The CDS Monastery

Continuing our tour of the Confederation of of Democratic Simulators states, the CDS Monastery delivers what the name promises.

The monastery is currently home to an exhibit entitled "Angels: The Representation of Angels in Western Painting," which runs through Feb. 10.


The exhibit includes works by SL artists, as well as representations of paintings by RL artists.

The angel below is one of my favorites. Curse those Romantics!

As this is an actual monastery, however, it holds other objects of interest. I stumbled across the brewery, and sampled some of the friars' work. Heavenly!

Alpine Meadow

My trip through the CDS continued in Alpine Meadow. Below is the AMUA Theater, called the Old Bowl. Though the site appears to date from Roman times, the theater is equipped with thoroughly modern lighting, as one can see by the stage.

Alpine Meadow lies below Neufreistadt: one can see the castle walls looking over the row of houses. This area seemed to be under development, and designed for mixed use. Some of the buildings appeared to be shops while others appeared to be private residences.

The terrain continues downhill. Below, a shot overlooking the town (and, beyond, the land of Colonia Nova).

Other than the theater and the tavern (two photographs below), most of the buildings appeared to be private residences, all of which have steeply-sloped roofs to prevent weighty snow from accumulating to excess.

Below is the Mexana Monica tavern, which would seem to be a logical gathering place for residents. The tavern was not open when I passed by - no opportunity for a bracing schnapps, sadly - but signs noted that it sometimes featured live entertainment.

I had planned to continue to the river and across, into the old Roman town of Colonia Nova. However, to the west I spied an old monastery, and set out to explore it next.

Winter in Bavaria

It was a crazy idea: travel north during the winter. What was I thinking? Caledon is cold enough, and now I was going to go further north? Into the mountains as well?

Apparently no idea is too crazy to be rejected, so I bundled myself in the warmest garments I had and purchased a ticket to Neufreistadt, in the CDS, or, more formally, the Confederation of Democratic Simulators. The predecessor organization to the CDS was formed with the intention of being governed by its residents. (More information can be found here.) As such, it is something of an oddity in our world, filled as it is with Owners, Guvnahs, Emperors, Prim Ministers, and assorted autocrats. Still, they seem to have gotten along for some time, and the Bavarian nation, though not precisely part of the Steamlands, might be considered a kindred spirit in some ways.

I started in the Marketplace, which was still decorated for Christmas.


Surprisingly for the altitude and time of year, the plaza was warm, and I could enjoy a drink from the Plaza Cafe at an outdoor table. (Not that warm. You may imagine that I am shivering while attempting to hold still enough for the photograph.)


The Antiquariat Bookstore provided a lengthy diversion as I perused shelf upon shelf of titles. I also stopped at the Information Center and lovely church at the far end of the Marketplace.

The old town is a charming walled city that appears to date from the Middle Ages. Naturally, the castle - the Schloss Neufreistadt - towers over the town, occupying the highest spot, with its towers often lost in the low-lying clouds. As night started to fall, the air became quite chilly, and I was glad to stop in the Biergarten near the castle to warm up with a lager.

Outside the walls of the old city, in the valley below, sit more modern houses, as well as a handful of shops. Away from the heat of the old town the season is more obvious, with snow covering everything but the well-cleared walkways. The steep terrain makes the area suited for downhill skiing. Not me, mind you: I may embrace crazy ideas, but I have some limits!

By then it was time to retire for the evening in a cozy guesthouse. Next, I visit the adjacent CDS territory, Alpine Meadow.