Next he's going to do a 2 day trip to the north of Azerbaijan, starting in the town of Quba, which is supposed to be a very nice area where the forested foothills begin. The minibus follows the rather disappointing Caspian Coast... the only forest you see here is a forest of electric poles down along the shore.  
Quba turns out to be a bit of a disappointment as well . He does meet some friendly folks in the market, including a couple vendors who insist he take their picture. He finds a hotel and a fellow offers to taxi him up to a traditional village up in the mountains. It's tempting--but not the Traveler's style. He just doesn't like then idea of being hauled around in a private taxi. Instead he just takes a stroll up through the town where he does find some interesting architecture... a mosque with a metallic onion dome, and houses that look a bit Victorian-Ottoman blend, brick with steep roofs and wooden enclosed balconies...