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wolf-zer0 · 3 years

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Ya want some WORLD-BUILDING????

Have some world-building!

*REMINDER* This is based on characters, not real people. I’m not going to be writing any shipping/smut content, especially involving minors. Please be respectful of content creators’ boundaries!

The Crystallos Empire (AKA the Antarctic Empire)

Largest the countries (takes up most of the southern half of the map) but agreed to stop expansion after a bloody battle with Valeriana

Centered on a large snowy mountain in the middle of the tundra

Mostly stays out of other countries’ business, but will step in as a last resort

Has some of the most well-known citizens in the world because… they’re pure chaos

Attack at your own peril

Has vast deposits of ores and gemstones, and the metalwork from Crystallos (mainly weaponry, armor, and jewelry) is highly sought after

The only known food export is potatoes. Wonder why…

Associated Colors: Royal blue, light blue, crimson, gold

Aesthetic/Vibes: gothic vibes, white stone and large stain glass windows, not particularly opulent or extravagant but still impressively royal looking, think catholic cathedral but brighter and with less Jesus (can you tell I’m a recovering catholic yet?), spires shooting into the sky that’s visible even during a blizzard, cavernous halls full of sunlight and echoes, snow that can comfort and kill in equal measure

Notable Members:

Philza Minecraft:

Angel

Visible wings look like a harpy eagle

Probably the most powerful person in the world

Didn’t mean to start an empire it kinda just happened

Also didn’t mean to adopt kids but his Dadza alarm went off

Usually kind but will not hesitate to use violence when necessary

Technoblade:

Is pig.

With braid.

At least 8 feet all

Extremely adept fighter, skilled in almost every form of combat.

Not a people pig, prefers his potato farm to being a prince

Hella protective of his family but will not hesitate to bully when given the opportunity

Wilbur Soot:

Muse who can influence people through song

Can’t totally control people (yet) but can subtly push them in a certain direction

The public face of the imperial family

Would rather insult than fight but can and will cut a bitch if he needs to

Because inspiration is fickle he’ll have some … strange episodes (see: the Sand Incident)

Tommy Innit:

Child.

Chaos incarnate.

Is he human? Is he not? No one’s sure yet.

But he’s a gremlin and a hellion and willing to throw down at any moment.

Has a surprisingly caring side, but no one outside his immediate circle has ever really seen it.

The Kingdom of Valeriana (aka Dream SMP)

Oldest of the countries

Located in the middle of a massive forest at the center of the main continent

Home of the Fae Courts

Ruled by a single king who is chosen by a tournament held every 100 years

Known for causing chaos in other countries, but after an Incident with Crystallos they have kept their meddling to annoyances rather than outright declarations of war

Considered the most magical of all the countries, and traditional enchantments almost all come from Valeriana

Associated Colors: neon green (duh), bright yellow, forest green, light brown, blood red (more saturated than Crystallos), rose gold

Aesthetic/Vibes: spooky art nouveau (idk what else to call it), lots of plants and nature but with an edge of danger, poison gardens and carnivorous plants, hedge mazes that lead everywhere and nowhere, laughter deep in the forest, deer with eyes just a hair too human, Alice in Wonderland on steroids

Notable Members:

Dream:

Current king of the Fae

As long as he’s touching the ground, he knows where everything and everyone is

Can terraform

Unlimited in the boundaries of his kingdom

Much more limited outside of his realm

No one has ever seen what he really looks like, even before he took the throne

Since people outside the kingdom don’t know who he is, he’ll wander the outside world and challenge random people to fights

Never says what happens to the losers

Only one person has ever beaten him: Technoblade

He might have a lil obsession around Techno, but it’s fine.

A little competition is healthy.

Sapnap:

High Lord of the Summer Court

Dream’s right hand man

Likes fire a little too much probably

George:

Human that Dream took a liking too and yoinked from the mortal world

Dream and Sapnap made him immortal but he hasn’t realized it yet.

