Christianshavn in Copenhagen: an island paradise

The district of Christianshavn in Copenhagen dates back to 1618. Across the channel from Old Copenhagen (the heart of the city), the buildings are just as medieval. Not only do people live in the many old and modern apartments, but they also live in houseboats.

Many restaurants are located on the cobblestone streets, including Noma, the restaurant that topped the S.Pellegrino list of the world’s best restaurants for the second consecutive year in 2010 for its innovative gastronomy. Unfortunately reservations are made months in advance, or as people say in Denmark, it’s easier to get an invitation with Queen Margrethe than it is to acquire a seat at Noma.

Christiania is a must see area of Christianshavn. Back in the 1970s a group of hippy intellectuals made it their own community by taking over the abandoned military barracks and named it Free Town. There’s an ongoing debate over its politics, independent rules, and the selling of cannabis. Walking down Pusher Street, people can be offered Red Afghan or Black Nepal, but they aren’t travel tickets! However, the innovative architecture is worth visiting. There are tree-homes hobbit-like structures, colourful cabins, and futuristic UFO-inspired residences. There is still a local blacksmith where the famous Christiana bicycles are made.

However, the main harbour attraction, on Dock Island, opposite the Amalienborg Palace, is the Copenhagen Opera House (the Operaen). It is one of the most modern and most expensive opera houses ever built, costing over US$500 million. It commenced construction in 2002 and was completed in October 2004. It was opened on January 15, 2005. Designed by architect, Henning Larsen, and constructed by engineers Ramboll and Buro Happold in collaboration with theatre consultant, Theatreplan, it is a glass construction that reflects the harbour's waterways.

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2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

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