In my 'only' always war experience, I crashed badly my economy by having to much production (and troops) and not enough commerce, so I am reluctent to settle on Gems...
If you look carefully, you notice that the main 'lake' is salty water (could build a lighthouse) while the small one (2tiles in the south) is a real lake (could be 3 food).
I suggest 2 possibilities for blocking Monte (securing our area):
1. One 'strong' production city
Even if the deer are on the from side (from pillage), the city will have enough food surplus to work mined hills (3 bare hills) and/or gems/furs. So it will be a high production (for this map).
2 problems : (1) is the city is not on hill (but no tiles next to it are either) and (2) there is a path one the hill that we can't attack from the city (but could build a fort
OR
2. One GPP farm (in the futur) + 1 city
the canal city will be really food heavy (but since all 3 land-food are on the wrong side, it will be for a bit latter), but a bit hammer poor. (either GPP farm or whipping/draft)
Another city is a the top south of the hills defending and have 1 deer + hills to work.
These settlements will allow us to build 2 cities protected behind, working all the gems+deers in the 2 green circles.
PS of course Copper will probably change everything...
Jabah
) .... I was momentarily worried abt my choice of worker first before another warrior ... because if I was wrong, the worker would have nothing to do until BW ... then I need to 
myself 
. You've got to be able to put units in the field first and foremost. You can usually cope with being a tech down through weight of numbers (especially if you can produce enough seige) but obviously being ahead or even is a better proposition.