Skeppy:

Changeling who started growing diamond-like scales across his body

Is vaguely allied with Dream simply because he’s Fae, but is more loyal to BBH

Like a lot of other Fae, likes to make challenges but he makes them less deadly. Not totally safe, just less deadly.

Badboyhalo:

Demon who was kicked out of hell because he was too nice

Found Skeppy in the Overworld and the rest is history

Cursed by the Demon King that the moment he says a swear word, the entire world would end, but can never tell anyone that he is cursed

The Merchant’s Guild

Not quite a country, more of a international power

Oversees the largest and most important businesses in the world

Makes sure that no laws are broken between different countries and everyone gets a fair shake

Has a very large reach, so some members have dabbled in espionage for various groups

From the outside it looks like the whole thing is kept together with duct tape and hope, but its actually pretty functional

The main members are just… a lot.

More concerned with keeping things working than influencing other nations (although there are still jokes about it)

The most valuable thing they trade in is information

They have a lot of fingers in a lot of pots, but are trusted with their information

Associated Colors: dark blue, teal, deep yellow, burnt orange, copper

Aesthetic/Vibes: art deco babie, angles and lines, very modern and streamlined, sleek suits instead of armor or robes, whiskey in a crystal glass, wars won by words not weapons, knowing when someone’s lying without them saying a word

Notable Members:

Schlatt:

Ram-man with a plan

Not that bad of a dude, but is in a position where he is constantly in possession of highly sensitive information and that does things to someone’s mental state

Drinks pretty regularly but not a full blown alcoholic

Trying his best

Can be a snarky asshole sometimes

Quackity:

Lucky duck. literally.

Duck man with an uncanny ability to absorb good luck from people (typically Fundy) and apply it to himself

No one knows when or why he joined the guild, but now he’s there

Pretty damn smart, but hides it behind humor

Fundy:

FOX!

With BEANS!

Trying his goddamn best but life (and Quackity) make it very difficult

Usually is stuck with the shit end of the stick when getting jobs/contracts/etc.

Wilbur being his dad is an inside joke that’s gotten a life of its own.

(No Fishfuckers Allowed!!!)

Puffy:

Badass sheep lady who captains a ship and commands her own armada

Schlatt’s sister

Also part of Storm’s Landing’s council and acts as the main liaison between them

Do not fuck with her she will kick your ass.

Storm’s Landing

Port city that became a country after becoming a safe-haven for seafarers

Led by a council of important people, with the head of the council known as the Admiral

Closest ties to Crystallos and the Merchant’s guild because:

1) Clingy supremacy!!!!

2) it’s a good idea for a guild to have good ties with a large sea power

3) all the dads for Tubbo

Associated Colors: navy blue, scarlet, white, brass

Aesthetic/Vibes: Nautical (obviously) with heavy “Age of Exploration” vibes, barnacles crusted on treasure chests, think tall ships and pirates and shit, respecting the ocean because holy shit she’s gonna smash your boat to pieces on a whim because she can, has an edge of darkness because when you go deep enough who knows what you’ll find down there (maybe mermaids???)

Notable Members:

CaptainSparklez:

elected to Admiral after the previous Admiral went missing on a routine voyage

(idk who it used to be, I just wanted to make him new at leading)

not 100% sure about the whole thing, but handling it pretty okay

still answers to “Captain” instead of “Admiral”.

Niki:

If Storm’s Landing had a queen, would be it unquestionably

Never gets robbed even though there’s a well known “underbelly” in town

Could probably end wars with her croissants

Has a significant history of empathic abilities in her family, so she can tell how people are feeling at all times

Eret:

Owns a magic store in town that really only shows itself to people who need it.

Having a bad mental health day?

He’s got a warm blanket and a cup of your favorite warm beverage waiting.

Dysphoric?

She’s got the perfect outfit and affirming words already prepared.

Trying to find that specific book but can’t remember the title or plot, only vaguely know the color of the cover?

They’ve got it.

Ranboo:

Not sure why he decided to move to a seaside city when he’s not chill with water, but now he’s here and he’s too anxious to leave

Known for teleporting around town randomly when nervous, and the people who find him are always willing to let a hand if he gets lost

Tubbo:

This boi! Has so many dads!

