I just got back from a one week trip. I spent 3 days in Azerbaijan and 4 days in Georgia. It was a short trip, but I saw a lot and learned a lot.

Baku surprised me with how many cats there are. They walk around everywhere and they are not afraid of people at all. Everyone treats them kindly. But to be honest, Baku is beautiful only in the downtown area. Once you leave the center, there is not much to see and the city looks quite simple. I have to admit though that I loved the mountains and the trees outside of Baku, on the way to Lahic village. The people and the atmosphere there are just incredible.

Georgia was the opposite. Instead of cats, you see a lot of dogs. They are very calm and not aggressive at all. The tag on their ear shows they have been checked and are safe around people. The funny thing is that the dogs are friendly, but the people are not as warm as in Baku. Still, Tbilisi was my favorite city. The historical places, old buildings and monuments make it feel like you are walking in another time.

There is one thing you should be careful about in Georgia. There are many money exchange spots, but the rates vary from one to another. So you have to pay attention, especially if you want to exchange some money at the airport. I learned my lesson the hard way.

I also visited Batumi. The sea is great of course, the sea is always great. But the city itself is not in good condition. The streets and buildings in most parts of the city look neglected, so it did not leave a good impression on me.

When I returned to Uzbekistan, I saw cats walking around near my building. But when you get close, they run away in fear. After seeing how relaxed and free the animals are in Baku and Tbilisi, it feels like our poor animals here live in constant stress.