The Day has come

Dear World, Dear Readers and Visitors of this blog, of my blog that is so dear to me.

Today, after exactly five! years of silence, I am happy and proud to be writing this post.

Actually, there was never a silence. I was writing mainly in Russian and Azerbaijani on my other blog http://aytenqiyasru.blogspot.com/ and on my facebook page.

No matter which language I write in and no matter what I write about, there is one subject that is one of my favorite and dear ones and that is of course, Sheki.

Sheki has become more known since I wrote here last. City receives more and more tourists; its name is better recognized.

Who would think that the Day would come and CNN of this world would write about my dear Sheki. CNN quote (CNN) - "Before Azerbaijan was famous for oil, it was a land of silk and spices."
Yes, thank you, CNN, exactly!

And I would actually add that Azerbaijan has always been and remains to be land of great landscapes, great food and most importantly land of people with smiling eyes and kind heart.

I am sharing the CNN article
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/sheki-azerbaijan/index.html

There is more that I want to share and I hope to do it more often and regularly now.

With love and best wishes,
Your Ayten
The view when going down the hill to Sheki city centre.

#aytenqiyasru #aytenqiyasrustamova

Love is in the air....

There comes time in one's life (hopefully sooner rather than later) when person starts to appreciate everything positive that is around him or her. And gratitude becomes a natural part of the person's existence. He or she does not have to make any effort and look for reasons since reasons are all around.

I can't remember since when but I know definitely that by this birthday I have become one of those grateful for anything and everything that is peaceful, sunny, healthy, delicious, friendly etc etc etc...the list is endless of course. Days when I am in a bad mood are not considered...

My birthday this year was family get together. I want to share with you some photos that are not professional but convey some of my thoughts today...Be well.

With all the great restaurants and cuisines available in our capital Baku the best plov is at my parents prepared by my mom, Güllər xanım. I took this photo in the kitchen, at making of stage. One can and I can never thank mom enough... 

You can read more about plov on my blog here.     

Its season of pomegranates in Azerbaijan now. Organic, healthy, beautiful and tasty pomegranates. My dad, Nadir muallim, always peels pomegranates for us his daughters and wife (yes, probably in this order). Nowadays he also has his grandsons queueing. God bless. Dad doesn't mind. Never. 

You can read more about pomegranates on this blog here.  

Now. One of the best parts of any gathering in Azerbaijan is tea session. Moms tea is always delicious. This time she also had delicious walnut preserve prepared by my cousin Səhər xanim. Walnut preserve is Sheki delicacy. It's prepared from walnuts that are not ready yet and green. The process is not easy and not everyone is the professional. Yes, the walnuts ín preserve come black in colour and yes, you would be surprised by its beautiful taste.

You can read more about tea sessions and preserves on this blog here.   



For more and details of Azerbaijani cuisine please visit http://www.azcookbook.com/.



Piti...

It is hard to believe that during all these years that I am writing this blog I never wrote about piti.

The word "piti" must be read stressing the second syllable. If you say it right and say it to someone from Azerbaijan, the person would smile at you back and say "ah, piti"...

Probably I would be right to say that no other meal of Sheki is as traditional as "piti". "Piti" comes from our ancestors, it was thought through in far history and all we do now is enjoy it, try to preserve its peculiarities and pass it on to young generations.

Peculiar meals exist of course in every city, country and corner of our planet. Traditional meals of someone else might be to our taste or not and this is very natural. Passion with which local people offer visitors traditional meals close to their hearts is very understandable. Visitors don't have to like or even more so love these meals and dishes...the extent to which they are ready to try new things also depends on how adventurous they are.

So if you are not a vegetarian and are not shocked to see pieces of fatty tail of lamb in your plate then be sure that you would enjoy eating "piti" very much.

Piti is cooked in ceramic pots. What is important that piti should not be prepared in newly made ceramic pots. Only ceramic pots that have been boiled preliminarily with lamb fat could be used to prepare piti. New ceramic pots absorb all fat and oil and therefore can't be used to prepare a delicious meal.