Epitome of “Kindness does not equal weakness.”

While a lot of people underestimate him, he’s not some fragile little flower

He hasn’t fully grown into his ability to speak to animals (he can only understand bees right now)

He’s just as much of a shit stirrer as Tommy.

When they meet up, look out. Something’s getting destroyed.

The Astral Academy

An independent university focused on advancing knowledge in the arcane arts and engineering

Not a country, but has the political power of one due to their vast resources and building prowess

People can’t enter unless they are invited or have been given entry as a student

There are a bunch of potential doors scattered around the continent that could lead to the Academy, but no one is sure where the real entrance is

Associated Colors: royal purple, lilac, sepia, sky blue, silver, bronze Aesthetic/Vibes: bright academia, massive libraries with bookshelves stuffed to bursting, workshop benches covered in scrap and prototypes, open air observatories, runes waiting to be translated, the crackling energy that comes from successful collaboration, falling down a research rabbit hole, bursting with pride after a project is a success

Notable Members:

Sam

Purpled

Ponk

Punz

Antfrost

Jack Manifold

I don’t know much about these characters, so if you have any ideas please let me know!

Zero’s OC Land - The North Haven

Smallest and newest country

Recently gained independence from under a cruel dictator (not schlatt lol)

Located in a pine forest at the base of a huge mountain range

Has pretty good relations with the other countries, but outsiders don’t know much about them

Main exports are wood carvings and leather goods

Associated Colors: Maroon, dark brown, black, pewter

Aesthetic/Vibes: medieval but with a modern twist, dark wood lit by a roaring fireplace, snow-covered woods without a living soul in sight, half timber houses and detailed wood carving, no outrageous ornamentation or extravagance

Notable Members:

Tyr:

Lord of the North Haven

trying to keep his people safe and protected

one of the few remaining Spirits (higher in power than the Fae, but lower than angels)

Spirit of Justice

lost a hand in the war for North Haven’s independence

didn’t want to become the leader but does a pretty good job at it

Adopted 5 kids and is trying his best

Bragi:

Heir Apparent

24 year old human

can influence the world by speaking (not singing) but has to be careful about which words he uses

has a book full of phrases that have proven effects (a spellbook of sorts)

has a friendly rivalry with Wilbur

Freya:

Spymaster

actually the oldest but abdicated because she feels she’s not the right person to lead a country

age unknown because she’s the last known [REDACTED] (it’ll be revealed, but I wanna build suspense)

has gyrfalcon wings and heightened senses

chronic insomniac

Forseti:

Official Librarian

20 years old

hybrid with an unknown entity

has black fingers with sharp claws

always wears gloves to hide them

can create portals to places he’s been or to people he knows (the second is much riskier, but not impossible)

knowledge sponge

wants to join the Astral Academy but is too nervous to apply

Odin:

Older Twin

The “Sensible One”

17 years old

Has an uncanny sense of direction

Can’t get lost no matter what

Can manipulate magnetic fields

Loki:

Younger Twin

The “Hot Headed One”

17 years old

can manipulate fire

idolizes his older siblings, particularly Freya

The Institute

Creeping around in the background

Up to bad things

Something’s going on in the world, but no one’s noticed yet

They will though… soon

Aesthetic/Vibes: minimalism (the worst kind of vibes imo), think laboratories or empty hospitals, harsh artificial lights and cold floors, labyrinths of monotonous hallways with no doors

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thoughtsonthotss · 6 years

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MET GALA

OMG so the Met Gala happened last night and unless you’ve been living under a rock or something and have no idea what the Met Gala is, it’s basically a big celebration of fashion at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, hosted by Anna Wintour and Vogue, and every year there’s a different theme. This year’s theme was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. And as you expect, people came to SERVE! US! LOOKS!

This post is dedicated to all of my favourite looks of the night, in no particular order (except the first one), so gather ‘round my huntys, and without further ado, here are my uneducated fashion opinions.

