Ok, cool! Sorry, I've been the whole day on the road and did not manage to answer your questions (good tactic for making you analyze things apparently 
) Yeah, the way our cities choose trade routes is a bit stupid.. 
Btw, if you want feel free to log in and change the build in Hazelnut (Axe --> galley). You are right, that I'm probably playing it a bit too safe there and we could get away with close to no defenses there. I would like to keep the southern galley there for later Azza attack and worker transports..
EDIT: Changed the build into galley
) Yeah, the way our cities choose trade routes is a bit stupid.. Btw, if you want feel free to log in and change the build in Hazelnut (Axe --> galley). You are right, that I'm probably playing it a bit too safe there and we could get away with close to no defenses there. I would like to keep the southern galley there for later Azza attack and worker transports..EDIT: Changed the build into galley