Lankaran

"Wasn't Lankaran the name of the planet that was blown up in Star Wars?" I pondered. Or, no, that was Alderon. Close enough.

Lankaran is that sleepy town that you sometimes read about in books. Nothing really happens, the neighbours all know each other, and anyone with a future leaves for the big city.

The main park was much too big for its own good. A statue celebrating victory over fascism stood at one corner, a museum in the other. We walked amongst the meagre crowd; most of whom were older men talking about days gone by. It was then that Julian suggested he should move here and learn to farm.

I offered that he should work the bread ovens.

We continued to walk. Further on, we came to a bridge. Sheep grazed on the green grass below and we could see the river wind its way up into the hills. On its banks were brick houses found only in Lankaran.

They looked somewhat like the Doukhbour houses in my hometown.

We made our way down to the river's edge. There was a substantial grassy area for the sheep. I watched the frogs lurking on the surface of the water as Julian conversed with some local fisherman. It seemed a popular activity in this "sub-tropical" town.

I doubt there was much else to do.

Later we found the sea. This was no tourist friendly sea. The beach was black and it was really difficult to get to. Perhaps it got better in the summer.