For some reason, when I started playing, the lake in Perez was the place to be. Usually 5 or 6 teams sweeping around, hunting Hydra. The tricky part was actually getting to to the lake.
Too low for travel powers. No such thing as jet packs or ninja run. The trails were a lethal maze of CoTs. So what do you do? Tree running! From a bus stand, hop to the wall. From the wall, hop to the conopy of trees. And from there, its a straight shot across the park!
Unless you bork the jump. Then you die.
Or you happen upon a hole in the canopy and fall through. Then you die.
Or you or one of the other newbs drag some aggro. Then the mobs (who never bork the jump) follow you up and onto the trees.
No wakies back then, so its back to the hospital with you! Also, debt started at level 4 back then, so screw you.
If you were lucky/good enough to make it, you could pile on a level or two. Then you had to get out of the lake.
Good times.