New neighbour.

People's Artist of the USSR and Azerbaijani composer Fikret Amirov has turned up in the park across the road from the office. Opened this morning by the President himself, although the trees prevented us from seeing anything other than the snipers on nearby rooftops. This park, previously rather scruffy and inhabited by booksellers and cats is now, like many in Baku, shiny marble although the surrounding buildings are still wonderfully Soviet. At least there are some benches in the park - finally somewhere to eat a sandwich at lunchtime! The booksellers (and cats) relocated a little way down the road while the park was renovated. I wonder if they will be allowed to move back in now.