17:26 So as you have seen, I’ve finally arrived in sunny Baku! I landed yesterday at 3.30pm from Dubai on a flight where apart from an Australian girl who was also here for Eurovision, I was the only non Azeri on the flight! but didn’t get to my accommodation until around 7.30pm – I had quite an interesting journey that involved quite a few buses to say the least. After landing at the airport and collecting my case, which was one of the first on the carousel (makes a change) I headed out to the Eurovision stand, picking up an Azeri SIM card on the way. Texts to mobiles are only 3 qapik (around 3 cents!). I was told the best option was to get a taxi to the hotel, but then I spotted a sign for a Eurovision shuttle bus. The friendly volunteer told me this was only for the delegations but I managed to blag my way onto one, and I got a free ride direct to the Crystal Hall on a lovely air-conditioned Mercedes minibus which I had all to myself! The driver switched on the radio and the first song we heard was Euphoria. Wonder if that’s a sign? I managed to get a great view of Baku on the way to the Arena, Baku is definitely a city of contrasts. Part of it has been totally transformed, with lovely squares and green gardens, not to mention some striking buildings, including the famous Flame Towers. Other parts away from the centre of town are a lot more, shall we say, traditional!

He dropped me off at the press centre, which as right on the but then I had to take another shuttle bus to the accreditation centre. After getting my all important accreditation badge, I decided to make my way to the apartment, as I was a little tired and still with my suitcase, laptop bag and duty free. I got a shuttle bus into town that dropped me off at the Baku Business Centre, and two lovely girls who were on the bus, Firuza and Saida, who were Eurovision volunteers, helped me by organising another free Mercedes minibus to pick me up and take me direct to the hotel! They even waited with me for the bus to arrive! I must say, the Azeris I have met so far have been so helpful with everything!

After checking in at the Miracle, I freshened up and hot footed it to EuroClub. Sadly, I got there too later for the Georgian party but I still managed to have fun dancing to some Eurovision tunes with some Eurofriends! EuroClub is MASSIVE, plenty of room for dancing, and the rather nice Azeri beer, Xırdalan, was 3 Euro, which is good value, but it’s 5%, so rather strong! I bailed out around 1am as my roommate Roger was landing then, and crashed out soon after he arrived, as tiredness overcame me!

All in all, an excellent first day here in Baku, and plenty more to come! Let’s just hope my liver holds out though…