Typical Bakuvian pavement these days.

Widening the road - they wouldn't need to do this if cars didn't park at 45 degree angles to the kerb. This pavement is actually pretty good - you could probably still get a pushchair down it and the rest of it is flat and even. Most pavements are not navigable by pushchairs, and forget getting around in a wheelchair in this city.

Have a look at the heels of the girl on the right - sky high. I have a lot of respect for the ladies of Baku who are usually seen in such heels (though the lady on the left is in flats - a new fashion here!). When I walk to and from work I'm in trainers. Maybe even my thigh toning trainers and I get some funny looks. Female Azeri friends have said that wearing trainers is a great idea (one friend even said that she does in Germany), particularly the fat burning ones, but they couldn't do it here - it would be too embarassing :)