babakotoeu:
The city where we started our Caspian Sea journey was Aktau, a dusty port town in western Kazakhstan [Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
The agency that sold us the ticket asked us to be in the port at 6 in the morning, because the boat was planned to leave at 7. But when we arrived, the harbour was deserted. We had to wait till 11 before we could go through immigration and customs [Aktau
babakotoeu:
The boats that travel over the Caspian Sea between Aktau and Baku are no passengers ships. The ships are cargo boats that are willing to take some passengers [Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
This is the Akademik Hesen Aliyev, a Azeri cargo boat that travels regularly between Aktau and Baku [Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
The Akademik Hesen Aliyev is built in 1986 in Yugoslavia [Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
Aktau is the main Caspian Sea Port of Kazakhstan. Ships travel to/from Turkmenistan, Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan [Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
The Akademik Hesen Aliyev is a 30-year old boat. From the outside it looks fine, but when you are on the ship, you will notice that it needs some repair [Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
This is the 4-person cabin that we shared with the two of us. The canin was small and dirty, but it was fine for us [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
The Akademik Hesen Aliyev used to be a ferry boat in the times that ferries were still popular on the Caspian Sea. But nowadays flying is much cheaper, making ferries only necessary for truck drivers and people with their own vehicle [Akademik Hesen Aliy
babakotoeu:
The top deck of the boat, a great place to enjoy the views [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
Our scheduled departure time was 7 in the morning, but by the time the sun set, we were still in Aktau [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
The Akademik Hesen Aliyev can also take trains as cargo. This is the railway connection between the ferry and the land [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Aktau / Kazakhstan]
babakotoeu:
Eventually we left at 9 on the next morning with a delay of 26 hours [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Ivonne is trying out the fitness equipment of the personnel [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Self-made fitness equipment [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Rusty details [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Many things on the Akademik Hesen Aliyev are not operational anymore [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
On our way from Aktau to Baku [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
We were lucky to have a quiet crossing. The last major accident on the Caspian Sea was in 2002, when a similar ship was caught in a storm, resulting in more than 40 casualties [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Lifeboat [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Eaten by the salty air [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
The way the personnel cleans the mop. Just bind it behind the ferry [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
One of the two engines of the ship [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
The personnel of the Akademik Hesen Aliyev told us that we could explore the almost emty ship. But when they found us in the engine room, they where not very happy [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Our GPS show where we are, the speed and the surface elevation [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
The black box of the boat, mounted on the top deck [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
When travelling the Caspian Sea, you have the feeling of being on an ocean. During most of the journey, you won't see land [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
Antennas of the personnel's tv set in the hope to grab a signel [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
The main deck for the passengers, where there used to be an information desk. Nowadays only a hand full of passengers travel these kinds of ships [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
babakotoeu:
The former leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, which is seen as the founder of modern Azerbaijan. He died in 2003 and is succeeded by his son Ilham [Akademik Hesen Aliyev / Caspian Sea]