Gigi Hadid

Now I know what you’re thinking, “how can this extremely problematic Hadid sister be my favourite look of the night when Riri was there?”. WELL lemme tell you, not only did she come on theme, but her dress was so damn original. Anybody could’ve done the cross, or rosary, or throw a halo on, but Gigi came as a damn stained glass window! This dress is so stunning I can’t even comprehend it’s beauty. I love the one shoulder/off the shoulder thing it’s got going on there, as well as how the stained glass feature goes down her leg. This is probably the most beautiful dress I have ever seen and don’t think I am even worth being in it’s presence (as if that would ever happen), like it feels wrong to even stare at it.

Rihanna

RIHANNA CAME AS THE DAMN POPE. SHE IS THE POPE OF THE MET GALA. I don’t think I have ever seen anything more iconic than that. She knows that she is the queen of the Met Gala, and of course, had to come as the queen of all the christians as well. This ensemble is literally flawless, it is who she is as a person. Look at all of the embellishments , all the beads, on the coat, dress, skirt, HAT!! Rihanna knows how to work any red carpet, but this particular one is her bitch.

Blake Lively

Now, Blake Lively is no stranger to the Met Gala either. She has been known as the second in command to Queen Riri (idk if I just made that up or not). If we know anything about Ms. Lively though, it’s that she doesn’t come to play, she comes to slay. Word is it took Versace designers OVER 600 hours to put together the bodice alone and it’s easy af to understand why. Look at all of the damn beads!! This dress is a literal work of art and I’m sure some day it’ll be put on display is some fancy dress museum. I absolutely love the two shear panels that show off Blake’s legs. She looks like the most beautiful tapestry of all time. Versace, you have out down yourself.

Mindy Kaling

Next up, I want to talk about my dear, sweet, Mindy Kaling. BUT SHE AIN’T SWEET. This look makes me want to scream out “Elizabeth, you better run girl, your reign is over! Mindy Kaling is snatching that throne from you!”. I love how regal and classic Mindy looks, but of course, the POP is that huge crown on her head. Not a tiny tiara, Mindy is a queen and she knows it. This fierce woman is wearing the fiercest crown I have ever laid my eyes on. I also am living for how the back of this dress looks like a damn cape, and those contrasting gloves. UGH. I am in love with Mindy Kaling and don’t care who knows it.

Jared Leto

Now ladies and gents, THIS is how you show up to the Met Gala, on theme, as a man. I’m not sure if he’s trying to channel his inner JC (jesus christ), but I am really feeling this modern day take on it. That hair, that beard, that crown, that scarf thing that priests wear. I’m loving this look and the pink bow shirt undernearth his suit. I truly love this and am very impressed by this look.

Zendaya

If you’ve made it this far, then I’m sure you know that Zendaya is the up and coming mini Ri when it comes to slaying the Met. She is channeling all of the Joan of Arc vibes and I LOVE it. She is such a feminist and I am so jealous of all the teens who get to have her as a role model and a positive female celebrity to look up to. I love how she is the badass saint, yet she is a modern day badass. Old meets new. I still can’t believe she came as this stunning human being, in this stunning wig, and stunning silver dress, and everyone knowing who she is channeling. Literally so cool.

Chadwick Boseman

Our boy Chaddy was serving us a damn look! I am soo for these guys finally starting to dress up a little more than just a suit. Like, I mean a nice fitting suit looks great and all, but there’s just no oomph. But this! This has all the oomph I need. I love this white suit, and cape combo. Oooh those gold shoes are amazing. I also loved how he stayed on theme, with the gold accents and crosses. Keep it up man, because I was seeing King of Wakanda tonight.

Cardi B

I know that I just did a post featuring Bardi, but omg I LOVE how she paid homage to Beyonce with her Met Gala look!! A queen in the making paying tribute to an established queen! I love this! Women supporting one another. Cardi looks like damn royalty, look at her cradling that lil bump! A princess is being born! I am loving the sides of this dress!! I love this shape! Victorian-esque with a modern twist. So beautiful.

