> Period and Steampowered Transportation:
The village was laid out in a loose grid surrounding the central park and gazebo. Cobbled streets branched off in all four directions, with shops and houses situated along them. Streets were marked with lampposts and street names. 2 or 3 stagecoaches were there to carry passengers in a fixed route along the streets! How quaint.
A stone bridge linked this island to Caledon Caer Firnas, with a steam locomotive train running along the tracks. I also found a flying airplane and saw an airship in the distance over the adjacent SteamSkyCity.
> Architecture and Scenery:
Island is scenic, deserted and removed, only connected to the next town via the train. Colonial style houses lined the streets almost like a southern town, though most of the residences were empty or had shops on the inside. Houses were largely unfurnished but outfitted with well matched and subtly elegant floorboards, tiles, oriental rugs and floral/geometric wallpapers. Other features included clearly marked shops. Architecture is gorgeous and spot on- mix of elegant colonial and romantic Victorian style houses and more industrial looking equipment such as 2 factory looking buildings (that were clothing shops on the inside), and steam generators (large copper looking protrusions from the ground).
Other buildings included whimsical Dodo Redux, an elegantly furnished restaurant/bar with places to sit, and 1 observatory type place with clocks, moving solar system models, and an open roof to view the night sky.
I also saw what seemed to be a university, and interestingly enough on the inside consisted of a series of rooms interlinked by passageways and teleporters that displayed bulletin boards with information for visitors. For example, the “College of Comunication” room held 10 bulletin boards outlining proper etiquette, just like in the real Victorian era: no begging, friendship regulations, courtesy regulations, region ratings/avoiding sexual behavior, use of weapons, privately owned properties, community standards- “we hold ourselves to a higher standard of manners”, and says “period clothing and behavior are encouraged and welcomed". Bulletin boards in other rooms concern a tutorial on chatting in SL (10 bulletin boards in first room) and a Dodo bird museum exibit, though it didn’t really have too much information past noting the dodo bird is “known for his handsome tail and sparkling conversation”, which I witnessed firsthand when the stuffed bird talked to me, repeated what I said, and gave me a kiss when I asked nicely. The“colleges” or sections of the university, are separated by category relating to the bulletin boards in each to teach the user something about camera control or basic movement in Second Life. Example- there was a bulletin board that would instruct you to fly up to a whale skeleton, and type in the word engraved there to receive a prize.
Natural scenery is notable: Weeping willows drooping over roads, cobbled roads, night/day cycles show a gorgeous sunset, 1 park with a brook, 1 private garden with fountains, benches, flowers and trellises.
> Commerce:
Although I didn't see any steampunk attired inhabitants while I was on the island (besides 1 woman that stayed for 2 minutes dressed in jeans and a t shirt), the scope of the Caledon world was suggested in the variety of products displayed at all the shops. A big, Victorian style house that looked like a residence but was a shop on the inside was selling couple’s poses and romantic and cosy furniture. The Steampunk Emporium sold furnishings, crudely technological accessories, clothing such as top hats, steampunk firearms, and even textures for building houses. Alice in Caledon advertised ladies' apparel and dresses, as well as 2 other shops devoted to womens' wear too (I didn't find any shops devoted entirely to menswear). Another more modern looking brick building held a Caledon Oxbridge Fencing game inside, though I saw no combatants. Inside 2 factories, I found clothes for sale as well as everything from top hats and pocket watches to books, furniture, an air krakken, kites, a carousel: smaller items cost 100-400 linden dollars usually, with larger animated items like the kraken priced at 1000 or over.
One thing I found interesting was how the SL prices didn't seem to correspond to real world prices or values at all. For example, a gun with many bullet animations from the Steampunk Emporium is priced at 200-400 LD, the same price as an entire airship. Something strange I found was an advertisement for Na'vi avatars based on the characters from Jame Cameron's AVATAR movie- I didn't think this fit with the Victorian theme though it was loosely sci fi.
Leading off from the main circle around the central park of the town, I found The Markets on Thistle Hill, a circle of vending stands and buildings that were clearly shops: Circle of 10 shops; 3 were spaces for rent, 1 selling classic elegant jewelry, 1 selling toys and office items, all Victorian styled; 1 selling valentine’s day type things; 1 selling period dress; some selling Victorian furniture.
Later, I attended a krakken event on the Caledon Caer Firnas island, but when I arrived, I watched the 5 people there engaging in a shooting range competition instead and I didn't see the krakken. At least I got a free rifle out of it! As one might expect, the people I saw and talked to spoke formally, like one might expect someone in the Victorian era to speak; 1 was dressed in a more technological, grungy steampunk outfit while the rest were sporting more Victorian outfits. This also gave me a chance to witness more themed vehicles- a steam powered large "walker" and a mini airship someone's avatar was riding in.
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