As our virtual backpacking trip through Europe has progressed, I've been ruminating on many questions. One that keeps coming back to me is, why it is that we collectively tend to primarily hear about the world's conflicts, and rarely about our triumphs? I have also been thinking a lot about the tenacity of the human spirit, and how culture and beauty still rise, even in really challenging situations.

It is on that note that we today begin our travels to Azerbaijan. This is a country that sits under the weight of corruption, authoritarianism, media control, and human rights violations, and is currently in a heated and dangerous conflict with neighboring Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. It is also a country filled with our fellow everyday humans who work hard, love, struggle, care, create, and build community and beauty together. Today, I will be exploring all things quirky and beautiful about this country that many of us outside this region tend to know very little about.

1. One of the most significant holidays is Novrus, that begins on March 20 and it is related to the celebration of the New Year and the coming of Spring. In Azerbaijan, it is a 5 day holiday and the festivities are extensive. In preparation for Novrus, each week leading up to it celebrate one of the four elements - Water, Fire, Earth and Wind, and people celebrate with house cleaning, planting trees, making new dresses, painting eggs, and making national pastries. There is a tradition in which children place a cup outside a neighbor's door, knock, and hide while the neighbor fills their cup with treats.

2. Baku, the largest capital city on the Caspian Sea, is one of the cities in the world charging most quickly to the future in terms of its re-development and many have compared it to Dubai, in that sense, and in the style of futuristic architecture and emphasis on gold. It boasts architecturally impressive skyscrapers juxtaposed with its extremely historic structures, as well as a man-made 'Little Venice' series of canals that connect the restaurants and cultural attractions. Additionally, Baku boasts the largest national flag in the world, which is made of silk, weighs 2 tons and is the size of a football field!

3. The currency, Manat, looks similar to Euros in many ways.

4. In Azerbaijan, tea is a national treasure, and it is served with jam, sugar and even candies. HOWEVER, not to put on bread or crackers or to stir into the tea! Instead, you are to take a bit of the jam, and put it into your mouth, and then pour the tea from your pear shaped glass, into your mouth through the jam or sugar.

Of special note, when two families are negotiating ahead of a wedding, it is important to pay attention to the tea tray. If it includes sugar, then this means negotiations have gone well. If it does not include sugar, it typically means there is more negotiation needed!

5. The national sport of Azerbaijan is Chovkan, which is similar to polo in that it is played on horses. The sport is played to traditional music and athletes wear a national costume while playing. It makes sense that their most popular sport is played on horses, as the Krarbakh Horse is a nationally prized and beloved treasure.

6. The culture of Azerbaijan is embedded with all sorts of superstition and folklore. One aspect of this is the sacredness of bread, which is often hung from trees and in high places to protect and honor it, and if a piece of bread falls on the ground, it is important to kiss it!

7. Crocheting is very popular in Azerbaijan and all girls learn this craft from a young age in preparation for the 'Seven Beauties' competition (which has been happening annually for hundreds of years). In this competition, the fastest crocheters race each other under a clock to make the best pair of stockings. The best pair completed in time is declared the winner.

8. For better or worse, another claim to fame is that Baku is home to the world's largest KFC restaurant!

9. Azerbaijan is the birthplace of crude oil (the first oil well was drilled in 1847). Many fortunes around the world that were built on oil, were built in Azerbaijan. At one time, the country produced a full half of the world's oil.

10. In fact, the city of Naft Daslari was built entirely on oil platforms, so the city stands on stilts over the ocean!

11. Chicago and Baku share a nickname, as they are both referred to as the "Windy City" for their blustery attributes!

12. Azerbaijan has a long history and association with fire, and reveres its impressive power. It also claims to be the home of the first known fireplace in human history. For this reason, the country is often called the "Land of Fire."

13. The women of Azerbaijan boast one of the world's earliest acclimation of voting rights, in 1918, which puts them earlier than any country in their region, and earlier than many of the countries outside their region as well, including the United States.

14. Azerbaijan is generally considered home to 9 of the 11 world's climate zones.

15. As toilet paper is more of a 'Western' invention it isn't as popular in Azerbaijan. Many toilets have small showerheads on the wall instead of a roll of toilet paper!

16. Gold teeth are extremely common among adults in Azerbaijan.

17. Azerbaijan is home to 45% of the world's mud volcanos. As opposed to more traditionally common volcanos, mud volcanos are very cold - near freezing!

I'm learning so many interesting things from Azerbaijan. What's been most surprising to you so far?