Exploring Venice in Second Life

Seli Blackmore
Aug 17, 2020
3 min read

So I woke up this morning and just had that I "need to get away" feeling. You know when things are simply too much and all you really want to do is get on a plane and leave the country...well in real life that's not always realistic. But in so many ways Second Life was MADE for it.

So while searching my brain for places I wanted to go or that I hadn't been to in a long time I though ohhhh Venice! Italy is one of my absolute favorite countries in Europe and Venice is a city that I was only able to spend a few hours in RL but always wanted to go back to.

Luckily for me it just so happened to also be featured in SL's Destination guide!

So I got my go bag and shades on and headed of to enjoy a morning exploring the streets and canals of this ancient floating city in pixel format.

When I got there I have to say I had mixed feelings, on the one hand it felt and looked a lot like the real thing, but as so many other places it was a little dated in it's build..nothing a few good Windlights from Satomi can't fix!

The first thing I did as the sun started to climb the Linden horizon, was head over to one of the many waterside restaurants to enjoy a light breakfast before heading out in what my pixels identified was to be a very warm yet hazy Italian summer day.

The build covers many of the must see landmarks of the city including Ponte di Rialto (the Rialto Bridge) as well as St Marks Basilica and Beautifully located Santa Maria Basilica

-Santa Maria Basilica-

Santa Maria della salute or simply known as the Salute is located just as in real life in between the Grand Canal and Giudecca Canal looking out over the city and water in what can only be described as a magical location. And we all know what magical locations need...waffles on sticks ...obviously (thanks to Chicchica).

-St. Marks Basilica-

With it's well known copper horses believed to be dated somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd century AD in RL (not quite that old in pixel years) and brought into the Roman empire via Constantinople this is a must see if you travel to SL Venice.

With the temperature rising I made sure to buy a overpriced bottle of water as I took a afternoon stroll down the canal checking out the store fronts and all the beautiful masks and CHRISTMAS DECOR! (nuts!) lol.

There was a situation... I could blame lag or maybe I was just really hot... either way I fell into the canal at one point...or two. Thank god in SL there is no worrying about germs or what might be in that water. But I did however take the time to change into some dry clothes and go for a cup of coffee and indulge in some bad habits ...shhh what happens in Venice stays in Venice!

The ideal ratio of ingredients is 1/5 espresso coffee, 2/5 hot milk, 2/5 foam. Therefore, the quantities for a perfect cappuccino are as follows:

25 ml espresso coffee
100 to 140 ml creamy frothed milk
125 ml foam

Yes I know it's bad for me but there is just something about sitting outside on an Italian Piazza having a cigarette and a perfect cup of coffee while listening to Eros Ramazzotti.

Naturally I couldnt go to Italy without doing some shopping but I swear even my pixel feet were killing me at the end of the day.

It seemed like a good idea to get off my feet and go in search of a gondola,

Cus I mean you can't go to Venice and not go for a gondola ride!

A moment to relax both pixels and RL.

There really were so many places and things to explore in Venice with all the landmarks and beautiful places set up and I have to say the canal was one of my favorites.

In conclusion, though the build is slightly dated I would say this is definitely a place worth going.

There is something to be said for the amount of detail and realism that has been put into the place.

If there is one thing I would hold as a question mark it's the odd addition of japanese stuff somewhere in the back...but hey everyone loves anime so I'm sure Italians do as well.

Venice I will be back soon!! be it SL or RL!

xoxo

Seli