In Azerbaijan, you can find many unique things; two we found to be the most interesting were the Mud Volcanos and Mini Venice. About an hour outside of the city, you can find the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex, a facility built to help promote tourism while preserving the volcanoes themselves. Here, you can find the relatively uncommon phenomenon of hot water and minerals mixing and rising to the surface. The volcanoes we saw were much smaller than we had initially expected, though they are continuously spouting bits of mud. A raised boardwalk takes you around the volcanoes and up to a view platform for the biggest in the area. Though not here, there are some mud volcanoes that are big enough for visitors to climb into. Since you can't enter these, the complex sells little vials of mud for visitors to purchase for a low price. In addition to the mud volcanoes is a small museum of skeletons representing the different animals that can be found in Azerbaijan. It’s a nice addition since the trip out to the complex is quite long.  

Back in Baku, a large park runs along the Caspian Sea. The trees and open spaces make it a perfect spot for a leisurely walk or bike ride. Amongst the small shops selling treats, you'll find something unexpected: Mini Venice. Here, you can find a small replica of Venice, Italy. It is home to a few restaurants, bridges, and the signature Venetian canals. Visitors can line up at the edge of the park for a cheap motorized Gondola ride through its waterways. The water is a crystal clear blue and is home to a few leaves from the surrounding trees. The buildings and bridges are inspired by the architecture that you'd find in the original. Built in the 1960s, the small town was again expanded in 2012 and covers an area of approximately 100,000 square feet. Upon learning about the area, we knew we had to visit and take some photos. It's not every day that you visit Venice and mud volcanoes in the same day, though you can find both in Italy too!