Wherever you go in Azerbaijan, you can find plenty of old Ladas. There are on the road or parked at every corner of the streets. It is a part of the cultural heritage here and they are often used as Taxis. No one can leave Azerbaijan without taking a ride in a Lada!
Lost in the middle of the Azerbaijani steppes nearby the Gobustan reserve. We took a ride to reach the mud volcanos. And actually, the experience worth it. Between a road which is not a proper road (No asphalt, only sand and rocks) and a driver who compares himself to Schumacher and speaks only Azerbaijani or Russian.
At the back of the Lada we were bumped for 11km while watching the beautiful landscape around: desert, mountain, volcanos…Taking pictures was almost impossible because of the bumps so it was an opportunity to completely enjoy the ride and what it has to offer: noises, landscapes and fun. So much fun!
We could hear the motor purring, see here or there an oil puddle, and feel the sun on our arms through the open window. We laughed at every bump and watched back to see the other Ladas following us.
When the motor was too hot, the driver stopped and got a bottle of water out of the trunk. Suddenly, it seemed to be another century. The driver opened the hood and spill water on it to make it cooler. How can a Lada never break?
And finally, we arrived at the bottom of a hill, a last acceleration to go up and here we were: the mud volcanos. Alive and amazed. There were only the mud volcanos, the desert all around and the sea away.
After a long time plunging our hands into the mud, taking many pictures of this beautiful scenery and getting unforgettable memories, we finally went back in the same Lada on the same road, enjoying the last minutes of this unusual roadtrip.