Category: Reviews

Soul2Soul Med – click any image for full size

In February 2018, I wrote about a visit we made to two Homestead regions designed by Minnie Blanco (Minnie Atlass): Soul2Soul River and Soul2Soul Bay (see here for more). While I’m somewhat hesitant about blogging regions that are intended for rental purposes, but both Soul2Soul River and Soul2Soul Bay were so beautifully designed and offered sufficient public spaces, I felt comfortable in writing about them.

Since then, Minnie has added a third region to her group, Soul2Soul Med. As the name implies, this homestead region has something of a Mediterranean theme to it. Once again, the region in part offers properties for rent to those looking for a home; although at the time of our visit there were only three such properties on the region, leaving the greater part of it open to public exploration.

Soul2Soul Med – click any image for full size

Visitors arrive on the southern most of the two island the regions has been split into. This points roughly south-west to north-east, a rocky shoulder of land on which is perched a little hamlet sitting above a beach and pier for boat moorings. Gaily painted houses run along the upper street, although the paint on some of them is showing signs of fading under the bright Sun. Cars are parked along the little street, flowers are in full bloom, while the café half-way down the slope to the beach presents a welcome rest-stop from explorations.

A second rocky island crosses the first to the north, forming a “t” to its base. A narrow channel separates the two islands, turning south to run between them to the east, a single bridge spanning it.

Soul2Soul Med – click any image for full size

This northern island is given over to the rental properties.  All three are spread far enough apart to offer those renting them a fair amount of privacy, while roads leading from each of them come together before the bridge, offering a direct connection with the little hamlet on the southern island.

There’s a feeling of life that has been added to the region: boats are moored down on the water; bicycles and vehicles are scattered around, and a couple of maintenance chaps are performing repairs here and there. Meanwhile, and on the edge of town is the ruin of a house where a group of mannequins appear to have set-up home, complete with a bed on the upper floor and a broken-down truck parked out back. It’s a further quirky addition that gives the region additional atmosphere and depth.

Soul2Soul Med – click any image for full size

With its rugged, coastal look, mixed flora, hilltop hamlet and surrounding hills, Soul2Soul Med is delightfully picturesque, and matches both Soul2Soul River and Soul2Soul Bay in the level of detail and styling put into the region. For those looking for somewhere to live, the rental parcels are well placed and offer a lot of room. For those looking for a place to explore – remembering that there are private residences on one of the islands – and take photographs, Soul2Soul Med offers an ideal destination.

SLurl Details

• Soul2Soul Med (Ancient Sea, rated: Moderate)

A Little Bit of Soul – click any image for full size

Update: A Little Bit of Soul is now closed, and SLurl links have been removed from this article.

Occupying one half of a Full region, A Little Bit of Soul is group design offering a huge amount to see and explore.  Running from west to east across the region, it presents what might be seen as a build in three parts, all of which flow together to offer a unifies setting.

At the western end is a built-up area which encloses the landing point. Split into two parts, it encloses the landing point within a plaza-like square surrounded by boutique-style businesses, some of which have town style houses built above them. Footpaths run around the shops on two sides, one of which forms a small road lined with more shop fronts with living spaces over them, while the other offers a way to a waterfront area.

A Little Bit of Soul

This small precinct offers a pristine setting: shop fronts are freshly painted, balconies are lined with potted plants, and trees and hedges are neatly trimmed. A small metal gazebo sits towards the middle of the square, a harpsichord, guitar and drum set forming a curious setting for a trio of musicians. All-in-all, there is a strong European cosmopolitan air within this part of the parcel.

Walk westward across the plaza from the landing point, and you’ll find a narrow set of steps lead up to the second half of this built-up area. This is altogether more run-down in tone – and becomes progressively more so as you explore. It is reached via two pairs of doors at the top of the steps leading up from plaza, which open onto another square surrounded on three sides by what might at first glance appear to be small apartments or perhaps hotel rooms, windows lit. With its hanging ivy, open verandahs in cast iron, and open courtyard, this area has something of an old New Orleans feel to it.

A Little Bit of Soul

With the exception of a first floor room sitting over an arched entrance leading out of the square, the “rooms” of this hotel / apartment setting are actually false, and demonstrate a clever use of space on the part of the designer here, Megan Prumier. Pass through the archway and take the ramp or steps on its other side, and you’ll find the “rooms” of the hotel / apartment house have become the frontage for run-down stores facing out onto little streets.

This raised area offers a collection of footpaths and open spaces set with tables and chairs, market stalls and other bric-a-brac and general detritus, all set amidst the shells of ruined buildings. The entire area exuding an aged feel, with more shells of ruined buildings sitting off-shore, rising above tall walls to give the parcel an added sense of depth.

A Little Bit of Soul

Travel east from the landing point, under an archway between two stores, and you’ll come to the second element in the parcel’s design. The first part of this area is a small chapel and churchyard, again put together by Megan, caught under a steady downfall of rain. Beyond this, under a further archway, sits a much smaller group of shops, bordered on both sides by woodlands, the southern of which has paths and trails running through it, as well as places to sit – or bathe.

Designed by Xange Madrigal, this area flows seamlessly into the surrounding woodlands and the surrounding rugged countryside. A small body of water can be found here, together with a raised terrace with seating while more paths lead the way to hidden gems of areas, simple wooden bridges crossing the water where necessary to encourage explorers onwards.

A Little Bit of Soul

And still there is more: the eastern end of the region offers more woodland, copses, trails, an outdoor space for weddings or other celebrations, a waterfront  a sauna deck and gazebo looking out over offshore islands which again add further depth to the parcel, and a cabin-style home. These have all been brought together by several more contributors to the region – although I’m not entirely sure if the cabin is intended to be open to the public at large, so please keep this in mind when visiting.

Throughout my visits, A Little Bit of Soul was caught under a twilight sky, and while this works, I would suggest it limits the appreciation of the beauty of the parcel, which far more comes to life under a daylight setting. However, I strongly recommend seeing the setting under both its intended windlight (Bryn Oh’s Mayfly) and a good daylight setting: A Little Bit of Soul is a marvellous setting, well deserving of a visit.

A Little Bit of Soul

With thanks toy Shakespeare (SkinnyNilla).