There are many beautiful places to visit in Armenia, especially the cafes which some have now become tourist attractions. It is impossible to walk on a street without a cafe. Xanjyan Street is one cafe after the other, and it is still difficult to find a seat during the evening. However, more cafes springing up over the city are causing many debates, especially environmental ones. 30 years ago, silver spruce trees that are very rare in Armenia were brought from Russia, to filter the air, and protect the environment. Now many of these spruces are being cut down, and sold 10 times less than the market value, for decoration around the cafes. The one now in debate is the Mermaid cafe. Cutting down these spruces, is The Minister of Nature Protection (Vardan Ayvazyan) ...well isn't that ironic. And who is he cutting them down for, his wife, who owns the Mermaid cafe. How sweet. Unfortuneatly Mrs. Ayvazyans spruces will end up just like Mr. Karlos Petrosyans (Minister of National Security). He also cut down 18, 30 year old spruces and pines to decorate his Partez Cafe, which have all dried out. Now I am not saying that our cafes should not be decorated, it's just pointless when there are other means of doing so. Having all those tree's cut down... For what? So that they may dry up in a few years? And after they dry up do we just cut down more to replace them, until we have nothing left? Being the small country that we are, it is important to conserve on as many things as possible.