Arosa Village

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Almut Brunswick, Arosa Village, mainland, Sansara, virtual destinations

A few winters ago I discovered Arosa Village, a mountain town in Sansara. There’s ice skating on a lake and sledding down a mountain into the village. Most of the homes were rented every time I passed through.

From the land description: “Arosa: The kindest mountain town in Second Life.
Das schönste Bergdorf in Second Life.
Information: IM Sonja Strom, Arosa Resident”

When I was in the area several months ago, I noticed an available chalet near the lake and immediately rented it, even though I have other homes. Most of my neighbors speak German and it’s a peaceful hideout for me when I’m there. My human works on things in another window and I take breaks, playing outdoors.I’m getting better at sledding under the bridge and onto the lake.

During the winter, there’s a holiday market in the middle of town. There’s also a forest nearby and a huge area to wander. It was on a walk down the road from here that I discovered the winter park I blogged about last. 

It’s usually snowing on the lake and there are swans nearby where the ice is cracked open. (I never lock my homes but this rental has a security system with a locked door.) Arosa has been around longer than I have, at least since May 2011. 

There are historical areas nearby too, with things built by the Lindens quite a while ago.

My “Santa Claudia” snow suit is made by Almut Brunswick, one of my Arosa neighbors. She’s constructing a shop in town where the Munich Office used to be. There are lots of mix and match parts to the snowsuit. It can be found on the marketplace.

IIe Sainte Marie-les-Bains

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IIe Sainte Marie-les-Bains, RolePlay, vintage, virtual destinations

I’ve found a charming virtual destination and roleplay sim, IIe Sainte Marie-les-Bains. You can simply visit but the times I’ve been there several avatars have engaged me in light roleplay. The time is the early 1900’s and it’s requested that period clothing be worn.Free period clothing for both men and women are available in the welcome area. There’s an outfit, a straw hat and a bathing costume for each. I like the straw hat, the top is ok and I love the skirt. I haven’t tried the bathing costume yet.

From the notecard: “Everyone who seeks a retreat for relaxation is welcome to Ile Sainte Marie-les-Bains.The french Island and Thermal Spa is located at the Cote d’Azur, just at the Coast between the Cities of Toulon and Nice. Roman Ruins are found on the Island and it is suposed that they had a Thermal bath here as well. Spend some relaxing time at the mild climate of Southern France and meet the friendly people. Time is around 1900. Several Events are planed for the future….stay informed with this group.

From the land description: “Everyone who seeks a retreat for relaxation is welcome to Ile Sainte Marie-les-Bains. The Island & Thermal Spa is at the Cote d’Azur. Time is around 1900.Please wear time fitting attire. Historic, Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, RP, Edwardian, Vintage, Mademoiselle’s”There are several restaurants, a hotel, a Pharmacie, some shops in which to purchase period costumes and vintage posters and the Gallerie Intemporelle where you can purchase copies of masterpieces by Monet, Cezzanne and such. I’ve heard there will be residences available and I’m guessing the “artiste” living above the gallery is in a private residence. I enjoyed taking photos there and have some of these up in my current pop up gallery at Art Farm Co-op at LEA 28, with the accompanying information:

“These museum photographs were casually taken by Pearl Grey on her first visit to the French Island at the Cote d’Azur on the Coast between the cities of Toulon and Nice in the early 1900’s.

Grey was accompanied by her friend RMarie Beedit. The purpose of the journey was intended to be a restorative rest in the thermal spa after months of overwork in artistic endeavors following the months of accompanying their respective husbands on African safari.

The notes in the beginning pages of Grey’s travel account mention the Roman Ruins in the area which were apparently explored by her. Photos of the ruins are extensively damaged by what appears to be chocolate.

Whatever the intended purpose of the first visit, the focus seems to have been on the local restaurants and on the fashions observed by the two women who were apparently quite free with their opinions and indulgences.

A restorative rest may have been intended but the ladies seemed to continue with their habit of living life with gusto.

This exhibit is curated by the great grand daughter of Grey, Pearl Grey.

This building the pieces are exhibited in is a historic relic itself and appears to be in a state of disrepair although the curator, Pearl Grey is quite adamant that the building is perfect for her vision.”This is seating in the baths; the pool is behind us.

Here are a few photos that are less processed:Gallerie IntemporelleHotel Belvedere The building is by Silex Zapedzki of Never Totally Dead.

