A minor adventure

This past weekend I decided to visit friends out in a region.  Barda is located west of Baku in an agriculture region. On Friday I headed to the Baku Avtovagzel to catch a bus. As I got to the vagzel there was a bus pulling out but it was full so I waited for the next one.  When the bus pulled it I purchased my fare and got settled in my seat waiting for the bus to fill up and leave.  It appeared that it would be awhile until the bus left, so I went to the bathroom and decided to see if I could locate new earphones in the shopping area at the vagzel.  Both pairs of earphones I brought with me broke and I hate listening to music with only one earphone working.  I was successful in locating a new pair, in my favorite color blue.  So about ten minutes after leaving the bus, I returned.  Much to my horror the bus wasn't in the bay.  After a short initial panic, I asked someone where the bus went, or at least that was my intention.  He pointed to where some marshukas were.  My overnight bag was on the bus with two bottles of wine as hosting gifts.  I thought of where on the route out of the vagzel I could try to locate the bus and while moving towards that goal, I found that the bus had just moved bays. Needless to say I was mighty relieved and got on that bus and after 40 minutes we pulled out for our five hour ride.  I don't know if the bus was just in the wrong bay or they decided to mess with the American.  While in my initial panic I was able to determine what to do; 1) call my friend and have her get my bag off the bus at its destination, and 2) get on another bus, it was a very unpleasant moment. I texted a friend and found my fingers to be shaking.  It shows the power of a shot of adrenalin. Of course it makes a good story. While this story had a happy ending, I was pleased that I was able to determine that had it turned out differently, it wouldn't have been tragic.  I still had my money, passport, computer and phone.  The clothes were few and too big.  Toothbrushes are easy to find.  And, I can still think on the fly.
The visit was great and of course the adventures didn't end with the first leg bus trip.  When I got to Jesse's house half of her electricity was out.  The rest went out about a half hour in.  The gas also went out. So, instead of spaghetti with tomatoes, cheese and spinach, we had cheese, tomato and basil sandwiches followed by watermelon.  Her landlords came over to fix the problem that caused half of the electrical issue.  This involved pliers and electrical tape. Thank goodness that the power was out and her landlord turned off the electric at the box.  His wife decided to climb a ladder and pick grapes.  This involved a ladder with a lot of dry rot and her shooing any help away because she was in a dress.  Quite a show.
The next day we went to the bazaar and bought supplies for a summer camp, set up the room for the camp then on to lunch.  We went to a donar shop and had meat in what is basically a tortilla with parsley and lemon.  Pretty tasty.  Then back home around on so that we weren't out during the heat of the afternoon.  Barda is about 10-15 degrees hotter than Baku, so it was in the high 90's. After resting, two more friends came for dinner.  The pasta dish we weren't able to eat the night before and apple crisp.  So nice to catch up with friends.
Got up Sunday morning and headed out for my trip back home.  Of course, I had to make it another adventure.  I got on the local marshuka going the wrong way.  So instead of heading to the avtovagzel, I got a tour of Barda.  I missed my bus, but ended up in a shared taxi.  About double the cost but about two hours shorter.  It is amazing how different the landscape looks from a different height. I was in the front seat of a Mercedes (wish it had a seat belt). I made it home safe and sound.  
While the trip didn't flow the way I had planned, it was wonderful.  I got to see how I respond to travel mishaps (I can adjust), I got to see things I wouldn't have otherwise, I got to have new experiences.  I even was able to practice my Azerbaijan and while it isn't pretty, I can communicate.
As we say here in Azerbaijan - Yaxsi Yol!!

Jesse, my superb hostess and me