Holiday in the Caucasus (17): conclusion
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia have a common 20th century history as parts of the former Soviet Union and are all modestly-sized countries with small populations in a minor and compact region of the world. Yet they are so different politically, culturally, religiously, linguistically.
Azerbaijan is the most modern and confident, aided by plentiful oil and authoritarian leadership. It has the powerful support of Turkey in its territorial conflicts with Armenia.
Georgia has no problems with Azerbaijan or Armenia, but has lost control over a fifth of its territory as a result of intervention by Russia. It is the most western-orientated, very much hoping for entry to the European Union and NATO.
Armenia suffers from a lonely, victim complex, having lost a major part of its original land to Turkey and losing in its recent and still current conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Each of the three has different offerings for tourists in terms of terrain and buildings. The most common visits were to churches and monasteries in Georgia and Armenia but the venerable age of these and their often spectacular locations made each a unique experience. The Heydar Aliyev Centre in Azerbaijani, the Stalin Museum in Georgia and the Genocide Museum in Armenia could not be more different from one another.
Throughout the two and a half weeks of the trip, the temperature was consistory hot (high 20s to low 30s centigrade) but tolerable, even pleasant, while Britain had poor weather and southern Europe sweltered in excessive heat.
So another very successful trip which brings the total of countries that I have visited to 88. One of our group had clocked up 98 countries, so I have a way to go and I plan to keep going as long as I can manage these journeys. I learn so much.