The hotel interiorThe Pharmacie.

I’m looking forward to seeing photos taken in this location.

 

Bad Coffee

Tags

Bad Coffee, Corsica, mainland, virtual destinations

Back to the mainland, today I have photos of Bad Coffee #1 and #3. There may have been a #2 at one time, it sounds vaguely familiar, but I have been unable to locate it.

I first noticed these shops while riding pods. The owner of the Bad Coffee shops, Elex Dusk, is of the ancient age of almost 11 years old. Shop #1, in East Corsica, Sanderton, is the most spacious of the two and still listed in search. You can pick up posters and there’s a game to play. The times I’ve visited, I’ve seen a fair amount of traffic in the land description but not many avatars present.  It’s situated on a 512 plot using 105 LI.From the land description: “You can: buy a cup of bad coffee, chit chat, listen to music (emo pop), read a book or our zine, play Petals (arcade game), touch the cootie detector, watch movies, find secret freebies, hang out, and make new friends. Open 24/7 For a menu say /menu.”
You can see a pod traveling by in the photo above.

In one of those “small world ” situations, I met an avatar at a different location who had on a copy of the same dress I wore, a dress made by a content creator who mostly builds prefabs and offers just a  few pieces of apparel. We’d each been looking at houses when we found the dress.  In her profile I noticed she’s a member of Bad Coffee, a closed group, and asked her about it.

She said the owner has had the land for a really long time and rebranded a few years ago. He used to do a lot of things in voice there years ago too, all before my time.Bad Coffee #3 in West Corsica, Harbourne is smaller, using 32 LI out of 32 available.  It’s no longer listed in search or in the picks of the owner, there’s a $L amount in the SLurl so I’m speculating anyone could inquire about purchasing it.  

While standing in the road to take photos for this post I was run over by one of AnnMarie Otooles tanks but I’ve recovered nicely.   

A Photography Excursion to Innsmouth

Tags

Innsmouth, virtual destinations

It was just two of us, going to take some pictures, and the sim had a surprisingly large amount of people on it. My companion, less than a year old in SL, wanted to take some photos for an exhibit at Winter’s Gallery. The theme was something like “Heaven and Hell” and the photos were to be taken in Innsmouth.   I simply enjoy taking photos. I’d been to Innsmouth before and wanted this opportunity of going with someone who accepts that I’m kind of slow. Those brief, flitting, high-speed visits aren’t for me unless I’m disliking what I see and how I’m feeling.  The sim is gorgeously spooky. I lightened the exposure for these pictures so stuff could be seen. When I went back to check the SLurl for this post yesterday, I noticed that Day of the Dead decorations were still out as well as a few more hazards, it seemed.The prefabs of some of the buildings can be purchased, something I’d overlooked before.While we were there, well over a month ago, I learned that the sim was for sale and there was a meeting going on of people interested in saving Innsmouth. At the time they seemed to be doing well regarding donations. What the status is now, I don’t know.There were quite a few people gathered in the Opera House for the meeting. We peeked in and then went on our way, taking pictures.

Innsmouth, “a dark, New England coastal town”, has been around for a while; I think it’s older than me. I feel good about getting to revisit it, instead of overlooking it for the latest showcase sim.

 

Asalia House

Tags

Asalia House, virtual destinations

Very recently I visited Asalia House to see what seasonal changes had happened since I haven’t been around much lately. It had a new look since the last time I was there. Some familiar decor pieces were in use again, which I like. The beach sand was something I’ve not noticed anywhere else and I’m favorably impressed with it. This is a small sim which I can more easily imagine as real.Much of the area was peaceful and simple. There’s a charming little cluttery area shown in the photo above.There were lovely views in all directions. I lingered and now I’m grateful I did.The animals paid me no mind and went about eating and gazing at the horizon.I liked the style inside the cottage.The place has many of my favorite elements and when my typist logged off she felt as though the time here was well spent.

Preparing this blog post yesterday, I checked to make sure the landmark was still good. Arriving in the water, I walked towards land and discovered that reconstruction is happening once again.