SZA

Aaand lastly, we have the ever stunning SZA. If there had been a “most whimsical” award, SZA would have won it that night. This dress is just so beautiful, elegant and fun at the same time. She looks like a fairy princess. I am in love. I also really love how her boots match the bodice of the gown, maybe it’s even a full jumpsuit with an attached skirt? Either way, I’m living for this tulle AND her halo. The world is her oyster and I’m just swimming around.

Anyways, those are just my humble opinions, please don’t burn me at the stake for liking Gigi’s dress the best.

*An earlier version of this post said that Joan of Arc was a biblical character, but she is actually a Saint.

#gigi hadid #met gala #celebs #rihanna #blake lively #mindy kaling #jared leto #zendaya #chadwick boseman #cardi b #sza

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poppedmusic · 6 years

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SXSW 2018

Words & Photos: Elena Katrina

It’s a strange feeling this post-SXSW sensation. I feel both broken and exhilarated at the same time. There’s no amount of preparation you can take for either the festival nor the post-festival emotions. This festival is a beast. There is no other way to say it and I was thrilled beyond words to be attending for the first time as press so I could report back on some of the British contingent out there showing the world what they’ve got. And they showed it and then some. One thing I heard a lot was “throw the schedule out the window and just go with the flow”. Even that was difficult. I missed things I wanted to see but ended up having experiences and seeing things I never knew existed.. so I feel inclined to agree, to some extent anyway.

I didn’t waste any time in throwing myself into the SXSW experience and not long after having thrown my case into my hotel room I was straight out the door and headed to the British Music Embassy where I found Wyldest were treating the crowd to their special blend of shoegaze pop. I like that my first night I got to watch two bands I’d never seen live before – even if I had travelled 11 hours to do it. Life was the last of the night and I wasn’t prepared for them. Loud, brash and in your face. Dark but with some humour and an attitude I feel they could only get away with because they were from Hull. They did Hull proud that’s for sure.

It’s going to be nigh on impossible for me to tell you a review for each and every band at this festival. I was there to check out a load of the British bands, some I’d seen many a time, some never and some that were altogether new to me, as well as check out the overall SXSW experience. And an experience indeed it is.

Navigation is not my strong point, even with a map, when it comes to walking … I seem to go in circles, or squares as it was in Austin. It didn’t deter me though. I figured out my way to a few key venues for the official evening shows and then just wondered to my heart’s content during the day. I tried to go to a few of the talks, they seemed really interesting, but every time I got there, I was too late to get into a room. While they did stream the audio to a TV in the corridor, I don’t so much engage that well, especially not when there are people to see elsewhere. To the boss women of Instagram though I say …. definitely selfie!

The daytime also hosted unofficial parties, events and talks. Many of where you could grab yourself a free breakfast, and or lunch, while you learned all kinds of things and got to mingle with like-minded people. In particular, I enjoyed Brunch with the Brits – an event aimed, I presume, at visiting musicians. But here I got to talking about a lot of different things with a really great variety of people from PRS Foundation to the BBC. I was also fascinated by the sales pitch of Soundcloud at AWAL House. Their model has changed and it’s, in my opinion, still got a way to go to bridge the gap. Ultimately though it’s still a very popular site and the turn out proved so.

Back to bands? Francobollo blew my tiny little socks off and made for excellent festival companions too. I wholeheartedly hope to catch up with these guys again back on British soil and will follow their journey with a keen interest. Pale Waves, I was, of course, already hot on the tail of, having watched them play over the last 18-24 months, it was great to see them play to a tiny outside stage at an unofficial party thanks to Secret Sounds (who also, secretly, let me in). Get the general crowd’s feel for them over a room of industry all pining to see the next big thing (which, they are). As I suspected much of the crowd here seemed immune to the hype but most people were left smiling and enthused by the end, one or two seemed genuinely bemused, and I liked that too.

