Scenes From Bellisseria

 
By Gemma Cleanslate

 I had so many things on my plate that I have not been able to get around Bellisseria. I took a little tour around some of the sites that exist in the present Bellisseria as it is now. Jon Ree does a marvelous job of sending out updated information as new sites appear so there will be more as the continent grows and expands.

One of the first stops I made was to the volcano in the Yancey region. I hope the nearby residents have a lot of insurance. It is 80+ m high and is bubbling so it is of concern but hopefully the Moles will keep it under control. I took a look inside and that was enough. There are actually six volcanoes on this continent. I am not sure if all are active, but will check that out.

At Franklin Hollow next to the railroad I found a great fossil of a dinosaur having been there millions of years ago. They are in the rocks that were removed to place the railroad is my guess.

 I am amazed there is not a fence to protect them from visitors touching. I hope the smoke from old train engines do not harm them.

Below the waters of a lake in Gridlock region there is a large skeleton of a dragon. The dragon was large and practically intact so it is my guess that it must have crashed into the lake while flying by.

My trip  to a new unnamed region called at present, SSPE1171 landed me at  a pleasant pavilion that overlooked Hotsprings where one can get a good view of the region . It has seating so relax and enjoy the mist from the waterfall and springs. This region has a great deal of water and is very lovely. If you aim for the center of the island in the lake you will land near the pavilion. Anyone can visit this continent and enjoy the amenities in the protected lands.

Monnia is a strange region. The Moles must have worked here during the winter and built an ice fishing shack on the huge lake. There are ice flows still on the lake and so far the shack is still safe. I wonder how long they will stay. Will they come back for the Shack? We will see.

Again the Moles have left a camper in a secret place under the waterfall. I looks like they still correspond a lot with and about Magellan. 

Check the computer if you go there . Or, this may be one of the hiding places where Magellan still visits. Looking at the remnants on the desk.... one of his cigarettes still burns!! That is a sign!

I went over  to Decker region to the waterways and dropping under water. Here I found another fishing shack almost destroyed. Now I know what will happen to the fishing shack on the ice flow unless Abnor Mole grabs it soon. It also adds to my suspicion of where Magellan is hiding since he left his hideaway in the Mountain of the Linden Realms.  There are so many waterways, ponds,  rivers, lakes and oceans in Second Life. Who knows ...

My last stop of the day was at Die Betrunkene Maus (The Drunk Mouse), a new gathering place in the regions that opened  with new Chalets as a Bellisseria home choice. There is plenty of room for big dinners or meetings or dance parties. Or a great place to hang out with friends for happy hours.

I ran into Claw Streeter there with a tankard of beer already in his hand. Go visit this spectacular  building and check out the new area. If you want more landmarks just ask I will send them.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Muehlenbach/181/118/37

Gemma Cleanslate
 

Bell Weather

Gemma Cleanslate

courtesy of  Achilles Audion

What a day on the Bellisseria continent!  First of all ,I arrived at my houseboat just to change outfits and check all my notices . I really planned to leave after that to get to real-life work. However!! Immediately the Citizens chat erupted with exclamations!

“That Cloud is very dark”
“ snowing!! woohoo”
“THUNDERSTRUCK”
“there is rolling something over the street Oo
“TWISTER IS HERE!!!!!!”
““weather is so crazy I don't know what to wear >”

courtesy of  Achilles Audion

I stepped outside my houseboat and looked at the beautiful clouds drifting over and noticed the sound of wind.Sure enough those lovely clouds were spawning twisters. Weather has arrived on Bellisseria in all the regions. I quickly closed my sliding doors to the porch .

I flew over the the land regions to see how it was there. Sure enough weather changing constantly everywhere . And then.I saw a crowd gathering and  the usually busy quiet working Moles began to act up. They were riding giant rats down some streets causing chaos, throwing cows around, lighting people on fire. It turned into a riot. Suddenly they all disappeared one yelling out, “come find us.”

