Personal Log: Adrian Rodd

Yesterday, she and RoBobby visited a charming little place called Suffugium. Truly a place like no other.

The newcomer is immediately greeted by this first sight of city life. A friendly robot invites visitors (kindly known as "sub-citizens" in the local dialect) to find out more about the city. And that's what RoBobby and Karida set out to do...

You can learn a lot about a city from its monuments, and from graffiti on the walls. In Suffugium, clearly, citizens and sub-citizens alike bask in the warm glow of a steady work ethic, protected under the tender gaze of "watchmen". More about those in just a moment... That entrance off to the left in the last picture is to a holoball arena. RoBobby and I visited it, but the place was, not unexpectedly, deserted...

Although they did not encounter human "watchmen", our two intrepid explorers were approached by a security drone. Here it has just finished scanning "Sub-Citizen McMillan", and wishes him a pleasant day. How nice and polite even the robots are! Karida herself submitted willingly to a scan, and to another later on (close-up).

Having been properly introduced to the city, and having declined a kind offer for soft drinks, our explorers continued their exploring. The local cinema, alas, was closed, and deserted inside (note that it claimed to be showing "Metropolis"), so RoBobby and Karida went on a hike to the next best thing: the sewers. A pleasant atmosphere, but nothing much down here...

They were soon given a taste of the local lifestyle. Suffugium truly is unique in terms of the government's attention for its people - as you can see here and here.

After an instructive but tiring walk round town, what better idea than to look for a hotel? The local hotel, a delightful establishment, does all it can to make guests feel at ease, comfortable and welcome - even providing a friendly warning by the door, while a kind-looking holographic receptionist waits for you inside. And in this hotel, it truly is a constant party, with a warm, exciting, cheerful and lively atmosphere. With a keen sense of attention to detail, the designers made great efforts to help guests settle in comfortably, providing them with a view from their hotel window (Christmas lights!), and restful, soothing decorations on the walls. The only slight problem is the bed. As soon as you lie down on it, it bounces you into the air. Which is rather nice and playful, of course, but does make it rather difficult to get any sleep...

It's more restful, really, to just go and sit on a drinks' machine, amidst the warm, friendly and secure atmosphere of the city... and hope that that passing drone won't ask you to get off.