This year is the year of the girl… when it comes to band names anyway. We had Goat Girl, Only Girl, Girl Ray AND Our Girl all hitting up stages across SXSW. Admittedly I have a bit of a problem when it comes to seeing bands more than once, and not content with having seen Our Girl the week before I came away, I also managed to see them play 3 times at SXSW – the inability to leave their set not a problem I really want to seek help for. I am mesmerised every time I see them play. Only Girl played a showcase that wasn’t as well attended as I’d have liked, though her competition down the road was Gaz Coombs, and let’s not think about the rest. The crowd were fully onboard though, and like me, knew that they’d made the right decision in witnessing something special from this young lady. Eyes open for her, she’s incredible.

The indie bands were also in town; The RPMs bringing up some of the best jangly guitar sounds Brighton has to offer. A more artsy vibe could be found from Catholic Action, who come with a huge side of a dry sense of humour. I’m not ashamed to say I stood and danced and sung out in the street to them when I couldn’t get in for the whole set. Duo Ider also set the bar high during their free show for Secret Sounds, even at midday the show was full and it took me a while but a few songs in I realised I had seen them before and felt that same wave of excitement flow over me, only this time I had a band name, and they were there, right in front of me.

Back to the girls… Women anyway. This was a strong theme, for obvious reasons and there was plenty of chance to meet up officially and unofficially with the women of music. Vevo house was a great place to go for this and I met some fantastic women making, producing, managing, booking, you name it they were doing it. I also got to see the wonderful Jade Bird play at this venue – her personality shining as clearly as her talent. What a woman! She wasn’t alone in making waves during her time at SXSW, a young Suzi Wu was up and my god does she have something to say. She struts the stage, she owns her lyrics and she’s not intimidated in any way shape or form. An alt-grime-punk Debbie Harry. Perfect and I was so excited to finally get to witness her thrill a room.

Communion Music Presents. Three of my favourite words. I was shocked to find out that I didn’t know they had a showcase until the day before and from that moment on all other gigs were off. I was going to church and worship at the musical alter. How could I not? For me, this evening was the most emotional, nothing to do with the church, but the bands that Communion pull are often exceptional emotive songwriters and performers. New to me was Amy Shark, an Australian singer-songwriter, who hit some notes so nicely I thought she had potential to break the stained glass windows. Lucy Rose almost brought me to full on sobs, especially with her storytelling and her humility at playing the show. I initially thought that Dermot Kennedy was a stagehand, strolling across the stage wearing a tracksuit (even though it was about 30 degrees outside) and then when he started to sing – holy moly. I felt like it took him a while to warm up, not vocally, but to own the stage, to perform rather than just sing – though his” just sing” isn’t your everyday person’s “just sing”. Nope. This guy tore the roof off and it was left to Newcastle’s Sam Fender to keep it right off and he did just that. I enjoyed his impromptu singing at the piano – though, the tech guys didn’t seem to agree. It raised a smile after what had been a fairly intense evening.

In between watching bands there was time to explore some of the city, ok not really, that’s a bit of a lie! There’s no exploring unless it happens to be on the way to the next; venue, exhibition, talk, interview, network meeting. What I did see of Austin was that it totally came alive while SXSW was in full throws. You’d think there would be lots of grumpy residents wishing the weeks away, not able to sleep for the thud of bass going long and deep into the night, not being able to travel to work the usual route as roads were closed left right and centre and having to wait in line to eat in their favourite restaurant. Well, I’m happy to report I didn’t witness any grump. So either everyone moved out for a while or everyone was just happy to be a part of the amazing experience that is SXSW. I imagine though it’ possibly a good mix of the two.

On my last day at SXSW I got to meet the daughter of the man who helped to set up the original Fader Fort. THE place to be, if that is, you get a sacred invite. Turns out that family and friends have, well, more family and friends all over the place. So not only did I get to hear about Fader Fort I also got to spend much of my last time at SXSW doing it in true Austin Resident stylee! I got to visit an awesome dive bar called The Yellow Jacket Social Club, a club that I’m lead to believe won’t still be around next year as gentrification moves ever further past the freeway. I got to learn about new buildings just open and those coming and how the city’s landscape is ever evolving as the city grows in so many ways. I also got to check out some bands I would otherwise have missed. The glorious electronic art folk that is The Octopus Project played to a full crowd at Mowhawk was the first treat. A local Austin based band who delighted me with their use of a theremin. One guy asked me what it was called, he could obviously sense exactly how delighted I was! The main musical feast was that of musical art collective CAPYAC, they describe themselves as a surreal dance band… and I’d go with that too! I feel like I don’t want to expand too much on this because I want the intrigue to send you off to go and find them, book them, see them, keep them in a small box by your bedside table…. Just so much fun.

