ATLANTIS ADVENTURE

Having viewed from afar the splendor of Atlantis on Treasure Island, Bahamas, we are all anxious to get there and see what so many have enjoyed. The night lights were magnificent. Can't imagine what daylight will bring. First, however, a few other things ...


Paul had given the front desk at the lodge a list of maintenance duties ... my outside porchlight bulb replaced, outdoor shower head cleaned or replaced, door lock on said shower secured. After all, cleanliness is next to godliness, or some such quaint quote. With towel, robe, soap and shampoo in hand, I tip-toed over stepping stones to my private little shower. Walaah!! Brand new shiny bolt-lock on the timber door. Stepped in, looked up and there was a beautiful new six-inch shower head, ready for testing. Slowly turned the faucet ... out came the steadiest, lovliest stream of hot water ... I basked in the luxury! The boys were surprised when I appeared at their door ready for breakfast ... they probably wondered if I had skipped a shower for the day!


Breakfast consumed, ever-essential taxi summoned, camera at-the-ready, we were off to the sea world that was Atlantis ...


Once again, we traveled along the left side of the spidery road (European travel mode, but steering wheel on the left per American autos) and approached the bridge to Treasure Island. We could see the twin towers of the huge hotel and I couldn't help wondering which one the Telanders stayed in when they vacationed at Atlantis. The place is huge! Large, red paver bricks arranged in spiraling patterns formed the road to the circular entry piazza. A fountain, the size of the one in Chicago's Grant Park, was resplendent with massive, intertwining golden dolphins spiraling into the air as water sprays playfully changed heights. We were gawking like country rubes (Hoosier?) from the very start ... couldn't imagine what would come next.


We went up the steps, opened large, old castle-like doors and disappeared into the gloom. After the bright sunlight, it took some getting used to. Before us was a large, circular marble booth with about eight attendants answering questions and dispensing tickets to different attractions. We all purchased a day-pass (excluding water park adventures), received pamphlets and general info folders; and headed through the vast casino. Only a few tables were open so early in the day; but there they were ... mostly men, smoking cigars, shuffling chips at the blackjack tables. A few women were caught up in slot machine mode. Whereas I put a few dollars into the dollar-machine (NO win), one lady inserted a hundred dollar bill and pulled the lever four times. We roamed around taking pictures and checking our itinerary ... as we retraced our steps, we saw the same gal, alone, cigarette in hand, still at the $25 machine. Hope she won something ... it was only ten in the morning!!


There were so many lagoon exhibits showing marine life in native habitats that we didn't know which to choose first. Across Neptune's lobby, with its gigantic, sculptured sea serpents dominating ledges and peering through sea-like greenery, we sighted a wide marble staircase with railings so expansive I was tempted to hop on and slide to the bottom. (Unlike Jason adventuring in Prague, I resisted the notion.) Down passageways into sunken treasure realm, we entered the Digs/Ruins Lagoon ... the largest open-air marine habitat in the world.

This magnificient aguarium defies description ... floor to ceiling glass walls ... open-air at the top ... sharks, baracuda, huge stingrays swim up to the glass. The sharks looked so menacing as they slowly glided by us, exposing sharp teeth and piercing eyes that seemed to be searching for prey. With the sun shining so brightly outside, illuminating the water, you felt as if you were actually in the ocean, co-habitating with these predators. There were waist-high troughs in the next room where you could touch the starfish and view "sunken treasures". We passed through
a long glass tunnel where these huge fish swam overhead as well as along the sides ... very eerie looking up and being able to "touch" the floating stingrays. There was another added attraction further along. People in swimsuits, visiting the Mayan Temple waterpark, floated down an enclosed water chute in large, clear plastic innertubes. Looked like great fun ... literally "swimming with the fishes" ... Chris S. used to say this was his favorite thing to do at Atlantis!

We left our caverns and went out into the grounds ... acres and acres of tropical foliage ... Mayan statues, water nymphs and seahorses cavorting
in strategic locales. Since we hadn't purchased water passes, we were not supposed to go into beach areas; but, I guess, rules were meant to be broken. We went to a large waterfall-pool-beach spot, sidled up to a refreshment stand; ordered drinks; went over to a smaller pool for toddlers; took off our shoes and sat on the edge with our feet in the water.
Refreshing indeed!!

Having escaped one security scrutiny, we wandered through the grounds.
Most everything is man-made but the stones, molten rock, lagoons, coves and deeper cays look as if they had been there for centuries ... there are places for scuba diving, swimming with the dolphins or gliding along side with a hand-held water scooter ... most anything you want to do. We crossed swinging rope bridges, climbed rock ledges to view the real ocean. Exhausting but exillerating!!

Way past lunchtime. We decided to eat outside the grounds and found Murray's Deli. We all ordered different sandwiches and they were HUGE!
Paul and I split a BLT and, I swear, there was a pound of thin bacon on there. Wonderful day ... taxi, again, back to Compass Point.

Not quite dinnertime ... we all met in front of P & L's hut and soaked in
the hot tub ... cleaned up for dinner at the lodge ... seafood, marguaritas, pina coladas ... cappachinos ... laughter ... replay of the long day ... called it a night!!

Wish you all could have been with us ... Atlantis is almost indescribable ...
literature doesn't do it justice ... until the next adventure ...

Marma