Pueblo Simón, part 2

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Entry posted by Girafarig · July 14, 2024

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Enjoying Pueblo Simón

Having developed as a seaside resort town, most of Pueblo Simón attractions involve its natural environment, sandwiched between two bodies of water and at the foothills of a small mountain.

A panoramic view of the town

North Beach

The chain of barrier islands that protects the northern shore of Pueblo Simón was among the first places that saw development. Its warm weather, gentle sea breeze and closeness to the metropolis has kept it as one of the most in-demand neighbourhoods of the entire South Bay shores to this day.

The neighbourhood can be divided in two, using the main navigation channel and the Archway Bridge as the dividing point. Its western part, Balneario, retains a low-rise, walkable profile alongside a wooden boardwalk and a small beach. It's serviced by the ferry, Tram Line T5 (descendant of the former Coast Tram) and Balneario station on the Line 2 subway extension.

If you live in Anclaje or northern Cuerno de Águila, there's a good chance you can see your house from here

The eastern part of the shore, nearest to Cerro Providencia, is slightly more commercial and features some residential high-rise buildings, but it has a longer beach (though some would argue it's not as good as Balneario), the Pueblo Simón Cemetery, and it's closer to Downtown Square. This area is also served by Tram Line 5, and the ferry, while Nueva Victoria Station (rail, Anclaje Southeast) is close by.

The eastern part of North Shore, including Downtown, the New Lands, and a second cemetery further beyond

The Pueblo Simón cemetery sits right next to the shore and to a streetrunning segment of Tram Line 5.

Marina

Just south of the bridges, a sheltered piece of coast hosts the Pueblo Simón New Marina (the old one being across the channel) and its surrounding area. While this is a mostly residential neighbourhood, the boardwalk also offers a small Seaport Village with shops to cater to out-of-town tourists. Some small, private sightseeing tours around the island also depart from this area.

The wooden sailboat is a replica of the first boats that visited the area that is nowadays Isla Bonita

This area can be reached by tram (Aguas or Fin de Tierra stops on Tram Line 5). There's also a ferry station on the very small Ferry Island.

The old marina stands across the channel, practically below the bridges

South Beach

Following the peninsular coastline, South Beach is the longest beach in the entire city. It has a steamboat restaurant and jetski rentals, which is good because the beach is also vulnerable to riptides and currents that can sometimes close it down to swimmers.

If you live in Valle Gemelo or Pueblo Gemelo, maybe you'll be able to see your house from here. If you don't and you ignore the red flag, that's where the current'll carry you

Sur stop on the T5 tram line is the easiest way to get here.

Casino Island

The southern barrier islands were not turned into residential dachas and beaches, partly because of the unfriendly geography, but instead were turned to the entertainment industry and became a labyrinth of boardwalks, canals and shops. Casino Island is the easternmost island, right across Seabiscuit Basin from South Beach, and it's perhaps the most glamorous of the lot. A boardwalk food court and two floating restaurants also add to the vibrant nighttime scene around this area.

Dr. Gomez's ophthalmologist office sits on 3B, Europa House, right next to Casino Square, They're open all night and specialise in retinal injuries due to light overexposure

If shopping is more up your speed, right across the channel sits Chinatown, with plenty of stores and restaurants --though, oddly enough, not a lot of Chinese people.

You can gamble it or you can spend it, but you're not leaving this area with your money

Casino Island can be reached on the aptly named Casino station of Subway Line 2 and Tram Line T5. There's also a ferry stop on the island. Chinatown is a very short walk away.

Sightseeing in Cerro Providencia

Compared to its flatter counterpart, Cerro Providencia doesn't see as many tourists. It's a residential area, after all, with little in the way of shopping or relaxing. There are, nevertheless, a couple interesting places to see.

Ascensor Providencia

One of many funiculars all over the South Bay metro area, and in particular in Providencia Island, Ascensor Providencia is one of the longest, climbing 120 meters uphill, and it allows uninterrupted views along the way over South Bay and the rest of Pueblo Simón, as well as parts of Finisterra and Cuerno de Águila. Please note that it's also one of the busiest funiculars in town, with waiting times of up to 30 minutes during peak hours. For this reason, we strongly advise against riding it at this time of day.

Remember to take pictures of your ascent!

The lift links up nicely with Victoria Station (not to be confused with Nueva Victoria, though it's the next station), served by rail and the T1 tram line (yes, not all Pueblo Simón locations are served by Tram Line 5).

Temple and Cemetery

If you keep climbing uphill, you'll eventually run into the Latter-Day Saints Temple of Pueblo Simón, right next to the Cerro Cemetery. The temple is not open to visitors, but the cemetery is.

Some have wondered why wasn't the lift extended all the way to the cemetery

Reaching this part will require you taking a bus. A new stop will be built right across the cemetery.

The Temple sits at 170 meters above sea level

Mother Church of Zafferana

Finally, at the highest point of Cerro Providencia, 366 meters above sea level, sits the Roman Catholic Mother Church of Zafferana. Or a replica built by the devout in the island. Either way, it's a marvelous church to visit and a pilgrimage point to some. It may have also been built to spite the LDS community, though so far, the Anclaje diocese denies all allegations.

The church has been built in imitation of another church in Sicily. Some say this is the prettiest version, though

The church is not easy to reach, but the most devoted can take the very new (as of this publication, still being built) Stairs of the Suffering Mother, starting right next to the Cerro cemetery. It's not an easy climb (about 180 meters, vertically) but there are shops along the way.