After a spot of trouble letting him in due to his wearing bermudas and not being fully covered, my guide Ibrahim finally managed to convince the caretaker in their Azeri language that he is with me, a tourist from India and we only wish to take a few photos and will be out in a jiffy. The guard grudgingly let him enter. Inside the Juma Mosque of Shemakha is is this beautiful structure, embedded with elaborate ceramics and all with religious script. This mosaic work in mosques is typically Iranian by design- no wonder Iran is a friendly neighbour of Azerbaijan, and the influence shows. The elderly gent in the background is looking at a rack holding Korans (the Moslem holy book) which devouts can use during prayers and then put back after use. We saw similar Koran racks outside the main hall as well.