Category: Exploring Second Life

Update: Elvion closed in June 2024.

It is always a pleasure to visit Elvion, the ever-popular work of Bo Zano (BoZanoNL) and his SL/RL partner, Una Zano (UnaMayLi). From its earliest beginnings and throughout all its iterations, Elvion has always been a place of eye-catching and photogenic beauty, often ensconced within a Homestead region and occasionally within a Full region.

With its latest iteration, which I was able to drop into at the start of April 2024, Elvion retains its reputation as a place of beauty and relaxation, although it has once more switched to being founded on a Full private region, one leveraging the Land Capacity bonus available to such regions. And whilst I’ve always enjoyed Bo and Una’s designs, I have to say this one is particularly gorgeous.

Referenced as the Blackbird Edition, this version of Elvion offers everything which has over the years made Bo and Una’s work so highly regarded amongst Second Life explorers, photographers and bloggers – natural beauty, a sense of life imbued by the presence of wildlife and hints of human presence, together with far more of a sense of location and of a rich tapestry of life down through the generations.

Indulge yourself in this green land full of history and natural beauty. From stunning water views and forest trails, to the cosy harbour and city.

– Elvion Blackbird Edition, About Land

With the landing point to the south west and sitting on a rugged upland overlooking the local natural harbour and coastal walk, those arriving within the setting have the choice of either following the old cart tracks of the Mountain Trail for their explorations or of using the local teleport board to hop to one of the listed locales within the region. Of these two choices, I would obviously recommend the former, lest some of the the details present within the region.

Depending on which way you go in following the Mountain Trail, the first of the locations, as listed on the teleport board you’re likely to reach will be either the old gatehouse standing guard on one side of the local town, or the ruins of the abbey that once occupied the north-western extent of the region, flanked on two sides by open water and on the third by a deep gorge of a water channel which cuts through the setting north-to-south, fed by waterfalls and streams and crossed in several places by stone and wooden bridges.

The ruins of the abbey – an absolutely perfect use of elements from The Looking Glass Ruined Chapel, a long-standing favourite of mine – give a sense that this is a place long inhabited, even if once only as a religious retreat. The ruins look out across the waters to a rugged coastline which gives the impression that this iteration of Elvion sits as a small island which may have once been joined to that rugged coast, before the surrounding waters had forever sundered the two.

Across the gorge, and reached by the single stone bridge spanning it, the gatehouse leading to the town demonstrates a similar sense of age, together with a certain French turn in its architecture as it sits with its portcullises open to welcome visitors into the town.

The latter is a pleasing mix of buildings and styles, neatly suggesting it has grown organically over time, its two cobbled footpaths are split between elevations, offering a please walk through the town and down to the harbour. This sits within a natural bay into which the region’s water channel flows. Such is the nature of the this little port of call that it sensibly requires both a lighthouse and large marker buoys to help guide small vessels into the harbour’s arms and a safe mooring.

The lighthouse sits on a small isle which forms one side of the harbour and presents a pleasing walk in its own right, offering as it does a loop back to the town or a means to reach another of the region’s locales, the local windmill. The latter sits towards the north-eastern corner of the region, and which also sits at one end of the Mountain Trail.

But it is the natural look and feel to the setting, together with Una and Bo’s inevitable attention to detail that really bring this iteration of Elvion so memorable as a place. The ruggedness of the island perfectly matches the mountains off-region surround, giving the setting that sense of the two being properly related geologically, rather than the surround simply being a backdrop for the region’s landscape.

The detail extends to the rich mix of wild and domesticated animals found throughout the region, with the former coming in a variety which makes it hard to pin down where in the world this edition of Elvion might represent – if any at all -, further adding to its magic and attractiveness. Further attractiveness is given through the provision, again as is common and always welcome within Elvion, of multiple places to sit and pass the time.

Definitely not n iteration of Elvion to miss.

SLurl Details

• Elvion (rated Moderate)

Susann Decuir is responsible for drawing me to Memories of Dreams, a marvellously Japanese-themed Homestead region design by Yxes (Yxes Evergreen). she did so when I caught her write-up on the setting in her blog whilst I was largely outworld of SL during March 2024. As regulars to these pages know, almost anything with an Oriental theme will pique my interest, so I noted the SLurl and at the first opportunity on getting back in-world, off I toddled (or rather, my alt toddled!) so I could poke my nose in and have a look.

Spring in a Japanese styled sim….a place to sit and reflect once you’ve explored all the small nooks and crannies. Be sure to notice the Orcas migrating along the coast.

– Memories of Dreams, About Land Description

The setting is one of those which amply demonstrates the adage “Less is more”. Yxes has used a little of 50% of the region’s Land Capacity to produce a wonderfully evocative setting that does not need to be filled to the brim with objects in order to achieve its stated goal.

