Waterfront cities of the World

The greatest cities in the world have always been built close to water. Centuries ago when boat travel was the only means of communication, port cities were the gateways to commercial and cultural metropolises – where a nation met the rest of the world, where the familiar met the exotic, and where the known met the unknown. But in times where planes make traveling to the farthest destination a matter of hours and railways spider-web the continents, what place do ports cities still have in our modern world?

There are over 500,000 port cities across the globe – hubs of military activity, commercial trade, population migrations and cultural trends. These bustling centres are as much part of the global community as they are their own countries. Watch how these cities, enriched by their past of cultural exchange, continue to have a powerful impact on human civilization in Waterfront Cities of the World.

Waterfront Cities of the World follows renowned Canadian-born photographer Heidi Hollinger as she journeys into the heart of some of the most incredible waterfront cities. In Havana, Heidi meets the photographers of the revolution and discovers how socialism, baseball and salsa dancing play a role in Cuban culture and how scarce resources have led to innovative solutions such as rooftop gardens that are able to sustain 90% of the local population. She travels to Tel Aviv to explore the classic Bauhaus buildings of the White City, one of the world’s best examples of tolerance and co-existence in a divided region. In Bangkok, Heidi experiences the chaos of the capital and also the more quiet side to this Buddhist city. She also dives into the melting pot of cultures in metropolitan Melbourne – the cultural and sports epicentre of Australia, and experiences the magic of social media in San Francisco, the city where Twitter, Wikipedia and Craigslist were founded.

What makes these cities so different than others? How has their access to the rest of the world made them so distinct, and why do we find them so attractive? With her keen eye and a nose for news, the former photo editor – who has won various accolades, published books, and held exhibitions featuring high-profile subjects such as Vladimir Putin, Fidel Castro, and the Dalai Lama – captures the beauty of each of these places along with its colourful history.

Hear the stories of native and new residents alike as they share the charm and character of each city in Waterfront Cities of the World.