 

 

Little Town

Tags

Cica Ghost, Little Town, virtual destinations

Little Town by Cica Ghost has given me a little of the inspiration and escape that I used to enjoy while exploring Second Life. It’s my favorite of all that I’ve seen of what she’s done. I loved the textures and colors and somehow felt more comfortable with less movement than I remember previous works had. I used the region sun setting for these photos which have been cropped only.This is inside the ground floor of the delightful Little Hotel.There are adorable little cars to drive, places to hang out to have tea with friends and beds that are floating in the air, carried by balloons, if you should feel the need for a nap.When you go, check all the doors. Flying is allowed.I bought one of the metal birds and will look for a home for it soon.After exploring I did some happy dancing since I haven’t been getting much exercise lately.

 

 

 

 

 

Filters

Tags

Bay City, The Pen, virtual destinations

None of the people I communicate with in SL use the Lab viewer, which I use. When I’m logged in, I’m mostly afk these days and really haven’t been able to keep up with stuff. I see that I haven’t posted for two weeks here, for example. I still take photos and had noticed the LL camera window looked a little different but once I found where to stash the pictures I didn’t look at the other changes at the time.

Then one day I noticed that there were filters on the camera. When I edit my photos I do it very quickly in Picmonkey these days, mostly cropping, because I don’t have the patience or inclination to fuss lately. But I played with the filters one evening a while back. Now in the meantime, the laptop I use for SL has been in the shop and the other laptop doesn’t let me do much in world, although I log in attempt to do so.

These photos have only been cropped, using the filters. It’s been a few weeks so I’m not totally sure which filter is which. Some of them I didn’t like. The first photo uses no filter, I think. The one below is “autocontrast”.The photo below is “newprint”, which sounds like fun for roleplay newspapers and such. It isn’t really easy to use. It took me about five or six shots for each one that was somewhat good. The photo below use the “intense” filter.“Sepia” is below.“1970’s Colors” below.“Black & White” is below. (The sign on the building is an ad that changes.”Photos were taken at The Pen–a beatnik hangout in Bay City. It was the first time I recalled seeing it although it sounds like it’s been around for a while.

From the land description:

“The Pen, Bay City’s only beatnik hang-out! Grab a cup of java juice and jungle up in our shack! Hear quotes from the beat greats and hang out a while. We’re no red onion, we’ve got it all going on!”

It’s fairly easy to experiment with for newbies I think, but the ones that stay in SL seem to quickly get a different viewer.

 

China Grove

Tags

China Grove, mainland, virtual destinations

I’d not heard of China Grove when I found it while exploring. It must have recently changed hands because who could possibly build the Great Wall of China in a week?

There was a lot to see and I flew part of the way since the area is larger than I first thought. It isn’t just for sightseeing though, there are jetski’s to rez, (I steered like a maniac), and also float thingies that you can paddle at a more sedate pace.   There’s a beach area and private rooms. (It’s a moderate sim.)There’s a courtyard with beautiful Asian buildings.

I had a little trouble getting around some places but your machine might do better.There are tai chi poseballs in a courtyard as well as a few other places.After walking all over the places, crashing my jetski and doing some tai chi, I relaxed and had tea while watching the sun go down.

And it’s Second Life, where you can mix-and-match your interests. Like building the Great Wall and inviting the ladies to fish topless.Pearl laughs.

Water Labyrinth

Tags

art, Krystali Rabeni, LEA, virtual destinations

Only in Second Life can I stroll through a maze of water several inches deep in suede boots and a long wool skirt with no regrets. A Maze in Grace by Krystali Rabeni is on one of the LEA sims now. I don’t get to visit all of them; some are too difficult and complex to photograph well but this one worked for me.

When I arrived here, I was working my way through something and began sort of stomping along. Nothing like a little drama and taking a stand to get some clarity on things and tweak one’s direction.

I found the koi! And my typist has found the equivalent of real life koi.

There was a small flock of birds that took flight near the beginning of my walk. They didn’t settle back down immediately and I found in my wait for them to do so, I felt more calm.

There are signs that tell you to stay off the grass! So you walk in the water, with the swans, lilly pads and such.

I specially like seeing the cairns. Peaceful place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Time to Look at Stuff I Like

Tags

art, virtual destinations, Ziki Questi

I like looking at photos, especially outdoors and bigger than me. These are a collection of photos by Ziki Questi at Wolves Land Art Center, a place I recently visited for the first time.  These are a sampling of her photos and I see we like the same kinds of places. I’m not sure how long the exhibit is up.