I did find them hanging around the base of a tall mountain in a region devoid of homes. As we stood there I saw that this is a volcano. This became the playground for the moles and more and more residents showed up to join in the fun. Lots of moles!  Adora, Alotta, Chronos, Sleepy, Frost, Lulabell, Moonstruck, Maximus , Ancient, and a new one to me, Glowing Mole all having a terrific April Fool's Day. Well, eruptions of volcanoes can be fun. I saw one brave protester, Rachel,  standing at the rim of the volcano holding a sign, looking for log homes. Avatars settled on the surface of the lava  when it was not erupting and the joviality went on for quite a long time.

Suddenly the chat erupted again. Patch issued a message that finally the log cabins were ready for release. All those who had abandoned their homes and were waiting for release it was a near riot. Many of us followed Squeaky Mole over to the edge of a region with emptiness before us Then a new region appeared and we ran across it with her to the next region where we found the new Log homes in exquisite landscaping. It was a thrill to finally see them not as a demo but available in huge numbers to those waiting for them. I brought out my horse and took a ride on the dirt roads that wind through the regions . The are perfect for horse back riding. I took out my golf cart and it was good to take a spin not putting grooves in the manicured lawns of the Victorians. There is a great choice of homes to chose from.

It was a fun and exhausting day on April 1 on Bellisseria. Today the weather has calmed down and peace has returned .. until next time.

Gemma Cleanslate

Bellisseria: The New Linden Homes Continent

By Gemma Cleanslate

I have been visiting the new continent to roam around the roads, view the parks and swimming pools and beaches. The area I visited is all settled . It only took 48 hours to fill up!

The houses are new designs and reminiscent of the east coast towns in the USA to me. I checked them out .

Actually,though charming,  they are not appealing to me. My house in Thorstar is a condo and open ,  not too big or too small  and sits on a mainland island facing the waterway. I have lived here for 10 years. as a renter.

I find these houses have too many walls, stairs and the rooms to me are confining. I checked out all the types . They are lovely and I know many could not wait to move in. I think hundreds are still waiting!

However . though some say they are small, I love the houseboats!  So I am waiting for one now.
I packed up all my furniture and abandoned my linden home in Padgett. According to the Second Life Community Linden Homes forum  discussion and the blog  we are all watching for the opening of the new area which has so many houseboats with slips for boats. Every day we watch and wait. Patch Linden says the moles and LDPW are hard at work for the next opening

My friend Evola Courtois already has a houseboat and Cali Courtois (Caliba Sassower) , his partner is getting one also. He sent me over to a small island where I could see all the houseboats being prepared in the new site to open .

I met a new friend ,Kἷќἷ Ðĩνĩπĩէу (KiKiDivinity Resident) sitting on a rock gazing out over the water. She already has a home there and is active in the police department. My friends Evola and Caliba came along in a boat. I decided to rezz a boat and take kiki for a ride . It started well but I passed the bouy and that was a nono. We ended up in the water where kiki told me that the bouy was the stopping point and she was trying to warn me. Ah well. Next time I will know better!

 I will let you know what happens with the new home. By the time this is published may already have it! Patch Linden  just posted that they expect the houseboats to be available in 24 hours!  If you want to take a look this will take you to the island  where you can put your draw line out to see the new docks .
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Springhurst%20Gulf/228/170/23

insert new cont 002

Gemma Cleanslate

Bay City: Reminiscences

 By Gemma Cleanslate

Bay City. I cannot believe it is seven years since Bay City appeared on the map. I remember visiting the newly formed lands that were almost empty at the time. My early recollections are of an open area with tree lined paths a large pond with plants around. I recall empty marked roads waiting for traffic and well ordered canals with bridges connecting the areas. I am sure I took a ride on a boat along the canals and also a ride on a trolley car that gave me an overview of the lands. I think I passed an industrial area along the ride. It is hard to remember much more. One thing I do  delight in, I learned to bowl there in Bay City. It was great fun. I wish I could access the article I did at the time for the SL Newspaper, but it is lost in the mist of the internet somewhere. It was in my early days so everything new was a great adventure . 

