Our second stop this week was a late substitution and a welcome return to one of the funnest places - the revamped Tromso region on Wolf Territories Grid. 
Jimmy Olsen the creator is always working on refining his builds and with the help of his close friends Tessa and Xenon, the trip was guaranteed to have us laughing from the get go. It's a large, mountainous VAR with an excellent road system and teleports to all the main attractions and features the real world weather conditions of Norway thanks to a scripting system (available for free) that reads the latest meteorological conditions, the time of sunrise and sunset etc, and then reproduces them inworld. Just another of the fabulous freebies of Opensim that inspire us all to give something back to the community according to our own talents and abilities.
Currently the show is by Dorena Verne of donrenasworld. She is exhibiting pictures of her AI generated self and some opinion pieces too.
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| Dorena's pictures fill the ground floor of the Expo for the next month |
Both ladies very kindly volunteered to show us around at only a few days' notice, as this season of Safari has been littered with booking changes - the chaos of the real world is seeping inevitably into our pixel plans. But we were on rock solid ground with this team and this grid, and it was a pleasure to see everyone enjoying the amazing talent of Jimmy, with erudite explanations to match.
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): All aboard! Next, we’ll head to Polaria, a faithful digital echo of the real museum and aquarium in Tromsø.
On the way to Polaria we briefly stopped at another Tromsø landmark, the Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) with its wavy, icebergy roof and amazing light and modern interior. Fun fact, it's not really a cathedral at all, the official Tromso Cathedral is in the old town on the original island settlement. 
It's much more of your typical church, and way less in harmony with the natural beauty of this place which is why it has been rather supplanted by this parish church since it was first build in the 1960s. If the building rings some bells for you, it's because we visited the same church on a different grid back in 2023 - another fun Scandinavian trip... how time flies.
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): The original Polaria is known for its distinctive “ice floe” architecture — a series of angular, overlapping forms that look like slabs of sea ice pushed onto land. Jimmy’s version preserves that iconic silhouette while adapting it to the region’s scale and environment.
Tina Bey: wauu
Jimmy Olsen: aaaaaahh we gonna die
Forest Azure: i sit in someone
Thirza Ember: My shirt says I am the designated survivor but I am beginning to think a shirt may not be enough protection
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): I don't think it is Thirza!
Tina Bey: This is much more dangerous than my skateboard.
On the way to Polaria we briefly stopped at another Tromsø landmark, the Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) with its wavy, icebergy roof and amazing light and modern interior. Fun fact, it's not really a cathedral at all, the official Tromso Cathedral is in the old town on the original island settlement. 
It's much more of your typical church, and way less in harmony with the natural beauty of this place which is why it has been rather supplanted by this parish church since it was first build in the 1960s. If the building rings some bells for you, it's because we visited the same church on a different grid back in 2023 - another fun Scandinavian trip... how time flies.Onwards and upwards, back on the bus we continued to risk life and limb on the great road system Jimmy has made here. It's never easy to make roads that go uphill, and even harder for some of us to navigate them.
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| The rubber rarely meets the road when Xenon is driving |
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Jimmy is having to give Xe directions as we move along! It's a big place!
Xenon Darrow: Cross yourselves and dismount! :D
Jupiter Rowland: Is that Lone chasing us?
Jimmy Olsen: SAFARI OF OPENSIM! GATHERING CITIZENS!!
Xenon parked outside the building on a roundabout with her usual defiance of the highway code, and we all jumped out and went inside.
Xenon Darrow: I think Tessa mentioned that this is the statue replica that is in Tromso of the famous Norwegian explore. Brought to you by meshy. The bear is another one.
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): This is the bear that ate Roald. lol
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Inside, you’ll find the same thematic focus on Arctic wildlife, ocean currents, and environmental storytelling. It’s both a tribute to the real Tromsø landmark and a functional hub for visitors exploring the region.
Jimmy Olsen: HYPERGRID ♥♥♥ SA-FA-RI ♥♥♥ i made this GESTURE using AI who wants a copy IM me pls lol
Star Ravenhurst: I spy a Wolf!!
Koshari.Mahana: Hi Lone! good to see you.
Essensual McMahon: hiya Wolfie
Jupiter Rowland: Hi Lone!
Dorena Verne: Hello Lone
Lone Wolf : /me waves ...great to see everyone
Koshari Mahana: Aww, cute baby sea lions
Forest Azure: cold here!
Koshari Mahana: Jimmy is dressed for the cold. Love your coat!
Jimmy Olsen: its cold here even in summer lol
Xenon Darrow: ahoy everyone!! look up and you will see our next leg of transportation - the famous FLYING VIKING BOAT!... ALL ABOARD! No ticket and you will be thrown OVERBOARD
Jupiter Rowland: Looks safe...
Beth Ghostraven: wow, our own sail!
Thirza Ember: looks can kill Jup
Forest Azure: /me misses the bus
Xenon Darrow: everyone seated???
Dorena Verne: We definitely don't need to row^^
Xenon Darrow: AND WE'RE OFF!
Jupiter Rowland: Did anyone remember to bring some mead along?!
Jimmy Olsen: i remember Luna Lunaria hair flying around the whole ship when we were all on air
Forest.Azure: /me is on the lookout for Thor
Xenon Darrow: Jimmy has once again, created a lovely airport! Realism is his specialty! Would you guys like to explore the airport or move on???
