It was named after the village of Almendra (which means Almond in Spanish) but, as with many of life's little ironies, it interrupted the course of the river five kilometers away from the village.

When hundreds of survivors of a shipwrecked French fleet washed up on the beaches of Florida, they were put to the sword, beside a river the Spanish called Matanzas (“slaughters”).

Historical traces everywhere obviously: Constantine Mungu sports arena, four river eruptive fountains, Spanish steps and ladders.