Caledon SouthEnd--Walking (and Shopping) Down Memory Lane

Last night, Wrath and I spent a bit of time in Caledon SouthEnd.  SouthEnd has long been known as one of the shopping areas of Caledon. (One year, the shop owners there actually united and had a Christmas shopping weekend, complete with owners/designers on location to greet shoppers, touring carolers, and events scheduled throughout the day. I loved it. Back then, I was new to Caledon and still had dual citizenship in both Caledon and Covenstead--events such as that weekend made me decide to move fully to Caledon.)

We set down not far from Mr. Smashcan's home in southwest SouthEnd and set off from there, first stopping at the Caledon Merry-Go-Round. The Merry-Go-Round has been in SouthEnd for as long as I can remember--quite a feat in a world where things can be so fleeting.

Wrath and I couldn't resist hopping on!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/80/72/24

Right next to the Caledon Merry-Go-Round, the SouthEnd Ice Cream Shoppe allows visitors to treat themselves to a cone as they walk around and shop.

And it's calorie free too!

Walking through the ice cream shoppe, we came across another landmark in Caledon history (and our own), the Eye of Caledon Ferris wheel. The Eye of Caledon is another fixture that has been in SouthEnd for years, indeed Wrath and I rode it on one of our first "dates."

Riding the Eye in 2013

Christmas 2008 on the Eye of Caledon 

(with a human Wrath!!!)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/90/71/24

Just across the pier from the Eye of Caledon is one of the long-standing businesses in SouthEnd, Port Royal. Port Royal specializes in harpsichords and organs, but they have a lot more. (I can't resist playing around on the merchandise when I visit.) ;)

Instant virtuoso!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/113/104/24

Not far to the north of Port Royal, the Caledon Air Transit (CAT) station allows visitors a scenic method of getting around the nation. There's also a McSushi restaurant right next to the station--so you can feast on virtual fish while waiting on the next airship to come around.

Feesh and airships, what could be better?

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/61/170/23

Not far from the CAT station, SouthEnd's menhir stands silently watching over residents, shopowners and visitors alike. I have yet to figure out the menhirs' secrets, but there are a handful spread around the nation and they've become part of Caledon's mythical lore.

What's the mystery of the menhir?

On the other side of the sim stand the shops of long-time shop owners Taff Nouvelle and Brioni Rossini which sell goods to properly feather Victorian nests. Rossini's tower is yet another long-time SouthEnd feature. (Again, some personal history here--Wrath's original home in Caledon was located right across from these two shops, on the eastern coastline of SouthEnd.)

Brioni Rossini's shop and tower in SouthEnd

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/182/108/23

Finally, Wrath and I found ourselves outside the shops of Mr. Alastair Whybrow. Mr. Whybrow is best known as a jeweler, however, to the side of his jewelry shop, Sparkle of Sound (which got it's start in Caledon Sound!), stands a smaller shop full of a variety of builds including tools and vehicles. I had to pick up a solar-powered newfangled car contraption and a penny-farthing. 

I had to steel myself before entering the Sparkle of Sound shop.  You see, I'm partial to Whybrow tiaras. The first one I bought had a mermaid theme and, at one point, I swore that it helped me catch 7Seas mermaids (it never missed!). Later, Mr. Whybrow designed a cats-ear tiara that I wore in my virtual wedding to Wrath. While the Iron Cloud was being built, I again went back to Mr. Whybrow and the Steampunk Empress tiara was created for the IC's opening night.

How'd those bunneh ears get in the shot of Mr. Alastair's shops?

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/139/78/24

We weren't in the shop for long before Wrath heard me exclaim "MINE!" Yup, another tiara--this one called the Steampunk Supremo--not as sim-crashingly primmy as some I've seen, but still really fun with moving gears and a power station--in jewels--on my head!!

As we left Mr. Whybrow's shops, I noticed a sign on the side of the railroad tracks. One can't say that our Guv'nah doesn't have a sense of humor--to read the sign, one is trespassing on the track. ;D

Railroad warning--what's the exchange rate of L$ to shillings, anyway?

It was fun, this little jaunt down memory lane--and I bought a few goodies while at it. I look forward to repeating it in a few other shopping areas. (Whatever excuse to buy some new prettehs!)

Have some memories of Caledon SouthEnd?  Share them in the comments section! 

Crimson Pirates: Humble Beginnings

I've noticed way too many groups in Second Life wither and die or grow to the point that no one knows the history behind the community and culture that was built.  Being one of the early members of the notorious Crimson Pirates in Caledon, I thought it was important to chronicle the saga of those who don the "Bunneh Roger".  This is the first in what will be a series of posts, highlighting the founding and history of the CP.

The Crimson Pirates formed as part of a smuggling ring out of Constantine Castle in Caledon Southend.  Rachire Wulluf was the captain then, running his Crimson Fang I in and out of the Castle on various rather shady runs, while under the protection of the Castle's owner, Lord Wrath Constantine.

Constantine Castle at SouthEnd

When Lord Constantine "acquired" the center of the Caledon Firth in Middlesea, Wulluf and the Crimson Pirates found a centralized hub, surrounded by plenty of open sky and water to run weaponry and other sundry supplies to their buyers.  While tourists were welcomed by the new Duke of Middlesea, Lord Constantine, little notice was made of those who disappeared after haplessly stumbling upon areas that were better left unseen below the island.

Smugglers' Dock under Middlesea Castle

 

Duke Constantine surveying the evening's swag

 

Times were good for the Crimson Pirates and their leaders.  Because they were operating with little notice, the hauls were enormous.  Wulluf and Constantine were also well paid for staying discrete as far as the names and holdings of their clientele.  Needless to say, Caledon's Firth was well supplied with firepower, kittehnip, and rum--but they had bigger visions.

It was during this time that two ladies entered the picture.  Ger Udimo was a (mostly) quadruped tigress who periodically transformed into a raven haired beauty with a penchant for creative ballistics.  Wulluf was enamored and quickly, the Crimson Pirates' base in underground Middlesea was transformed into a home for the new couple. 

There was one problem with this arrangement.  Wulluf's former mistress, Aettrynne the Firth Witch, had a front row seat of the new love affair and was not pleased.  As they took their vows to partner, she also vowed to get her revenge.

Her first weapon of choice was her young student, Aevalle Galicia (moi!).  Daughter of a fae goddess and Cath Palug, an Irish changling cat demon, Aevalle certainly had powers, but after being abducted by Aettrynne as a child, she had been shaped into the little priestess that served the Firth Witch well.  Aevalle was to be a ticking time bomb--get in and seduce those in charge of Middlesea and then pull them apart from within.

Fate had another plan however.  Once Aevalle met Duke Constantine, her heart was his.  After several months, they made their partnership official and the Crimson Pirates earned its first two female protectors.

~~End of Humble Beginnings~~
~~Coming Next...Aettrynne Seeks Revenge, Middlesea in Flames, and Spreading Out with Rum~~