Jimmy Olsen: 15 yrs worked on a RL one so it gives me some nightmares actrually lol
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Like all airports touched by Jimmy’s particular brand of digital wizardry, it’s a wonder — meticulously detailed, fully functional, and built with the kind of accuracy that makes aviation enthusiasts weep softly into their keyboards.
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): The coolest part? You can fly to and from this airport from anywhere on the entire Wolf Territories Grid. Yes, really. If it exists on the grid, you can fly here. If it doesn’t exist on the grid, Jimmy will probably build it eventually.
Jimmy Olsen: sorry.. all flights on Europe been cancelled.. no fuel
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): The runways, the taxiways, the terminal — all of it is crafted with the same attention to detail he brings to his architectural replicas. It’s not just scenery; it’s infrastructure. It’s a transportation hub. It’s a statement piece. And if you ever want to experience the thrill of landing here yourself, you can — though we recommend practicing somewhere less… realistic first. The airport is beautiful. Your landings may not be.
Thirza Ember: and the sky in Norway tonight looks just like this, thanks to Jimmy's magic weather system
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Now, hold on — we’re banking toward the Farm, where the lavender fields, wandering horses, and questionable greenhouse crops await.
Forest.Azure: lavender in Norway?
Jimmy Olsen: actually replacing it to strawberries or simple grass. too cold for that lol
Xenon Darrow: Take a look at the castle, a new addition! Jimmy has been doing tons of development. Tessa and I had to file a complaint and he had to rebuild parts of the farm he destroyed with over development. We are filing for emotional distress
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Welcome to the Farm, run by the legendary duo Tessa and Xenon — the same Xenon who drove your bus earlier, proving that he can operate both heavy machinery *and* a greenhouse without setting anything on fire. Usually. This farm is the rural heart of the region: a place where the Arctic meets ingenuity, where short summers meet long ambition, and where we’ve turned climate limitations into a business model. Because the outdoor season is short, most of our production happens in the greenhouses — warm, bright, and humming with life even in the dead of winter.
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Inside, we grow: Roses — because nothing says “Arctic romance” like a flower that absolutely should not be alive here. Baby vegetables — tiny, adorable, and extremely marketable. Herbs — culinary, medicinal, and occasionally chaotic. And more — because we’re always experimenting with what else we can coax into thriving.
Jimmy Olsen: there a 2 seasons in Tromso.. Cold and F***NG WINTER.. LONG ONE
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): Now, if you wander over to the center greenhouse, you’ll find our most profitable plant.
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): It’s… A plant that pairs beautifully with snacks.
Jupiter Rowland: And here's where the Vikings grow their ropes...
Forest Azure: /me checks her pockets .. large enough? /me fills jupiter's pockets too
Xenon Darrow: I quilt, do some loom knitting, paper art. Tessa....she is amazing. she spins, knits, weaves, quilts....she also makes silver jewelry. And painted glass. If it is a craft, she is likely a master of it
Mystik Menkaura: me *inhales*
Jimmy Olsen: u know... to stand xenon as neighbor, one needs weed here
Jupiter Rowland: I think the next visit to Dorenas World should lead to the Westend with its headshop...
Koshari Mahana: Love the EEP here.
Xenon Darrow: Jimmy has tremendous EEP kits over at his store Flora!
Jimmy Olsen: the EEP im using a customized EEP sky that changed twice a month. sun position, day length as you see on RL Tromso... all automatic
Star Ravenhurst: Is there changing weather here as well?
Jimmy Olsen: pretty much all flora is scripted to seasons too so i change all very quickly wit few clicks
Koshari Mahana: That's handy to have
Xenon Darrow: ok, let's head ot the finally show!
Jimmy Olsen: we have a go-cart system here on region
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): A marvel of engineering. A testament to creativity. A hazard to public safety.
Mystik Menkaura: YIPPEE!
Tessa (contessa.lacombe): We’ll set the ship down near the starting line — or what passes for a starting line, because Jimmy’s design philosophy for this track was “What if Mario Kart and a Scandinavian death wish had a baby?”
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| Taking a breather on the bleachers at the Tromso go cart track |
Jimmy Olsen: i call it here Himmelen Go-Kart.. from norwegian himmel - sky as we on top mountains
Thirza Ember: Luminalore is of course KILLING it - what a racer!!! the track is fabulous! Dorena is going great also!!
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| Luminalore delivers a masterclass in gokarting |
Koshari Mahana: Really fun track.
Tina Bey: aplausos!!!
Xenon Darrow: It's always available!
Contessa Lacombe: This is where our tour ends — not with a quiet farewell, but with the sound of karts colliding, people screaming joyfully, and at least one person discovering that lavender fields are surprisingly soft to land in. Thank you for joining us on this journey through **Tromsø** — from the Arctic Cathedral replica to Polaria, from the airport to the Farm, from pagan rumors to cowgirl bars, and finally to the go‑kart track where dignity goes to die.
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| Jupiter seemed a little high to be driving. |
Thirza Ember: screaming is right
Koshari Mahana: Great job with the track Jimmy
Xenon Darrow: But nothing beats the bus ride! Love you guys! HUGS
Forest Azure: /me is bus addicted
Tina Bey: It was great!
Contessa Lacombe: Night everyone!
Jimmy Olsen: AHHHHH. OH.. ♥♥♥ SA-FA-RI!!!!♥♥♥
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