Cuerno de Águila, part 2
Boy, it's been such a long time since I updated this CJ! These months have kept me very busy, but anyway. Let's do some sightseeing in Cuerno de Águila:
Downtown
The first built part of Cuerno de Águila is a small strip between the namesake hill and the sea, and it features the central Estación de la Auditoría (with a clock tower that can be seen in the image above, in between the towers) and the Mercado de la Cebada across the avenue. A few blocks away, the small, but dense CBD lies around Main Square, including the charming Nuestra Señora de Gracia church with its red roofs.
The CdA Stock Exchange, a Karl Marx bust and the Main Library
Downtown is served by Monorail line A, Subway line 4 (at Karl Marx and Auditoría stations), heavy rail and the T5 Tram line. There's also two ferry landings at Auditoría and one close by, serving the CBD.
Anclaje Hill/West Anclaje
Anclaje Oeste, named after the neighbouring town, grew as an extension of said city into the hilly area immediately to its west. Despite its name, this neighbourhood is actually located to the northeast of Cuerno de Águila. It's a residential, posh place, extending from the seaside beaches of Anclaje Oeste and around the small Downtown Bay to St. Paul's Church atop Anclaje Hill (also not located in Anclaje) and the foothills of Fair Hill.
St. Paul's church towering over Belfry Square to the north (left)
Some people also include Colina Hill, to the east of Anclaje Hill, in this broad neighbourhood, as well as the Boticas shopping district right behind it. Colina Hill features the national rugby stadium, as well as Cortez's Palace, and its white-roofed low-density architecture is popular with urban trekking tours.
Historians have yet to determine who this Cortez guy was, or if the statue in front of his namesake museum is supposed to be a representation of him
Anclaje Oeste is prominently served by rail at Cerro Anclaje station, as well as several Line 1 subway stations and, further from the coast, the T4 Tram line. Line 1 monorail serves Anclaje Oeste's beach before crossing over Downtown Bay.
"Boticas" (featured here around the T4 tram line) is a Spanish word meaning a small store, in particular a pharmacy
Valley/Hillside
The area around Valley Avenue has also been called "Valley", since it's a small depression between Colina Hill and the Cuerno de Águila range. Despite some issues with flooding (this is an endorrheic basin, surrounded on all sides by hills), this is the most densely populated area in Cuerno de Águila.
Meanwhile, the hills immediately to the east have been simply called "Hillside".
Aguileños, the local multi-sport club, has two stadiums in this location, both for Baseball and Football, with the baseball ground in particular being famed for its panoramic views, its funicular entrance (actually part of the public transport network) and its stone terracing. Thanks to this terracing, and on a good day, it's been said that home runs can fly well over 200 meters, even hitting nearby Dorsal Avenue.
Valley Avenue's median is used by T5 tram line, while Subway Line 1 crosses the avenue at the namesake station.
The corner of Dorsal Avenue and Home Run Street holds the world record for "most moving cars hit by a home run", with 1 (disputed)
Uptown
The natural development of Cuerno de Águila was spearheaded by the development of Valle Súbito, a new residential project enclaved in the hills. Despite the developing company's fall from grace, surrounded by accusations of malversation of funds and light treason, this particular neighbourhood has been a success. Most notably, it harbours the Cuerno de Aguila Conservatory and Opera House.
While it's a mostly residential neighbourhood, there are some tourists sights. Besides the aforementioned conservatory, the Cuerno de Águila zoo is also located nearby.
Some say quaint, others antiquated, but most people say "why is there so much manure?"
Valle Súbito is served by the namesake station in Line 1.
Further along Dorsal Avenue, climbing up Cuerno de Aguila hill, the High Valley is located. Formerly and still the location of CdA Studios, nowadays it's been developed as a residential neighbourhood.
A tale of two funiculars
The small Islamic quarter is centered around this area, with Palestine Square being flanked by the Cuerno de Aguila mosque (in red and yellow) and the small Torre de la Plaza, right next to the Torre Funicular heading east into La Barra neighbourhood.
[Comment removed due to political content]
Right next to Cda Studios is located the main TV channel for the city, which is why some have called this area of town "Media Quarter".
The Mediterranean feel around this area is undeniable
Las Granjas
The main commercial area in the city is Las Granjas, due south. See Part 1 for its history.
Las Granjas island, located just offshore, is the main tourist attraction in the area, with the Island Hotel being the most glamorous in the entire city and a hotspot of high-wealth patrons and high-priced escorts. On the mainland, the main tourist attraction (and definitely not a trap) lies right next to Las Granjas Tram station, itself adjacent to the likewise-named rail station.
Las Granjas island, because money can't buy class
And while many people swear by nearby Las Granjas beach and its boardwalk, extending all the way into neighbouring Pueblo Simón, those in the know prefer Balneario Beach and its floating restaurant.
Balneario Hospital has a dedicated wing for gastrointestinal complaints for no reason at all, I swear
Far Side
On the other side of the hills, Cuerno de Águila also has a coast. This is a more sparsely populated side, but it also features tourist attractions.
While Airport Island is drab and uninteresting, Casino Island features not only its namesake building, but also the State Fair. It's the easiest way of getting unburdened by all your money, whether it's by gambling or in dubious skill games.
Casino Island was briefly renamed in a publicity stunt with the Bond franchise, so it was known as "Moonraker" for a few months
While nearby Peninsula is a residential neighbourhood, its beach and pier is a hidden gem. Waters on the ocean side of Cuerno de Aguila are a bit more turbulent, so caution is required if you are a swimmer, but being further from the main tourist areas has benefits.
Mingling with the locals is a must, and the locals are very friendly with all tourists, especially those with Schengen Area passports and a history of untreated heart disease
FAQ
What is the best way to get a picture of all of Cuerno de Águila?
Cuerno de Águila summit, overlooking most of the city, is a short hike away from Palestine Square. Other than that, probably the best way to come into the city –if you're looking for good pictures– is by ferry.
Don't worry about not getting pictures of the far side. No one likes that part of town.
What is the best restaurant in Cuerno de Águila?
Most people would advise the seaside restaurants, and they can certainly work in a pinch, but the highest-rated restaurant in town is actually Phil's Frosty Delights on Dorsal Avenue, right across from the Mosque.
What is your position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
I… uh…
No, seriously, because there's no Israel Square, right?
Well, no, but see… uh…
And you don't even have a synagogue!
Yes, well, but we've been looking for… uuh…
This is unacceptable!
We have a Karl Marx statue? He was Jewish, right?
Karl Marx, famous atheist, is not "right" in this scenario
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