Later on a Saturday evening I met up with a new friend and got put into a taxi and taken off to the middle of nowhere (ok, not quite) but it was all hush hush. A private party we’d been invited to by a band she’d met. It was an utterly surreal way to end my SXSW experience and at the same time was the perfect ending at that.

It seems like there’s so much more to talk about, like the fact you get to meet musicians who aren’t even playing, make friends that you somehow feel you’ll never quite forget even if you don’t stay in touch – but you should – because, SXSW. The cool Glasgow music event that I missed but need to go to next time around, the opportunities to meet people and talk about the passion you hold, and it’s ok to just burst into laughter, or song, at any given time. Free snickers, free hugs, free drinks, free m&ms, free swag full stop. So many tote bags. But bets of all… the. live.music. Please have us back SXSW, life is forever changed now. You ruined me and I love you for it.

Check out the Popped Music SXSW photo diary:

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Festival Review: SXSW 2018 SXSW 2018 Words & Photos: Elena Katrina It's a strange feeling this post-SXSW sensation. I feel both broken and exhilarated at the same time.

#amy shark #austin #catholic action #dermot kennedy #Festival Review #girl ray #goat girl #lucy rose #Music #new music #only girl #our girl #sam fender #sxsw #sxsw 2018 #The RPMS

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goodlawdmaude · 7 years

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Porto, Portugal

Day 1 (3/28)

We didn’t sleep much--or well--the night before our flight to Porto. But that was okay; the travel day was easy--a quick flight sandwiched between metro rides to/from the airports--and seeing Porto for the first time was electrifying. The city was sunny and hilly, accented by little patches of green grass and hillsides filled with colorful houses. In some ways, this arrival was more exciting than the first. Arriving in Madrid marked passage into a new world, but it was only one stop--only a baby step--and the prospect of traveling foreign lands for three full weeks still felt unreal. (”This is amazing... but I can’t believe it’s actually happening!!” I would think) Arriving in Porto made it clear that we were really doing it--that the adventure was only beginning.

Wandering through the town, I felt like we were in heaven. The sky was blue, the streets were friendly and bustling, and everything I laid eyes on was beautiful--from brightly-colored tile walls to soaring gothic-style spires. After settling in (unpacking, napping, and tasting some Port wine provided by our host) to our AirBnB, we set out to find some lunch and explore the city. We made the short walk down to the Duoro River and sat on a restaurant patio, eating pizza, drinking Port, and soaking up sunshine. I felt exhausted but ecstatic. How could life get better than this??

With no real sense of direction, we found ourselves at a picturesque highpoint of the city, on the grounds of a giant local monument, the Roman Catholic Church of Porto Cathedral (”Se do Porto” in Portuguese).

From there, we worked our way to the Monument Church of St Francis (Igreja de Sao Francisco). The church itself was grand: filled with ornate floor-to-ceiling wood carvings gilded in an estimated 400kg of gold. Allegedly, when Napoleon conquered Porto, he used the church, in all its opulence, as a stable for his horses. Below the church, we walked through catacombs holding tombs for members of the Franciscan order. At one point, we peered through a window to see remnants of actual human bones.

Porto confused me in the best possible way. On one hand, it felt so fresh: it was vibrant and young and creative with street performers and artists on every corner. On the other hand, it felt so ancient: the streets were flanked by centuries-old buildings and churches brimming with history and tradition.

That evening, we had a fabulous dinner--crab risotto for Jarod and vegetables over couscous with a yogurt sauce for me--accompanied by port wine (of course). From there, we simply wandered, admiring multitudes of old statues and beautiful, tile-covered buildings.

