I go to seek a great perhaps

by Abir Belmabrouk (Tunisia)

A leap into the unknown Azerbaijan

It was departure time, but it was not my first travel experience, I have been to my favorite country before. For now, I m going to live a leap into the unknown in Azerbaijan in West Asia in Corona days. I didn't think about it, I was happy and curious to live my new great perhaps in my new destination. I texted my favorite person Dr. Hassan then, I looked from the window of the plane and I whispered my own preaching codes " I go to seek a great perhaps. That's why I am going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a great perhaps. I was not interested to glance from the window although I like seating there so I can hug the clouds and the sky with my eyes and feel melted with them. But, at that time I was more concerned to know what happened to my favorite characters in The Fault is in our stars by John Green. Are they going to seek their great perhaps in Amsterdam? I start reading, I read about 10 pages, then I ordered a coffee and start looking from the window questing people's assumptions that the sky is the same everywhere. Maybe it is true for a scientist but definitely not for an artist or for a reader at least. After about two hours, I arrived in Turkey for 6 hours of transit to take another flight to Baku the capital of Azerbaijan. The time arrives. I m in my road to my great perhaps, my mind is blowing with questions, hesitations and excitement. I don't know anyone there but I m not afraid. My first seconds in Baku were dedicated to my personal agenda, I wrote about my first seconds in Baku and I saved the notes for Dr. Hassan to share it with him when I have Internet. I went to the hotel super tired and happy. The City was cloudy and cold, it was a bit dark and calm .it was 3 am. I was praying to see the snow the next day because I have never seen it. Tunisia has a warm weather all the time. I entered my room and I went directly to the balcony to see my room view. It was pretty nice, big Valleys and decayed trees with no leaves. I was deeply captivated by the charm of the city. I put on my pijama and called Dr.Hassan he was revising for his exam and waiting for me to call to ensure that I m safe and sound. We talked and I narrated to him all the details, he was following the pursuit of my perhaps and happy for me. The next day, I took my breakfast, trying Azerbaijan meals for the first time, it was not different from the Turkish breakfast, but I enjoyed it. I finished my coffee the most important thing for me and then I grab a taxi and I decided to start digging into the unknown. The taxi driver was able to speak English surprisingly, he tried to help me to get to the old City in Baku. It was a very clean place, with very beautiful and detailed architecture. Obviously, USSR touches were dominating, I feel like in Moscow. I liked this, I always wanted to go to a different country, at first, I thought Azerbaijan will look like Turkey, fortunately for me, it was different and unique in every aspect except language. I went to the Maiden tower when two lovers committed suicide from above it, I took a picture, then I moved to the martyrs street. There were red flowers in every tomb. I discovered it was a national day in Azerbaijan. People were crying and praying. They looked so nationalistic. Then, I decided to go to discover the Russian Orthodox Church, I m Muslims but I adore churches, they look different and fool of mysterious details. I entered there was a big Status for Jesus, window glasses, candles and crosses everywhere. It was full of beautiful colors, but the shooting was forbidden. I left to continue my trip, it was a bit windy, obviously, it is known as the city of wind and fire. There were no almost any people there ,i walked into the big valleys valleys enjoying the cold wind whispering to myself Go out girl and grab the world by the lapels. To be continued....