When I was checking scoop.it SL Destinations on Sunday, February 21st, I came across Skrunda-2. The entry led to a blogpost of Maddy Gynoid “Simtipp: Skrunda-2“, which I read before visiting myself.
The landmark description is precise and a short version of what to expect: “Skrunda-2 is loosely based on the town of the same name in Latvia. It was run by the Russians to host radar. They left in 1998 and what remains to this day is a complete, but empty ghost-town, a time capsule to Cold War paranoia and Soviet styling.”
Skrunda-2 in Second Life is built on a full region. It is owned by Titus Palmira and was designed by Megan Prumier and Sofie Janic. I remember that either Megan or Sofie had invited me over but busy me had forgot about it.
Skrunda-2 – bird’s eye view and overview map
I strongly recommend to read more about Skrunda-2 before visiting. You will get offered a notecard upon entering the sim, that contains the main information. But a look into wikipedia might also be very helpful.
Skrunda-2 in the physical world
When I started my tour I kept the preset windlight which is set to night. It gives the scenery an even more odd atmosphere. I went to the residential blocks in the center and visited the water tower. The lights are set nicely to illuminate the abandonned town. Nonetheless the pictures were a bit dark and won’t show the many details. Therefore I decided to change my environment setting to “Anan Adored Realistic”.
Skrunda-2 – at the landing, the water tower and the residential blocks.
There is really a lot to explore and discover at Skrunda-2. Unfortunately the sim was quite full and even without using shadows and with a low drawing distance the lag was quite heavy and made moving around difficult for me. I enjoyed my visit nonetheless.
I went to what I named “meeting hall” first. The hall seems to be used for events nowadays. But in general every building looks like it was just abandonned, there’s garbage, graffiti, stuff, furniture as if the town was just left yesterday. But what proves that is is already empty for many years is the returning vegetation that slowly takes over the place again (as in RL I assume).
Skrunda-2 – at the landing / the meeting hall
From another former residential part only ruins are left over, dogs stray through the roads and there’s still furniture outside and other relicts of former life. I’m sure there’s more to discover but lag prevented me from sneaking into every corner.
Skunda-2 – the residential ruins
Of course you also find the leftovers of the Russian army, cars, barracks, water and fuel tanks, antennas .. and you find spots to sit and to think about how it might have been here in those days.
Skrunda-2 – Impressions
Quite outstanding is a large building with many antennas on its roof. Inside you find several large rooms with art on the walls, vegetation inside of the building… and a funny statue on the roof. I have no idea if that building is part of Skunda-2 in the physcial world (it might be) and what its purpose was, yet the art inside is impressive.
Skrunda-2 – the Military complex
The residential blocks are a very good replica of those in the physcal world. Again you can go inside and see the leftovers of life. I did not explore this part in detail as navigating was too difficult for me, but Maddy had some pictures in his blogpost. I visited the old indoor pool, found a statue overlooking the sea and went into another building which purpose I couldn’t find out. I decided to name it “Logistics” as there were cardboard boxes inside, and large piles of bags of coal and some ropebelt conveyors.
Skrunda-2 – indoor pool, residential blocks, the statue overlooking the sea, logisitics building
Skrunda-2 is a paradise for photographers as there’s so much to discover, so many backgrounds you don’t easily get some place else. It is a place I’d never visit in real life, I didn’t even know about it. It reminded me immediately of Serene Footman, who also had many installations of odd places in real life. Hence for me this visit was also educational and made me doing some research.
There is much more to see than I saw during my visit of 1 1/2 hour.
And Randonee Noel made a short video of Skrunda-2. In the video you see the bunker. It is quite close to the landing, just turn right after you passed the entrance barrier.
Skrunda-2 – the bunker and the barracks close to the landing
I enjoyed my visit a lot and I learned a lot and I took many many pictures and I finally traveled to a foreign place again which made my day particularly during these times. Thank you Titus Palmira, Megan Prumier and Sofie Janic!
Landmark to Skrunda-2
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rockford/206/20/22
Wikipedia about Skrunda-2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrunda-1
Maddy Gynoid’s “Simtipp: Skrunda-2”
https://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2021/02/simtipp-skrunda-2.html
Video Randoneenoel
https://www.flickr.com/photos/randoneenoel/50943905512/in/pool-14746851@N23/
Sofie Janic’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154984823@N02/
Megan Prumier flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/meganprumier/
Diomita Maurer’s Blog 