 

“Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab™ and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life™ and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network.”  I took that quote from the profile of the Bay City Alliance Group description.

The Bay city of today is so different from back then. It is a vibrant community holding events that are lots of fun and inviting everyone to attend. The Fairgrounds in the North Channel  is the place for great vintage car expo, flea markets,  parties for the Moles of Second Life every year. Citizens are very fond of the Moles who built the regions . There is a party to chose the Miss Bay City every year and so much more. Actually you can read all about the history of the area in the second life wiki . http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Bay_City

 

I went over to look around again before their 7th anniversary next weekend and reminisce on the early days and the massive changes that have taken place. I stopped off at the community center but it was early and no one was there yet. If you visit there you can pick up their flag, a tee shirt, see some artifacts of the past and events and read abut the history on placards set up by Marianne McCann, a prominent citizen. On the wall there is an excellent map of Bay City as it is today. Click and you will get a list of the  landmarks.  I stopped over at the Harbor which is a vibrant area full of boats.There is an infohub at Moose beach where I made a visit. I took a look at the Hau Koda airport and the Cafe Deco. The Amusement Park is a fun place to visit as is the Bayou Theater. I missed the canal trolley sorry to say, but will go try to catch it when I can.  I was able to catch the other trolley for a ride along the roads . 

 

At the end of the line I found my bowling alley in Handa. This was the point of my first visit those many years ago. It was a great thrill! Ah, the olden days...  I am so looking forward to the parade along route 66 on Sunday May 17 at 12:30 PM SL time ! It will be a great time! 

 

Hope to see  you there in Bay City! http://slnewser.blogspot.com/2015/05/press-release-bay-city-celebrates-its.html

 

Gemma Cleanslate

Winter Wonderland: Four Sims Full of Fun

By Gemma Cleanslate

I just happened to give a call to my friend Marianne Mccann to ask a question. Where was she? Having a great time in Winter Wonderland 2015! I rushed right over . The Linden Lab opened these four sims on Thursday January 29 and I am glad I found out. I have been looking for more winter sport places lately and this is an ultimate  that you won’t want to miss. When I arrived I was invited to accept an experience and you will have to do that to enjoy all the gadgets in the sims. Patch Linden was hanging out there and so was Keira Linden acting as a greeter, checking to see if I had accepted the experience. 

 

The little village is a delightful build and you will find many presents there in the gazebo. Heading out into the country side I followed the signs to the skating arena first and took some spins around the ice. At the end of a road in the village I noticed that there are fireworks on the hour every hour . Then I headed over to the snowmobile  rezzer and accidently hopped on one being driven by Kono Mole who took me for a wild ride on the slopes and then abandoned me in a snow pile to move on. I rezzed one myself to try it out and it is really a wild ride. There is a snowboard rezzer if you want that experience instead. The track is long and harrowing. 

 

I ran into a snowball fight going on in that area and rezzed a weapon to get in on the action. Great fun! It reminded me of the vigorous snowball fights we used to have with the Lindens every year and hopes I can be there when they are in that area. I made my way back into the village where Abnor Mole was entertaining every one with violin solos . Lovely music for a lovely setting. Jo Yardley also played some flute solos before she left to go back to Berlin. The place was full of Moles and Lindens checking out everything and having fun trying out the vehicles . There is a huge snowman standing watch over the sims.  The winter ferris  wheel nearby  is a ride not to be missed! Solo and couple seats raise you high into the air where you get a terrific view of the sims.  

 

For premium members, before you go to the wonderland stop over at a premium kiosk and pick up the big gift box there . Inside with other goodies you will find a hud and a token. Wear both when you are on the sims and you will be offered chances for premium choices.  Everyone is invited to vist and enjoy the winter fun! So glad the Lindens did this to round out the winter season! Many of the gorgeous places I wrote about in December have closed for the season . I have not finished the complete tour of the sims yet and will be revisiting. 

Begin your adventure here:   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Winter%20Wonderland%202/192/138/38

 

Gemma Cleanslate