Category: Second Life

It’s been a little under eight months since my last visit to Silent Melody, held by Celtic McDaniels (Celtic3147), and as the region recently re-opened to the public, I felt it due time I hopped over and wandered around. During my last visit, the region offered an engaging mix of settings – mostly open landscape – all perfectly put together by Semina (Semiiina), as I noted in Return to a Silent Melody in Second Life.

Semina’s hand is still present within the latest iteration of the region’s design. The setting continues to offer various open spaces, but is now dominated by a large built-up area close to its heart. The default environment setting is strongly suggestive of a misty morning near the coast, and the way the larger buildings within this built-up area – notably the hotel and theatre – loom out of the surrounding mist when exploring is particularly satisfying.

The Landing Point sits to the eastern side of the buildings, occupying a broad terrace laid out at the feet of steps providing access to the imposing bulk of a large conservatory. The latter is home to the Da Capo – an engaging fusion of café and library / reading rooms.

A signpost at the foot of the steps points the way to various locations, each with its own musical names (reflecting Semina’s musical talents as a singer-songwriter – see: To the Moon and Back: a musical experience with Semina in Second Life): Clef City, Legato Beach, Fusion Farm, Staccato Forest, Harmony Lake and Sonata pier.

Behind the terrace, an open gateway provides access to a broad pier extending over one end of Legato Beach. However, if it is the beach you wish to visit, you’ll have to follow the signpost’s directions and take the wooden steps down from near to where the covered walkway leads to a large gazebo.

The main part of the beach looks out towards a pair of little islets where houseboats have been moored.  Reached by using the life ring boat rezzer on the beach, the two islands appear open to the public, while the houseboats are available for rent on a daily basis.

Following the sign for the beach will also reveal one of the two the archways marking the main access points into the built-up area of Clef City. However, the main street of the city can also be reached more directly through the Da Capo Café.

With old tram rails running down its main street, Clef City has a careworn look and feel to it. Most of the buildings are shells, including the imposing bulk of the hotel, but within some – notably the local, err, “herbal” store, the pub and the theatre – you will find décor and dressing. The theatre has window displays mindful of Semina’s musical experience noted above, and appears to be designed for indoor music events.

One thing to look for when exploring around the city, is the ladders. These provide access to (and in one case, between) rooftop spaces which have been delightfully put together, with music again part-and-parcel of the theme within some of them.

The southern end of the city is elevated above the main street, a cobbled path curling around the apartment houses here to reach another terrace with pizza might be enjoyed al fresco, with both it and a smaller terrace to one side of the footpath also including their own musical motifs. The road up to them also overlooks Fusion Farm with its meadow, scarecrow-guarded field, horses and meandering brook. For those who enjoy horse riding, the Farm offers a horse rezzer. Again, follow the sign posts to reach it from the Landing Point.

To the north, the city quickly gives way to more rural looks, complete with Harmony Lake (“lake” might be a little grandiose, but it does sound better than “pond”:) ), the entire area serving as a captivating retreat with numerous places to sit, cuddle, pass the time – or photograph!

Also on the north-east side of the region, but down on the coast, is another open venue for music and dancing. It sits beneath the raised finger of a lighthouse and can be reached via several means, and I’ll let you discover them.

All of this is bound together by paths and trails and the Staccato Forest, which wraps around the west side of the region from north to south, embracing in its arc a path allowing visitors to completely circumnavigate the setting. It’s a route I thoroughly recommend taking, as it brings to the eye even more of the region’s beauty, and Semina’s attention to detail, including plants, flowers, critters, wildlife, statues, and more.

As with my past visits to Silent Melody, this latest iteration is an absolute delight.

SLurl Details

• Silent Melody (Silent Melody 2, rated Moderate)

In September I wrote about Dutch Pavilion and Ameland, a pair of shared locations design by Sorcha Tyles, occupying the same Homestead region (see: Tea, coffee and pancakes with Sorcha in Second Life). Both shared similarities in looks and style (both being sandy temperate islands) and offers a lot to see and do.

Since then, things have changed. Ameland closed in March 2025. Dutch Pavilion, Sorcha’s first public setting, meanwhile, has relocated. Now occupying a south-west corner parcel of a Full private region, Dutch Pavilion retains all of its visual and photographic appeal.

Enjoy the friendly atmosphere at Dutch Pavilion, a serene park with a windmill, where you can escape, dance, chat, have breakfast & coffee and hangout. Listen to the sound of the meandering river and the chatty geese.

– Dutch Pavilion About Land description

The Landing Point sits at the western end of the parcel, raised up on a bluff overlooking open water to one side and the gardens to the other. A signpost alongside the Landing Point provides access to a Dressing Room for those wishing to change their looks for photography (or sunbathing, etc.), and an outdoor photo studio set.

The step down from the Landing Point to the stairs leading on down to the garden is a bit of a big one (well, it’s more of a jump than a step 🙂 ), with a loose-laid gravel path providing the way forward from the bottom of the broad stairs.

To either side of this path are garden spaces mostly given over to grass, one with a Tuscany style lean-to propped against an old Tuscany-style gateway, allowing it to serve as a little shelter for a donkey and its hay. To the other side, a Spanish style caravan and outdoor seating form a welcoming little vignette with butterflies circling and a rabbit keeping an eye on things.

Further along the path the grass becomes an outdoor seating area for the little café which has taken over part of the mill house attached to the windmill tower. Still with its sales turning, the mill tower is now a studio for designing clothing, complete with large rolls of fabric awaiting use.

The stream mentioned in the About Land description runs parallel to the gardens for a part of their length, running from the eastern boundary of the parcel before turning out to the sea at the western end of the beach, lying on the far side of the stream relative to the gardens.

The stream can be crossed via a single bridge, which accesses the boardwalk running along the back of the back and offering places to sit – as does the beach.

All of this is extremely picturesque whilst being easy to explore. However, what makes the setting enchanting is Sorcha’s attention to detail throughout. This comes in a myriad of forms: the dress of the interior of the café, the outdoor spaces with the café and the caravan; the flower vases on the tables; the rabbits and otter, the bicycles – the list goes on.

I particularly appreciated the touches of the everyday – such as the hosepipe on its little cart and the sign and bag giver warning against allowing pet dogs to foul the grass, together with a convenient bin for dumping used bags.

Small it might be, but Dutch Pavilion is perfectly formed and a genuinely engaging visit – be sure to look around everywhere, including behind the windmill!

SLurl Details

• Dutch Pavilion (Main Beach, rated Moderate)