At least partially surrounded by off-region mountains (I’m actually not sure if it is supposed to be entirely surrounded, because for some reason the 3070 GPU on my current PC has a devil of a time rendering region surrounds where my old 970 rarely worked up a sweat in doing so), the setting is suggestive of a quiet retreat located on a (little-visited?) islet within the Japanese archipelago. The summer retreat, perhaps of a once-powerful Shogun.

The island’s rugged form is dominated by a large pagoda-like building. Perhaps once a home perhaps once a temple, it surrounded by a variety of trees – Japanese maple, Sakura, plum trees and more – which give colour and vitality to the knobbly and uneven mass of the island’s central knoll in a manner flowers and shrubs would not be able to manage. In addition, the trees obviously provide shade and a sense of coolness for those wandering this wildling garden as it sits around the main building.

Below the main structure, to the north-west and north and both sitting withing the island’s shallows, are two further structures. The each sit at the end (or start, depending on your point of view!) of a stone stairway set into the island’s slopes.

Located at the end of the potentially grander stairway – it being quite broad at its lower extent and semi-defensively boxed-in by walls on three sides – is a single-roomed building set upon stone slabs set above the coastal waters. Now a place to enjoy a quiet meal, it’s general design suggests that it may have once been where boats bringing people to the island came alongside.

The second building is also single-roomed, but sits slightly off-shore within the walls of what might be a man-made island. Torii gates and stepping stones over the shallow waters provide access to its gates, and the structure itself, located in a formal sand garden crossed by further stepping stones, has the feel of perhaps once having been a walled temple or shrine, but which is now given over the the art of the tattooist.

Close by this walled setting, and sitting on a low-lying headland, is a Japanese Zen garden offering a walk around its gravel paths and a way down to the island’s eastern beach, where visitors might to watch passing Orca as they frolic off the coast. A second arc of sand lies on the south side of the island. Located within a shallow cove, it is reached by walking down the grassy slopes from the main building.

Throughout all of this, subtle depth is added through the placement of small artistic touches – umbrellas apparently caught on a mysterious updraft so they hover above the entrance to the main building; a broken Torii gate with payer papers still pinned to it; Toro and other lamps scattered around to help hold the night at bay from the paths and steps; sculptures giving further voice to the presence of human hearts and minds on this little isle; and the gentle, watchful eyes of Buddha observing all who come and go, and the dance of Japanese Crane.

All told, a beautifully idyllic and beautifully relaxing (not to mention utterly photogenic) location, and once well worth visiting and appreciating.

SLurl Details

Memories of Dreams (Hawksong, rated Moderate)

In September 2023 I dropped into Shades of Autumn, a homestead region design by Flower Caerndow which she offered for people to visit and photograph. I found it an engaging and autumnal visit, with plenty to appreciate within in (see: Appreciating the Shades of Autumn in Second Life). Earlier in February 2024, Flower opened up her latest region design, Serene Retreat, occupying a Full private region, and given my enjoyment of Shades, I trundled over recently to have a look.

Welcome to a beautiful peaceful retreat and experience the magical beauty of nature. All are welcome to wander and take pictures and find the hidden cuddle spots. 

– Serene Retreat About Land Description

This is a place which very much carries on in the spirit of Shades, whilst presenting an entirely new landscape to explore and photograph.

The landing point sits towards the northern tip of the island, close to where a small gallery of Flower’s own SL photography might be found. Whilst picturesque, the pictures serve a dual purpose: as well as offering views of the region, each is a teleporter which will carry a visit to the location it frames. However, given the overall nature of the island, unless you’re in a hurry to get to someone or somewhere, it’s much better to explore using your pedal extremities.

A short walk downhill from the landing is one of the island’s sandy beaches and (if it is your first port of call on arrival) the first of the region’s little places to sit and / or cuddle. For those who prefer, steps leading up from the cobbles surrounding the gallery in its ruined tower provide a way up the neighbouring hill, where a small tea house sits within a Zen garden watched over by a figure of Buddha.

From here, other paths wind their way over the island, notably to the south and east, passing by a ring of standing stones to reach the highest point within the setting as is sits above steep rocky inclines falling away to the sea. Other paths wend their way through a nearby copse, where crystals, hints of exotic plants and some of the local wildlife might be found, together with further places to sit and pass the time in solitude or with others.

Also to be found on the edge of the Zen garden is a pool of crystal-clear water, home to swans and koi carp, and the birthplace of a stream that runs out to a rocky lip before cascading down to be caught by a rocky pool. From here and tumbling over the coastal rocks, it makes its way out to open waters. A mossy / grassy path slips down the hill alongside this stream and its falls, passing a romantic little snuggle point and what appears to be the last remnants of a building. Below these an old track passes, looking like it might have once passed around a good ideal of the island, but which the sea has been gradually reclaiming in places.

Just below the stone flooring of whatever might have once stood here, whilst also running back from the cart track, is a narrow hollow slumped within the arms of the hill. More crystal and exotic flowers are to be found here, together with the open mouth of a tunnel slipping back under the hill and inviting exploration. However, I’ll leave it to you to find out what lies within its caverns.

