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maltatoday SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2017 39 Travel BEST LOCAL THING Rijeka has been named Capital of Culture for 2020 and this is what the city does best. There are many cultural events to choose from, ranging from art galleries open all year round, music festivals, an open air theatre, summer art bazaars and Christmas markets – all aimed at promot- ing local talent and goods. Take a walk along Molo Longo, a pier situated in the city's harbour area. From here you will be able to see the city from out at sea, whilst still being very close to the city centre. Back when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia, the Harbour of Rijeka was one of the main ports – and traces of this can still be seen with the mix of local and international cultures, and the city life with nature be- ing just a stone's throw away. With autumn come the rains and a welcome change in the weather, and nature responds and wakes from the torpor of summer. Partake in this awakening by popping down to Għadira nature reserve, now open again for the public to visit and enjoy. As its name indicates, Għadira harbours one of the rarest habitats in this dry country: a permanent lake. The brackish pool that forms in this valley from rainfall and seepage from the sea gives rise to another rare habitat: saltmarsh. Thanks to round-the-clock protection, these habitats have flourished and provide shelter for many forms of life, not least birds that drop in for a rest, like the teals (see photo) that flew in on Thursday. BirdLife's cardinal aim in managing this site is to protect it for its intrinsic ecological value, but also to showcase how nature can respond if given the chance and some tlc. Għadira is open Saturdays and Sundays 10am–4pm. Facilities include visitor centre, birdwatching hide, nature trail, info boards and guides. Also wc and ample parking. And yes, entrance is free. Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti 582. GĦADIRA NATURE RESERVE Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 485: Find out more and register – https://foemalta.org/e-act/camp/ FoE Malta is collaborating with enthusiastic composter Alexandra Cachia to host a composting workshop for apartment dwellers. In this workshop we will cover the basics of transforming organic waste into a resource—a nutrient rich compost for our plants. We will be looking at creating a cycle were the remains of the food we eat and resources we use will be put back into the system as food for our plants. We will mainly focus on vermi-composting, a composting technique which produces compost faster and is ideal for confined spaces. Bring with you any pre-used, unneeded plastic buckets and containers so that we can build together vermi-compost bins and the end of the workshop. This workshop is part of a series for the School of Sustainability Projects (financed by the European Commission) which allows FoE Malta to implement informal educational activities to develop mindsets based on the principles of sustainability and trigger action for environmental protection and social justice. Workshop will take place on the 18th of November between 10:00 and 13:00. Composting Workshop Composting is not only for people with a backyard! BEST AREAS TO WIND DOWN AND ENJOY NATURE Wherever you turn your head, you will be surrounded with breathtaking nature, whether it is green fields, crystal clear sea or snowy mountains. There are many nature activities you can do around Rijeka. I would definitely recom- mend two different coastal walks; Kos- trena, a 3km walk around the shoreline of Kvarner Bay or the 12km promenade that goes between Volosko and Lovran. If you prefer winter sports, Platak is a perfect destination where you can learn how to ski with a seaview. If you're the adventurous type, you should try para- gliding that will give you a breathtaking experience with a view of the Croatian Islands. 30 minutes away in the direc- tion of the nation's capital, unwind in untouched nature of Gorski Kotar, where you can explore deep forests and nature walks. Ucka is a mountain overlooking Rijeka with is considered a nature reserve and offers spectacular views of Istra's Red Landscape. Be sure to try out the local wine and olive oil. BEST PLACE FOR A NIGHT OUT Rijeka is a very lively city during the day as well as at night. How- ever where you choose to start and end your night is entirely up to you. The only reason I say that is because the music varies from one place to another, and that creates the whole atmosphere. My favourite places are the places with charm, soul and a unique concept. Start an evening in Cukar I Kafe or Dnevni Boravak, where there is al- ways something happening. If you are looking for a live jazz session, Tunel is the place you need to find. A fun fact about Tunel is that it is situated in one of the many tunnels in Rijeka and trains still run over the roof. If you really want to spice up your night in Rijeka, put on your dancing shoes and head to Zivot, where you can enjoy different DJ's from around the city - feeling the true rock 'n' roll spirit.