Merry in Meridell and the Citadel Scene

     ~X~

     You may have heard of some scary rumours about our citadel, but don't believe them. Now that we're at peace, you can rest assured that both nations are safe and welcoming to visitors. If you're worried, hire a local guide. I can personally recommend "Friendly Daggers, Inc."

     Recommendation 1: Spikesmith Market

     Every Saturday and Sunday, the Spikesmith Square comes to life with the sounds of clattering wagons, clamouring patrons, and the shouts of merchants selling their wares. As you wander through the market, take in the happy sounds of a community enjoying a partially cloudy day. A peaceful vihuela melody serenades you through the winding streets. Tables filled to the brim with purple and black decorations beckon your approach. Here you can find hundreds of merchants selling their wares. Talented seamsters vending handstitched cloaks and dresses; farmers offering the fruits of their labour; silversmiths displaying jewellery, decorative swords, and pottery at a reasonable price. It's a festive affair filled with the laughter of children, and the excitement of Neopians taking their first bite of the locally famous Spike Steak.

     While you tour the Spikesmith Market, make sure to visit the Spike Steak Stand, known to produce the juiciest, most flavorful cuts of meat in all of the Citadel. Rumour has it that even Lord Darigan sends for these steaks to be delivered to his quarters. Located on the corner of General Galgorroth Lane and Turret Road, you can smell this stand long before you make it there. And as a heads-up, they're a bit pricy, but well worth the cost.

     Recommendation 2: The Citadel Art School

     Also known as CAS, this school trains the next generation of Darigani art students. But more than that, it also offers daily classes for any Neopian hoping to try their paw at a new skill. Have you ever wanted to paint but weren't sure where to begin? There's a class run by Mr. Stark, a locally famous Citadel painter known for his surrealistic paintings of sunrises and sunsets made from atop the school roof. Every Friday, he offers a beginner's class that allows for drop-ins, and as someone who has sat in on his lectures, you can learn a lot in a short amount of time. Plus, his classes are very reasonable for those on a budget, and he works wonderfully with Neopians of all ages. Be aware, his classes fill up rather quickly, so if this is something you and your family would like to pursue, make sure to send a delivery Weewoo expressing your interest at least a few days in advance and he'll try to accommodate you!

     Recommendation 3: Sunset Boulevard

     If you've never been to the Citadel, you must check out Sunset Boulevard. A viewing platform sits at the end of a long, dusty road. It may not seem like much, especially if you visit mid-day, but to the decerning eye, it is a visual feast. Sunsets seen from the Citadel are made up of vivid oranges that dance among splashes of purples, pinks, and from time to time, a ribbon of gold. We're lucky that we can see miles into the horizon, far enough to make out Brightvale Castle in the distance. And as a Brightvale University alumna, one of my favourite things is to see my alma mater from afar, its waving flags beckoning me to scholarly times. Often, you'll see painters set up here with easels as they attempt to capture the majesty of the skies.

     Recommendation 4: The Citadel Tour

     When you're here in the Citadel, you've got to check out the castle itself. Knowledgeable tour guides thrill to sharing the nation's rich history with tourists, and will field any of your curiosities. Notable stops include: Lord Darigan's chambers, the Council's chamber, the grand ballroom, the flight mechanism room, and the dungeons. Don't worry, the cells are pretty roomy now! I hear they even get healthy, homemade meals twice a day and lots of time to practice Cell Block. This, by the way, is Master Vex's game of choice—he's the warden—so if you want to spend time after the tour playing a game with him, he won’t refuse. It "helps to break up the never-ending monotony of my banal existence," or so he says.

     Recommendation 5: Altador Cup Practice Arena

     Are you a fan of Yooyuball? If you answered yes, then you'll be thrilled by this option. Our home team members practice in the arena on the southwestern part of the city. There you'll see Layton Vickles, Tandrak Shaye, Kep Bonnefie, Tormo Frein, and Reshar Collifey practising their passes, scoring, and tackling. And if you're lucky, you might even see an exhibition match between the Citadel and one of the other 17 teams. Once or twice a week, depending on how far away the opposing team has travelled, you'll see Altador Cup players from all over the map up close and personal. Unlike in the Altador Stadium where you'd be joined by well over 10,000 other fans, you'll enjoy intimate views of the Yooyuball stars. And if you're seeking an autograph, the team members are more than willing to sign a few things after the matches. And yes, the Techo Fanatic is a mainstay at our arena. You can hear his shouts echoing throughout the room pretty regularly.

