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A land with a recorded history spanning 3000 years, Laconia is situated on a remarkable peninsular in the Mediterranean basin, known as Boetion. Historic towns are nestled between rolling hills and the warm Aegean waters carefully lap at the coast of this once influential, almost mythical nation.
Although a powerful city-state in ancient times, the nation has suffered countless civil and external wars since the turn of the 20th century including a crippling military coup in the 1980s. In modern times however, the nation is slowly awakening from its almost dormant end to the last millennium into a multi-faceted and interesting destination for tourists, scholars and locals alike.
Today, the nation enjoys a record number of tourist arrivals, a prospering economy and an increasing global influence in both manufacturing and banking.
Your journey has begun with the arrival of Ionic Air Flight 833 into a wet and miserable day at Elionias International Airport. Flying around the nation on the national airline, Ionic, you will enjoy the sights and history that this country has to offer.
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Our first stop, is the beaches of Kalithali...
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And next, on to the first feature city,
Erosa...
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Erosa is a city founded on the flat and fertile plains of the Attican basin. It is considered the most multi-cultural city of Laconia due to its large population of foreigners, in particular muslims from the east and to a lesser extent, the increasing number of migrating Asians.
In ancient times, the lands of the region were used for cotton farming and within a few centuries, the city had flourished into a vibrant centre of trade and commerce.
In more recent times however, the region was annexed to Laconia in the early 20th centuries and since then, it has for the most part lagged behind the growth of the rest of the country, especially its larger counterparts of Lymesos and Elionias.
Because of this, and due to the proportion of foreign residents, the city has garnered the reputation of being run-down and slightly unsafe compared to other cities of the country. In statistics from 2009, the Greater Metropolitan Area of Erosa, with a population of 1.3 million, had the second lowest GDP per capita of the nation at $21,000 (27,000LACs).
Still, the city enjoys some of the best weather that the nation has to offer, with a warm Mediterranean climate and more sunny days than any other region in the country.
In 2011, ECUP, the Erosa Commission of Urban Planning has suggested that the city re-brand itself as a premier summer destination by redeveloping the waterfront, in particular the lower dockland areas to make way for private investment in the way of hotel, resort and various other entertainment precincts. A proposal has been put in place however there has been no official word from the nation government and sceptics believe that they are hesitant to invest in this neglected area.
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* Welcome to my new CJ. I have not been active here since 2008 however since I picked up SC4 again, I decided that I should start a new CJ rather than continue my very old one. As I have been replaying many of my old cities, those familiar with my work will more than likely recognise some of the imagery in this thread. I can assure you that I have been hard at work both improving my old cities and building beautiful new ones for all to enjoy. *
Awesome start!!! Amazing work!!! &apls &apls
Thanks.
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Elionias is the economic and political capital of Laconia. Compared to older cities in the nation such as Erosa, Elionias is rather young, having only been settled in the mid 15th century by Venetians.
Today the city has become the capital of the nation, with legislative arms of government governing from the Parliament building in the centre of town.
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Below is the financial centre of Elionias with the skyline reaching out between the northern and southern banks of the river.
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Fantastic city!!! Very nice update!!! :thumbsup:
Stunning Stuff! Love the cityscapes!
Awesome start of your MD! :thumbsup: I'm eager to see more!
Thanks guys! Glad you enjoy the citiescapes.
One more from Elionias and then its off to Nemea, the cultural capital of Laconia!
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Amazing work. &apls
The beach is wonderful as is the photoshopping of the airport. (The airport its self as well) Fantastic start to this MD.
,marsh :thumbsup:
Great night shot & I really love the work on that beach shot, good work with Mayor Mode Plops!
marsh: Thankyou very much, that is an honour coming from you as I have found you CJ to be the best I have seen!
Reikhardt: Thanks, I am new to nightshots because I usually don't like the way they come out.
Now we are off to Nemea, the cultural capital of Laconia and the second richest city per capita behind Elionias.
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Getting better with each and every update!
Liking the way everything is presented too!
