Una muchedumbre de mujeres libres enriquecieron hasta el delirio las viejas cantinas de la calle Ancha, que fuera después el camellón Abello y ahora es el paseo Colón, en esta ciudad de mi alma tan apreciada de propios y ajenos por la buena índole de su gente y la pureza de su luz. (Garcia Marquez, Memorias de mis putas tristes)
Translation (Grossman):
A crowd of free women enriched to the point of delirium the old taverns along Calle Anche, which later was known as Camellَn Abello, and now is called Paseo Colَn, in this city of my soul loved so much by both natives and outsiders for the good character of its people and the purity of its light.
I do not seem to be able to understand what the author means by "esta ciudad de mi alma" or "this city of my soul".