Like uncultured American swines, we stayed up late that night watching TV. Naked and Afraid, if you must know.

Day 2 (3/29)

We started our second day in Porto with coffee and delicious Natas (Portuguese egg custard tarts), which I could easily eat for every meal of every day. We followed this nutritious breakfast with a run--East along the river--during which we saw numerous fishermen and a funny Portuguese man that we felt like we were unintentionally chasing.

We got lunch at an adorable little sit-down sandwich spot. It was bustling and compact, with tables mere inches apart. The waitress was kind and hard-working, rushing from table to table with a smile. I had a mint lemonade as well as cauliflower soup and a pineappley salad--a full, delicious lunch for ~7€!

After lunch, we embarked on a port wine tasting journey. From our AirBnB, we crossed the river and walked along its bank, which was flanked by dozens of vendors who competed for our--and other tourists’--attention. We did a tour and tasting at Sanderson winery, where we learned about rubys, tawnys, whites, and vintages. (My take-home was that they all pair wonderfully with desserts!)

After the guided tour at Sanderson, we went seeking some independent tastings. We tried Ferreira, but they only had tours. We tasted some Porto Cruz ports, sitting on the alley-way patio of the restaurant adjacent to the winery. We walked up some serious hills past Offley--which looked closed--to Croft, where we enjoyed port flights on a balcony with a fabulous view. From there, we walked to Taylor’s which had a fancier vibe and a lovely back patio with purple flowers and peacocks. Once again, I was nearly overwhelmed with our good fortune; We are living our freaking best lives, I thought.

On our walk back, we stopped by an awesome coop that was selling clothing and art and port flights. We tried some Niepoort winery ports and cheered on the coop workers as they tried to shepherd a baby pigeon out of their warehouse-style building.

That evening, we made dinner at home. And we didn’t cheapen our cultural experiences with Naked and Afraid. Instead, we watched an intense climbing documentary. Real shit, people. Real. Shit.

Day 3 (3/30)

On day 3, we slept in. When we did get up, we did a short work out in the apartment and made breakfast. From there, we set out to hit some sights.

We wandered through the Sao Bento station, whose walls were covered in history in the form of hand-painted tiles. We strolled along busy streets and main squares, into a church where people people were kneeling, praying, and--in one case--crying (oops). We meandered over to on of the top-rated bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello. Even though it was brimming with tourists, it was a lovely shop: a kooky, forked staircase sprouted out of the center, and the ceiling was covered by beautiful stained-glass skylights.

We stopped for lunch and then went to the Clerigos Church to climb the bell tower and see Porto from its highest point. The stairways were crowded, but the views were well worth it!

We tended to some logistics; stopping to buy snacks (for the bus ride to Salamanca) and a Portuguese rooster (a souvenir for a coworker of mine). After, we attempted to see one last sight: the Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace). They were closing, so we didn’t take a tour, but I did (*illegally*) start walking through the area where tours take place. I got to take a good 20 second look before someone stopped me. ;)

From there, we walked along the water and through some cool artisanal shops selling glass and clay figurines as well as tiles and paintings. Thirsty from all of the walking, we plopped onto a restaurant patio and sipped port while overlooking the river. (Best. Freaking. Lives.)

It started to rain a little, but I wanted to stop by a wine shop before heading back to make sure I got a Port flight for my best friend before the shop closed. As we walked back, the heavens opened up and started POURING! Most (normal) people ducked into shops or under awnings, but Jarod and I started running, laughing crazily the whole way. We definitely got weird looks. By the time we made it to our AirBnB, we were DRENCHED. I’ll never forget that kooky, exhilarating run through the rain.

That evening, we went to the restaurant next door for dinner. We had a fantastic experience eating amazing tapas-style dishes and chatting with the incredibly hospitable, generous restaurant owner. When we finished, we returned home and spent the evening blow drying our soaking wet clothes so that we could pack up, preparing for our bus ride to Salamanca the next morning.

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