ADVERT I SEMENT FEATURE
WHAT IS LOVE
CAMBRIDGE? Love Cambridge is the brand developed by Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) to deliver a range of events and projects that animate and entertain our city. Offerings include the Love Cambridge Gift Card, open-air cinema nights, Wimbledon screenings, magazines, maps and more. Visit love-cambridge.com or @LoveCambridge_ on socials. Returning for a second year, Cambridge Live’s Window Wanderland event will bring colour and light to the city streets this month. Taking place from 10 to 23 January, WindowWanderland invites people with access to a street- facing window to transform them into scenes of delight. The initiative is a national project, with different towns and cities around the UK holding festivals throughout the year, and the organisers encourage participants to let their imaginations run wild with designs and materials. For more information, and to learn how you can participate and spread the word in your neighbourhood, visit cambridgelive.org.uk/city- events/window-wanderland. The project is generously supported by Arm, Vodafone, Cambridge BID and the Welcome Back Fund. WINDOW WANDERLAND
MEET THE BID TEAM OF CITY AMBASSADORS Say hello to our professional and passionate City Ambassadors, who are available within the city centre every day of the year to help, advise and guide around Cambridge. The Ambassadors welcome nearly 60,000 visitors to Cambridge every single year, answering queries and giving out free maps.
Taj is the head of the Cambridge City Ambassador team: a polyglot who speaks eight languages, with an academic background and avid interest in history, social linguistics, anthropology and sustainable tourism. Taj started his professional journey as a trekking tour guide to the great Hindu Kush Himalayas, and had travelled, studied and worked in several countries before falling in love with Cambridge. He says: “Imagine a place where you can meet visitors from every corner of the earth! Culturally and linguistically, Cambridge is probably the most diverse visitor destination in the world. Welcoming and directing such a varied pool of visitors makes this job very special, unusual and interesting. I am in love with the city, it’s a magical place to be – a solitary walk along the River Cam is going to melt your heart.’’
Haydn comes from a background of creative writing and journalism, which, by his own admission, can often be an insular pastime. Having gravitated towards roles that provide help and support to others, becoming a City Ambassador was an obvious choice. His favourite thing about Cambridge is the people, of course. “For me, Cambridge has always stood apart from other towns and cities around the world, and for a few simple reasons. Firstly, the sheer amount of history and endeavour scrawled on every street and present in every college is testament to the town’s immense importance. I’m not just talking about science and literature, either, but also the performing arts world of alfresco Shakespeare recitals, or the exemplary satire that’s consistently pumped out by Cambridge Footlights – to name just a couple. It is far more than the sum of its parts, and a visit is essential. When you do, the City Ambassadors are here to help.”
Sacha has a background in anthropology – and a lot of experience with guided tours, as she used to work all over England and parts of Europe showing people around! Her favourite thing about Cambridge is how unique it is compared to most cities: the history, culture and combination of everything that has shaped what it is today – it’s the perfect place to explore without the rush! “As a city of culture in all respects, Cambridge represents the quintessential heritage, knowledge and community of Britain. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to share my love for Cambridge with both locals and visitors alike, while I discover new, hidden corners of the city every day.”
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JANUARY 2022 27
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