This is where I would stop since the rest you would need to see, try and enjoy personally. Piti can be tried all year long...but if you happen to be in Sheki or Baku in cool autumn or crispy winter weather, then piti is THE meal. My subjective view is that piti smells and tastes great.

I am posting our family photos of one of those "piti" evenings at my parents. Piti season is starting you see...

Be well!    

Piti goes well with pickles and onion. Usually one pot serves one person but you can share of course.

Tradition demands certain ways of eating piti. First you enjoy broth and then the rest of the meal.

For more and details of Azerbaijani cuisine please visit http://www.azcookbook.com/.  

Our love this summer...

My father in law, sculptor Aslan Rustamov, who is originally from Sheki has dear sculptor friend, whom he studied together with in Baku, Albert Mustafayev, who happens to be originally from Sheki too. Aslan Rustamov, Albert Mustafayev and late Gorhmaz Sujaddinov worked together on one of the most prominent fountains of Baku called "Bahram-Gur".    

When we visit Sheki together with my in-laws in summer his friend travels to his relatives in Sheki and of course we meet up there.

This summer when we were expecting uncle Albert at our place we saw him coming in with two flowers beauty of which it's hard to describe. I knew that I was in love with magnolia since I saw the tree in parks of Baku and also at my uncle's. But this flower was there in his hands and so beautiful. I would say unbelievably or almost unbearably beautiful if you know what I mean...

It appeared that he brought two flowers from old magnolia tree at his relatives that was full in blossom - one flower for me and one for my mother in law. What other presents you would expect from an artist! Amazing!

All the time we were in Sheki Uncle Albert and his relatives spoiled us with flowers. The flowers that smell great too opened in water very often quite quickly though and I started to worry that I would get used to this beauty and start appreciating it less...

We saw grand tree at their garden later too and it was simply magnificent.

Today I want to share with you the photos of those flowers.

Flower that I am in love with...beautiful magnolia...

Friends that can appreciate beauty. Sculptors Aslan Rustamov, my father in law on left and Albert Mustafayev enjoying tea and memories in dear Sheki.  

  

Summer memories of Sheki...

I must admit beauty of regions is mainly explored during summer in Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately we all get caught in routines and feel too heavy to explore the nature when weather is less welcoming and our cloths are heavier.

I still hope to enjoy beautiful nature of autumn this year...

For now I want to post some photos of Sheki that I took this summer.

Not sure if you experience that feeling but sometimes no matter how many photos one takes there still remains that feeling that beauty was not conveyed. For instance no matter how many photos of balconies I take in Venice each time we are there when I see them again I want to take more and more photos...The same feelings I experience looking at mountains of Sheki or at some streets of the city itself. My brain tells me that I have taken these photos and even posted them and my heart whispers that maybe this new photo will convey better or more...

 

Here are some photos then...

 

View from beautiful village Kish...You can read more about Kish on this blog here...

View from beautiful Khan Palace. You can read more about Sheki Khan Palace on this blog here...

 Another photo of rooftops of Sheki...

 Gorgeous mountains of Sheki...I took one photo...and...

...then I took another one...

View from window of museum in Sheki...

Another post on rich summer...



The same thoughts come to me each summer that we live on a fertile land that spoils us with anything that we could wish for.

 

I have written numerously about white cucumbers that grow in Sheki. I am posting photos of cucumbers that grow in my relative's garden. I may sound boring but I find it quite amazing to see fruits and vegetables grow and that one is able to go and pick them up right there in the garden.

 

 

Gathering black currant is not easy due to its thorns. I did try it. One may often find kids selling it on the way to Sheki or in Sheki. We know its hard work so we buy from them as much as we can.

Saw it growing but didn't touch this time, wasn't ready as yet. Took its photo instead.  

If you have time press on these photos and see the peaches closer. These are let me use popular nowadays word 100% organic peaches that grow in my uncle's garden. They are amazing and yes, tasty.  