     ~X~

     And now, it's over to us. Claude and I can tell everyone the best places to visit here in Meridell. Also, if you want to see what else Meridell can offer other than our top picks, then we can recommend our local guide on the unlikely adventurers who discovered the town.

     Recommendation 1: Meridell Castle

     As soon as you enter Meridell, you can't miss the magnificent Meridell Castle that's situated just to the west. As you approach the Castle, the light, bright colours of the Castle's brickwork and flags beckons you to go inside and explore the delights within. You won't be disappointed, as this Castle is actually owned by the Grumpy King himself. But, don't be fooled by his grumpiness all the time, because if you catch him on a good day you might get a chuckle out of him if you tell him a joke or two. Plus, he's the one who has allowed everyone to come inside his home. He very much lives on the top half of the Castle, but there are a few activities inside the Castle as well. When you walk around looking at all the pictures and antiques on the wall, you'll be very impressed with what he's done with the place to make it a tourist attraction.

     There are a few games for you to have a go at if you can tear yourself away from looking around such as Double or Nothing or Escape from Meridell. You can learn all about the plot of "Invasion on Meridell," too. You can also buy potions at the Potion Shop. Warning: try not to let your petpets in that shop. Claude almost knocked over some potions, which would have cost me a lot of neopoints to replace!

     Recommendation 2: Meri Acres Farm

     It's a fair walk to Meri Acres Farm as it's the other side of Meridell, but it's worth it once you get there. You can take in the views of the land that's owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jones. They take care of the farm and live in their own farmhouse on the property. There is a whole wide range of fruits and vegetables that they grow here. Anything from potatoes, carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, beans, peas and even apples and pears! All of these are spaced out in a way that makes them a lovely sight and very colourful to look at. As well as taking in the views, there are a few activities you can join in with such as guess the weight of the marrow and count the potatoes, all of which you can win a prize from! Also, there is pick your own, which is a game where you collect (mostly) berries that you find amongst the plot of land. (Although, I should add, you may find other stuff like wool or dung as well, but you don't really want to pick those up, do you?)

     And for some reason Claude likes to jump around in the Rubbish dump, don't ask me why. He thinks there's some treasure in there that someone might find one day... And that's all I'm going to say about that!

     Recommendation 3: Turmaculus

     You may have noticed that Meridell has adopted a giant Turmac called Turmaculus, or "turmy" for short, if, like me, you can't pronounce his name properly. He's a big softy, really - when he is sleeping that is. And he is one of the main features of Meridell. If you're brave enough, you can try and wake him up, but be warned! He may eat your petpet if he's in a bad mood from the way you wake him up. But mostly, he just gives you a prize for waking him up gently. Claude is definitely wary of him, but then I try and make sure Claude is nowhere near turmy when he wakes up. I've seen Neopians come from far and wide to even catch a glimpse of this giant, so he's popular, can't lie about that!

     Recommendation 4: Cheeseroller

     Ah, the classic game of cheeseroller, another highlight of Meridell. It's a simple game, but you have to pick the right cheese! There is a long list of different cheeses to choose from, all of which have different costs. After you buy one, you roll it down a hill and choose whether to push it left or right past a few obstacles. The aim of the game is for you to roll the cheese down the hill in under 60 seconds. If you succeed, you get to keep the cheese! This is such a popular game and can be played by all ages.

     You could even turn it into a competition with your friends or family on who can roll their cheese down the hill the quickest! And because you'll be at the apex of Meridell, you can enjoy spectacular views of the city while you wait for your turn.

     Recommendation 5: Illusen's Glade

     Illusen's little hut is tucked away in the corner of Meridell. Thankfully, Illusen is one of the nicest faeries you will meet (much nicer than Jhudora, but you didn't hear it from us!) She would be a great Neopian to talk to about Meridellian history, as she has lived here for years and can answer any questions you might have about the place. As she is a famous Neopian, she doesn't always have the time to get items for her everyday work, so she may ask for your help if you can spare the time. She will reward you handsomely if you do. Claude loves visiting Illusen as she always has treats ready and waiting for him.

     So, all in all, that's what Claude and I would recommend for your visit to Meridell. But, of course, there is a lot more to see. Whatever you end up doing, we can assure you that you will have a fabulous time. Whether it's your first time here or your 50th time, there is plenty to look forward to!

     ~X~

     Above is just a few of our favourite things about our respective lands, but there's always more to explore and discover! We hope you enjoy touring these medieval cities as much as we enjoy living in them. And if you ever run into either of us, feel free to stop by and chat! We'd love to give you further insights into our favourite hidden nooks, speciality shops, and eateries.

     Happy travelling!