i settled 2 of my cities exactly where you did, monthar. i put the capitol one tile over across the river hoping there was more land on the other side of the 2 mountains for a better defensive spot, plus it was a hill. turns out it's not as defensive as i hoped.
i cant believe how many wonders ive been getting. i might actually upload this victory when it happens, which should be pre-1900. i know it wont be competitive but this is the first time ive never reloaded or anything and its going well. i got GL, Oracle, HS, PT, Chicken Pizza AND Taj Mahal, SH, Ox, Kremlin, plus a couple nationals and Ironworks (putting 2 cities at 50 hammers). I got beat to Himeji (with only 4 turns left too, that stung a little) and another one I dont recall.
i couldnt sign any early RAs as Askia DoWd early and i only met Washington, Hiawatha, and Catherine early and none of them had cash or luxes i could buy to pay for their RAs. but ive got 5 rolling now in the Industrial era and already churned several. Askia quickly peace treatied when i got 2 immortals, even gave me his gold and gpt for it. i finished Liberty, got the opener in Tradition (cuz it was 3 turns early from me getting to Ren era) and i have Rationalism (+right side) putting me at ~240 beakers at turn 200 which is where i am now. i havent had any happiness problems this game, the lowest was -1 after pop increased. I had 2 natural GAs and the ones from wonders/policies.
Hiawatha has been completely wiped and he DoW'd me while Catherine was taking his capitol. He only sent 4 units to try at me. Greece has DoW'd me but has to go by sea cuz he hasnt gotten around Askia who i am friendly with now. Catherine and Greece are leading score-wise but not by much, less than 100 points. I have 4 cities with pops of 13,13,11,9 right now and all have a ton of production and gold. I got horses, irons and oil but no coal or aluminum. No coal and all the CSs in Greece's pocket made me not go for the 2nd policy in autocracy that gives 25% science bonus for having factories. if i had coal i would have. instead im going for the rest of rationalism. the 2 free techs should happen close to the right timing and will prolly be the last policy i can get. i also have a ton of gold at about 90gpt before GAs but its still less than Cathy. i have about 2500 gold waiting for more RAs and unit upgrades.
Ive never been swayed by the golden ages, but getting Taj and Chicken Pizza have been really fun. i should get a GG soon too for late game GA. (plus i might get The Louvre just for 2 artist GAs.) i didnt go warring during them but i got a lot of exploration out of them. Washington has about 7 cities and seems ready to mobilize so ive had to switch gears to some unit production. tonight's session should be fun if i have to defend against Greece and America. i should finish it tonight.