The eastern side of the island also offers a second beach reached via two stone-stepped paths running down to it. From here, and past the tepee-like sitting area and a swing, you can scramble up on to the island’s rocky feet and make your way around to the south side. It’s not possible to get all the way around the island at close to sea level, but for those who do follow the hill’s lip, a way down to a southern shingle beach and its little sitting spot can be found. This also allows visitors to continue their walk on around the island close to its edge, and thus come to the stream and hollow mentioned above.

Tranquil, photogenic and sitting under a sky mindful of Stevie Davros’s work (which is not to say it is – just that it reminds me of his work – which is to say it has a sense of realism about it which is attractive), Serene Retreat build on the foundations Flower laid with Shades of Autumn whilst offer its own unique and engaging setting for exploration.

SLurl Details

• Serene Retreat (rated Moderate)

My Second Life café hopping continued recently when I bounced into the Burnt Toast Café and Tavern, occupying some 20,400 sq metres of the Full private region leveraging the land capacity bonus (although at the time of my visit, a portion of the land appeared to be either undeveloped or undergoing redevelopment by the holders and so closed to general access).

Those land holders are Emilly Jaynesford and Lee (lisa5791), and together have created a most pleasing little corner of Second Life, packing a lot into the setting without ever allowing it to feel overcrowded. Rather the reverse, in fact and the trails and paths winding through it between the various locations give a sense of space and openness.

A friendly welcome awaits all at the Burnt Toast Café and Pub! Bring friends or make new ones. Drink coffee in the gazebo or have a pint in the pub!

– Burnt Toast Café and Tavern About Land description

The landing point delivers visitors to the top of a stone stairway leading down and away from the broad terrace on which the tavern stands. This terrace extends outwards from one of the curtail walls of rock separating the setting from the neighbouring parcel and helping to prevent structure, etc., from these intruding into the landscape or skyline. The pub faces out over open waters from which it is separated by two wide wooden decks, the lowermost of which extends out over the shingle shoreline, the pair of the decks offering comfortable seating under parasols and warmed by wrought-iron log-burning fires.

The stone steps descending from the tavern’s terrace to split, one arm reaching down to where a carousel turns on a ground-level terrace also overlooking the shoreline, whilst the second stretches down under a stone arch to grasp the tail of a path which teases the way onwards.

Passing an old clock tower sheltering wooden benches under its eves, the path can be used to reach the café itself as it sits within a wildling garden complete with (wishing?) well and a broad, bed-like platform slung beneath a balloon and ready for chats, cuddles or a taking a short ride. On the far side of this garden, a small cabin sits beside a pond to offer an cosy annex to the café, its porch offering a vantage point for observing the ducks on the quiet waters of the pond and the carp swimming beneath its surface – although closer views of both might be had from the leaf-shaped raft also floating on the water. Those with a keen eye will also likely spot the gazebo hiding under boughs and amidst bushes to one side of the garden as well.

Running in the opposite direction to the café, a remaining branch of the path runs through a stone pergola providing access to the west end of the setting and the large wooden pavilion raised within the walls and gardens of an ancient structure –  perhaps the land remnants of an old abbey or castle – the pavilion offering itself as a larger dance and events space.

Then there is the orangery, tucked alongside the western edge of the café’s garden and separated from the pavilion in its ruins by hefty nub of mossy rock. With wisteria dripping from its rafters and cosy sofas and armchairs occupying its floor, the orangery presents another place into which visitors can retreat and spend time.

Between all of these points, considerable care has gone into shaping a setting rich in the colours of nature as flowers bloom and shrubs blossom, giving the sense that what might have once been a barren, rocky landscape has been tamed by the growth of plants, shrubs and trees, becoming a more welcoming location than it might once have been; a place with the vegetation have in turn become subject to gentle husbandry to encourage their growth without allowing them to run totally wild.

Care has also been taken to try to blend the vegetation with the curtains of rock forming the borders to the land, such that the artificial nature of the latter is at least softened, if not completely obscured, making them far less intrusive than might otherwise be the case, and the setting even more natural in look and feel as a result.

For those who don’t like walking, or wish to quickly hop to a particular point within the grounds, a network of teleport disks is supplied. Again, care has been taken to try to avoid having these stick out too much, but they are easy to find – and they will be needed to reach a further location: the local beach.

Located over on the west side of the region, this presents a cosy beach house raised above soft sands and with a pool and deck to one side. At the time of my visit, the beach was isolated from the rest of the café’s ground by the intervening parcel which may be awaiting (re-)development as mentioned above, thus making the teleport disks the only easy means of reaching it.

All told, Burnt Toast Café and Tavern is an expressive and charming setting with a sense of welcome and an allure that encourages tarrying.

SLurl Details

• Burnt Toast Café and Tavern (Southern Marvel, rated Moderate)