Nusquam

Nusquam, a sim designed by Randi Lenroy (with a few contributions from her partner Krius Misfit and friend Clementine Ishtari), has rapidly become one of Second Life's most photographed destinations, and this spectacular sim is sure to please not only photographers but also explorers, couples, and those who seek a little solitude. "Welcome to nowhere," says the sim's simple yet fitting description ("nusquam," as blogger Eddi Haskell pointed out, being Latin for "nowhere").

Visitors arrive in a dimly lit bar, something of a converted barn straddling railroad tracks, with drinks to one side, billiards to the other, and a pile of junk in the overhead loft. The tracks head off toward the south through thick woods that almost create a tunnel (image above), finally ascending a hill and emerging into the light at the southeast corner, where a lighthouse overlooks the rocky coast below (next image). The tracks then turn to the right, travel on a narrow ridge (partly propped up by crumbling wooden supports), until finally tumbling off the edge of the hillside into the sea, accompanied by several leaning telephone poles (fourth image). Here, we find ourselves separated from the rest of the sim by a long body of water, with the option to fly north or to simply retrace our steps.

Leaving the bar in the other direction, to the north, explorers will quickly emerge into an open space where several train cars lie jumbled as the tracks end, one of the boxcars now home to an encampment. Our view expands to see a great field (top image), which is bisected by a long dirt road leading from the tracks to a building Randi calls a home/garage/office; a station wagon that looks past its lifespan and some farm equipment lie scattered here and there. A pier extends from the home out into the open waters, providing a calm scene of fishing boats under swirling flocks of seagulls (lowest image).

Everywhere are incredible vistas — it seems as though no matter where one turns or looks, there's something striking to see, while, on the smaller scale, exquisite details abound. Poses are plentiful for those looking for quiet time with a friend or for photography. If you enjoy your visit, please consider leaving a contribution in support of Nusquam.