 

 My earlier post on rich summer could be found here.

Spring that says "catch me if you can"...

Before you read this post please read the preceding post. I would continue writing assuming that you did read it...

 

Although we all understand and agree that time flies almost everyone is caught by surprise when childhood, youth or...another spring is left behind. I am trying to explain to my older sons to enjoy life here and now but middle one is rushing to be as grown up as his older brother and the oldest one wants to be maybe at least a bit older...

 

This May after taking into consideration all logistics of the family (something that mothers are excellent at to say the least) I said to my husband that we are taking with him a day off and escaping to Sheki. Just one day and just two of us. If we can do it when we have to then we should be also able to do it when we want to! It did work out and we enjoyed every minute of the trip. Maybe back in my mind though I could not switch off my worries about kids and all (from the series 'too good to be true') and the next day we arrived home little one had a fever. I am sure (almost) it had nothing to do with our escape but looks like positive thinking could not prevail fully over worrying mother thinking...

 

I brought back nice memories and pictures of spring in Sheki that I want to share with you. Spring that says "catch me if you can".  

 

Field of poppies on the way to Sheki 

Sheki  

 Sheki

 Sheki

Random old style door in Sheki...I wish nothing was replaced but restored...Has nothing to do with spring but does not matter, does it...

 Sheki bazaar was invaded by radish...is it possible to be radish and be so beautiful?! :)

Double rainbow on our way back to Baku...

Early spring in Sheki...

Clever books say that one should always leave routine and change scenery whenever possible. Other books explain that we often perceive things more difficult than they actually are. Defining difficult is quite relative in any case...

 

We had to attend funeral in Sheki early March and you would agree that when something is an obligation rather than simply a wish, one would often "just do it". We almost never travel to Sheki for a day due to distance of around 300 km but when the duty calls you don't look for excuses.  

Once we paid respect at the funeral I knew that I wouldn't want to leave Sheki before I visit some people that I missed quite a lot.

There we were in the house of aunties I love dearly Ruhangiz and Tamilla, who have special taste for everything beautiful. There are many things that I love about their house including flowers. Lower I want to share with you some pictures. Flowers were in full blossom but I don't think the photos reveal fully that serene beauty.   

 

 

 

There is no compromising when it comes to neatness and beauty of the table setting in their house. From table cloth to tea serving. I may sound strange but the aesthetic pleasure I get is as strong if not stronger if I compare to taste of tea or preserves. 

On our way back to Baku we had this fascinating mist...winter did not want to give in to spring...

I took these photos early March. As you might know in March we also celebrate Novruz. I wrote many times about Novruz on this blog. Sharing with you photo of this year's Novruz taste...

Happy New Year!

Its mid February and I still haven't wished you "Happy New Year!".

We had an earthquake in Baku couple of days ago that I did feel in the office and our nanny who was at home with two of our kids did feel at home. Well these shakes, real shakes, make us really philosophic! Imagine me, in the office, at around 4pm with something to finish until the end of office hours...and suddenly the desk starts moving - you realize that its an earthquake. Your colleagues realize it too. I called my mom to see if she is at my place and if panicking. Well, she wasn't and she didn't know. So I pretended that it was a random call and called nanny to see if she was panicking. She seemed to be OK and I said...what can we do...let's pray. At that moment, at that very moment, even the idea of going downstairs and waiting to see if anything more happens doesn't matter. Because your kids are at home and you are not with them...My next call is to my father. No, not only because he is the geophysicist and he knows the subject but also because, just like in childhood, he would be the one to tell me that everything is and will be OK and I will believe to what he says. Because I want to. And he said that "don't you worry, its all gone and don't tell me that you got scared in the first place!" And I said "oh, of course I didn't"...and this is when the same feeling from childhood came, when you pretend to be strong and behave as grown up (and now come on, at my age of almost 38, I am (supposed to be) soooo grown up) and you smile but your tears are so close in your eyes and somewhere in your throat and this is it - the moment when MOTHER is so vulnerable...You see when kids are small you have that illusion that you are very much in control, what is nonsense of course. In Azerbaijani we have a saying, well like in any other language I suppose which means "Let God protect you/save you" - "Allah saxlasın"...

