 Manats, or about $2.50. The money is all paper bills and the smallest one I've handled is a taped together 500 manat note. Due to huge inflation since 1992 new notes will be issued this month with 1 new Manat equal to 5,000 of the old ones.

Food is inexpensive, dinner with appetizer and three drinks cost a little over $10 and you can buy lule kebabs (lamb roasted on a skewer, mixed with tomatoes and mint) on any corner for $1.

Bars and nightclubs are everywhere. Beer costs less than a dollar, but the expat places have higher prices of course. Most of the English speakers I've encountered were at these places or at tourist related places. Most of the Azeri I've encountered do not speak English.

Most of the alcohol available is imported but Azerbaijan does makes its own wines and beers. Xirdalan is brewed locally and inexpensive. The wines I've tried were stong reds and thick.

And although the population is over 90% Muslim, Islam seems to be practiced as more of a tradition. The mosques are low key and barely distinguishable from any other buildings.

Also no one wears sneakers.