Visiting Azerbaijan can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many. The important thing is to seize the moment and try touring it as much as you can, on a trip, which could be your first and your last. You never know, right? I had the good fortune of visiting the ancient City of Winds, as it’s widely known, on a whirlwind trip, and I ensured that every second was worth it. I acted like a human sponge, and inhaled not just the chilly autumn air of Baku City, but also the ambience, the atmosphere, the people, the magical buildings, the pink sky and the stunning nightlife of Azerbaijan. I had been reading a lot of articles online, searching for places to visit during my trip and all I came across were museums, mosques or ancient structures. Even though I had included all these sites in my “Must-Visit” list, I wanted to discover a few places of my own, where I could truly let my hair down and bask in the beautiful Baku sun. So, for all those visiting Baku, Azerbaijan for the first time, you can read about and visit some of the places I personally visited, some by chance and some intentionally. MARINA 18 — Located on the 18th floor of the Holiday Inn hotel and resort, Marina 18 is any foodie’s paradise. Being quite a foodie myself, I simply wanted to crash after the long connecting flights from Lahore to Doha and then to Baku. However, as much as I simply wanted to sleep, I was hungry for a scrumptious meal. And on that thought, I made my way over to the 18th floor of the hotel where I was staying and found myself in the middle of a classy fine-dining restaurant with mirrored walls, round tables and uniformed maitre d’s. I landed myself at a huge buffet where I was also handed out a very hot plate. Excitedly, I checked out each and every dish before filling my plate. From vegetable lasagnes to basmati rice, from a plethora of meat dishes to chicken Parmesan gravy, Marina 18 has something for everyone, and let’s not forget the huge variety of salads! The cherry on top, however, is definitely the dessert. There is not a lot of diversity in the sweet temptations, but their presentation is what stands out the most – cocktail glasses filled with custards and short beautifully decorated strawberry and chocolate puffs. Their strawberry cheesecake is a must try. I remember gorging down on two chunky pieces of strawberry cheesecake, telling all my friends to try it out too. NIZAMI STREET — The very beautiful Nizami Street is the MM Alam Road of Lahore, the Zamzama Street of Karachi and the Kohsar Market of Islamabad. Highly secured, it is one of the most beautiful streets I have ever laid my eyes on. There is never a dull moment on the road. Laden with commercial and business ventures, Nizami Street has a monochrome spiral designed floor with a lot of hustle and bustle. There are shops, pubs, restaurants, banks and salons present at every nook and corner. You can get lost there for hours, shopping at the most affordable of retail outlets, eating to your heart’s and breathing in the clear crisp air while seated at one of the benches placed neatly alongside the road. There will be no one staring at you, no beggars on the street and no policeman asking you where you’re headed or are off to. CANDY STORES — Each and every candy store near Nizami Street is a treat to the eyes as well as to the taste buds. There are numerous bubble gums and coloured sugary treats lining the store shelves in every imaginable flavour. The shopkeepers do not necessarily speak English, however they do accommodate you in every way they possibly can. Another highlight of these candy stores are the props with which you can play around and have your photos taken. I certainly felt like an eight-year-old again. I acted like a human sponge, and inhaled not just the chilly autumn air of Baku City, but also the ambience including the magical buildings, the pink sky and the stunning nightlife BAKU STATE UNIVERSITY — The famous Baku State University has an interior that takes you in with full force. Established in 1919, the gates are ancient and unique and the entire structure of the building is daunting and hypnotic. It was after dinner so I couldn’t get to tour the classrooms and other premises of the university, but I did tour their hostel area, and felt as though I was inside a Hollywood movie. A lot of flora and fauna, neatly cut grass, towering sub buildings and a cool, crisp air were the highlights. PORT BAKU MALL — This is huge. You can spend two days in the mall, and still won’t have seen each shop in it. There are about five stories inside the mall, each glittery and sparkly with some of the most expensive brands that we have only heard of in Pakistan. For the very first time, I entered a dedicated Alexander McQueen store! All of the attendants looked amazing with their impressive outfits and welcoming faces. Some of the other shops included Burberry, Hugo Boss, Guess, Emporium, Women’s Secret, Mac and the list is of course, endless. If you’re looking for something affordable and easy on your pocket, you might want to try the Marciano store where everything is between 135 to 250 Mannat. There are restaurants, cafes and salons within the mall, which is centrally heated, considering the chilly November weather of Baku. ART GARDEN RESTAURANT — Just dining in this beautiful restaurant makes you feel like you’re inside an ancient historic castle. The food is strictly of Azerbaijan culture, the waiters are always smiling and there’s a Turkish band that plays in the background. There are dedicated rooms inside with stunning artworks lining the walls. Do try their keema parathas, chicken roast with steamed potatoes, lamb chops, kebab wraps and mutton biryani. For dessert, they serve you a small helping of the traditional baklava. INFINITY LOUNGEBAR & NIGHTCLUB — Just to get a hang of the place and its locals, I decided to find out how Baku people party and let their guard down. This is a highly secured club and just to get inside, you have to pay 20 Mannat. It’s clean with good music, a decent environment and lots of upbeat music. The food served here is traditional and Western at the same time, so basically the menu is very diverse. The writer is incharge Lifestyle at Daily Times. She Tweets at @cheenaagha and can be reached at saira_a16@hotmail.com Published in Daily Times, November 8th 2017.