Excellent MD, I discover it now, and I must say that you've done a wonderful city! &apls &apls
Guillaume :thumbsup:
Wow, awesome start to your MD! &apls Great layout and excellent choice of BATs. Keep up the great work, I'll be back :thumbsup:
Great work! &apls I wonder why I didn't see this at first?! %confuso
You've made a fine start on the Kingdom of Laconia, Giorgos. That's the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen! I would like to make one small suggestion, though. Consider numbering your photos. This makes it easier for us to comment on individual pix.
Keep up the good work... :)
-Joan.
Ωραίος! :thumbsup:
I just discovered your MD and I like it a lot. :thumbsup:
You have major skills in both building and photoshoping, so this is certainly a MD that I will be following. I like your work, its all very good.
Great update again!!! :thumbsup:
Great work, great pics, love the transit system and the city looks very realistic.
I do wish that some of the pics had more life/vehicles and people.
Robin
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Thira is a Greek Orthodox monastery nestled on the cliff face of the Meni peninsular in the south of Laconia. It is a sacred location with over 2000 years of history and access to the monastary by the general public and tourists is forbidden.
Many cruise ships however dock in the bay of Meni for days on end and provide passangers with the chance to bathe in the warm (26C) waters of the bay with views of the cliffs, the church and the historical windmills.
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Tomas Neto: Thanks for your continued interest in my MD!
Cyclone1001: That is a real compliment, thank you!
RickD: Glad you like it, hope you drop back for more.
Terring7: Thanks! Hope you enjoy my town of Thira!
Jmouse: Glad you like the beach, what do you think of my latest beach update?
noahclem: Thanks! I also have been making my own bats to add to the collection
Evillions8: Thankyou, maybe you missed it as it is new!
Sciurus: Glad you like the cities, hope you also like the non urban pics
wallasey: Thanks!
rooker1: Thanks for your feedback...I actually try to ensure that my streets are packed with cars using generators but I agree that I need some more pedestrians!
Very nice scene you've created here. I love the way the water looks :thumbsup:
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Just a quick update showing the skyline of Nemea at night
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Now those are some nice pics.
I just wish there was some other way you could have done that first intersection. Too bad a roundabout won't go there.
Robin
Beautiful city!! &apls
That first intersection does look like there could be some traffic jams, lol, but still amazingly done! Can't wait to see more.
Great pics, I love the night shots and I like the way the water looks in the previous update!
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Archaea is a historical region in the south of Laconia, located between the previously featured monastery of Thira and the large cosmopolitan city of Erosa.
Due to the present day rugged nature of the terrain, the historical site of Archea Polis which was an important cultural and religious spot in the late centuries BC has no real public access and can only be viewed by the nearby bay or mountain tops or close up by trekking through the wilderness which currently surrounds the site.
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I am really enjoying your updates. The cityscapes are inspiring....the rural views are soreen.
Keep up the good work!
Wow it is awesome :o
I really hope for more.
It's wonderful!!
I particullary like the last picture, with the Antic monuments :)
Guillaume :thumbsup:
Awesome updates!!! :thumbsup:
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Continuing on with my tour of Ancient Greek sites, Olympia is situated 120km north-west of Archaea and is famous for the Temple of Hera as well as the historic Agio Pantelimon church built in 1200AD out of ruins left on the site from the destruction of an ancient temple and treasury house by the invading Turks.
Today, the area is popular with tourists as the secluded beach offers clean and warm waters to enjoy in the summer and tourist accommodation is located just 3 kilometers away in the town of Naxi.
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Wow! Excellent job on Nemea, Archaea, and Olympia. I especially like the flora. :)
Just as last time...keep up the good work! :thumbsup:
Another fantastic update!!!
Wow, great job with the beach, night views, and Archaea &apls
I hope you're working on something new for us :thumbsup:
Φευγάτες εικόνες :thumbsup:
Great pictures :thumbsup:
Hope we can see more of your work, this is really amazing ! :)
Now, that is what I call a wonderful mosaic!
Wow &apls Lovely Pictures :)
Fantastic work on your MD so far!
All pictures are beautiful!!!
Looking forward to more... ;)