As we all know media and people (well media is done by people...sorry for this play on words) rarely suffer from wisdom. Therefore of course we had articles to say that there would be more shakes to take thousands of lives...And people spreading the news...But then there was someone cleverer to say that, that was it and I told it to my nanny and here I want to write...and we happily lived ever after! :) 

So, my dear readers, I really hope that nature, God, destiny would be kind to you and us, to all of us and allow us to have a meaningful end to our lives. That we are able to meet and greet many New Years going forward and as clever books say realize that life is beautiful in its many ways and as MJ used to sing "we can make it even a better place". 

P.S. In case you are wondering, my husband didn't feel anything and I called to say that "everyone is well and not panicking :), but that I still have some sort of a headache and it was very unpleasant..." and I wanted to feel weak and vulnerable for another couple of minutes, but the strategy started working less and less and besides I had to finish those two paragraphs anyway now and it was getting late. And what kind of mom reaches home late on the day of the earthquake anyway! I guess that would be me :)!   

Be safe and Happy! New Year! 

Photos are not mine. They are both taken in Sheki. First one, beautiful photo of even more beautiful and delicious persimmons is a courtesy of Jalal Sevdimov. 

This one with the view on Sheki in winter is by Tural Salimov. 

Azerbaijan - European chess champions 2013 and 100 years to Arshin Mal Alan...

I haven’t been writing for quite a while but I was thinking about it quite a lot.

Two things happened during this period that I am particularly keen to mention about on my blog.

One of them is that our country team (men) became European chess champion for year 2013. This is big pride for Azerbaijan which team is becoming European chess champion for the second time: year 2009 and year 2013.  

Chess has always been popular in Azerbaijan and thankfully continues to be so in young families.

This makes a perfect blend with another strong part of culture if not the strongest one in my country that is art and performance that I also want to write about today.

Back in 2011 I mentioned in this blog that Azerbaijan would be celebrating 100 years of renown musical comedy written by one of the most prominent talents of Azerbaijan, composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Arshin Mal Alan ("The Cloth Peddler"), in 2013.

Here we are in year 2013 and recently new life was breathed into the movie that is based on  Arshin Mal Alan operetta. The movie has a rich history and world famous talents of its own and you can read about it here.      

 

I am sharing with you the soundtrack devoted to rebirth of the film, that is based of course on the original music. Music and performance are simply beautiful. Of course it is beautiful to my heart since every note of it echoes in me. But I think you would enjoy it too. This music describes Azerbaijan... 

Be well...

Rich summer...

I have mentioned many times here that we are blessed with rich and fertile land in Azerbaijan. This summer when I found myself in different gardens of Absheron and Sheki I took random pictures that I want to share with you. Hope you enjoy. 

we love mulberry early summer... 

and cherry...

we do mürəbbə (preserve/jam) from many, many fruits including cherry...(adding nuts to mürəbbə makes tea ceremony even more delicious)  

 we love to drink tea with lemon...we love lemon in general...its good for those who have high blood pressure...we are southern people...our emotions are strong...and heartbeat is quick :) I took this photo in Sheki bazaar this summer... 

talking about nuts...being busy cleaning and eating fresh nuts is another pleasure...

sunflowers on the way to Sheki...lovely scenery that I am afraid I couldn't convey...lovely to eat sunflower seeds when they are ready if you are not afraid to ruin your nails :) 

flowers in "Officers'" park in Baku...expecting more parks in the capital and regions in the coming years...hoping for more trees, grass and flowers...

flowers in our garden in Absheron...don't last long...grateful for every flower and every day that they last...

children playing at the boulevard...Azerbaijan is a young country...children and young people  anywhere you go...youth is in the air :) 

talking about babies...duck and ducklings in the park in Sheki...

Be well...