I’ve often said that to create a special place in Second Life other people might enjoy doesn’t actually require holding an entire region – Full or Homestead. It’s not even necessary to have a half or even a quarter of a region; beautiful little spaces can be created almost anywhere.
Not only have I said this but over the years I’ve delighted in visiting such corners, whether as a result of discovering them through the Destination Guide or by referral or simple serendipity or personal invitation.
Note: Les Secrets d’Albane is no longer available.
My latest discovery came via the Destination Guide in the form of Les Secrets d’Albane (“Albane’s Secrets”), a beautiful little garden tucked among the lakes of the Moon region of Sanara.
It’s a place created by Albane Claray, a landscape artist and the vision behind the of Village de Roqueblanche, and which I visited and wrote about in 2022. As a public space, Les Secrets d’Albane is truly tiny – just 3280 sq metres of land caught in the arms of two of Sansara’s roadways. But as the saying goes, small it may be, but it is perfectly formed.
[The] Whisper of the wind in the trees, the scent of flowers. The friends corner, gossip with no tomorrow. At the crossroads of our lives.
Les Secrets d’Albane About Land description
Visits commence at the entrance to the garden, and a detailed description really is not required; the setting clearly speaks for itself; simply follow the path through the garden to the caravan and decide where you want to go from there.
You might, for example, opt to sit outside the caravan and enjoy tea and cake, or slip inside and enjoy a game of chess from the sofa or sit at the windows and look out over the gardens. Or there’s the board game set-up outside and the reading nook and fountain further along the path.
For those who prefer, there’s a waterside area and also a boat on the water where time might be spent. My one minor niggle here is that, with a little linking to help free-up some LI, a hedge or ivy-covered wall could be placed between the road it it sits alongside the road, might help increase the sense of peace and beauty within the garden.
However, such a niggle shouldn’t be taken to mean the garden is in any way spoiled. With its richness of colour, blossoms, flowers and attention to little details, Les Secrets d’Albane is entirely pleasing. Despite its small size, the places to sit and pass the time are spread far enough apart to give a sense of privacy when more than one couple (or individual) is visiting the garden and wish for a little peace and quiet.
An altogether delightful visit, and ideal for those seeking relaxation and / or the opportunity for personal photography. Don’t forget that should you also fancy a visit to Village de Roqueblanche, you can do so via the teleport board outside the caravan trailer.
