Correct me if I'm wrong, but, isn't the most important aspect of travelling what you take from it? Of course, I mean your souvenirs, but also, tapping into the power of our experiences.
Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas has the second largest open air aquarium in the world. This was a big deal for us when we chose it as our destination. That plus the multitude of accommodation, pools and superlative dining choices had all the appeal we needed to get ourselves there.
You have to fly into Nassau, which is fine, but also pretty dodgy. Everyone knows all about the resort and it not only employs leagues of Bahamians, it also has its doors and beaches open for the cruise ship visitors or other hotel guests to wander. At this resort, they took out the option of doing nothing. There is too much to do. You may even have to buy into fractional ownership just to really take a bight out of all there is offered.
We did our best by starting with getting over to Starbucks near sunrise and walking along the docks to take in the multimillion dollar yachts and the peaceful marina. I can still feel that Bahama breeze (not the drink), it is like heaven. So pure. The beaches are luxuriously that "perfect" color, temperature and flow. Sit back on the upmarket covered beach chairs (which an employee will gladly haul around to any particular spot for you), and purchase coconuts filled with whatever. Stroll your eyes over trinkets or stare out to blue sea. Wonder for yourself, what do I want to do today?
Swim with dolphins? Go rock climbing? Eat at a huge buffet? Go diving? Shopping? Waterslides? Lazy rivers - fast or slow? Maybe take the shuttle over to the Cove to sit at the outdoor bar and celebrity watch? Gamble in the casino? Explore the Dig; the fantasy construction of an archaelogical dig for the ruined city of Atlantis? Maybe watch them feed the hammerhead sharks? Or maybe, study the murals in the Hall of Great Waters and discover the myth and mythology of the entire project.
None of those things listed to do makes me feel tired; there's no traffic jams - no cars, no hustle or bustle - no need. We didn't encounter any long lines for anything and the foods were plentiful and selective. I was concerned going into this exclusive resort that we may lack for true cultural experience due to contrived surroundings. But it never happened. I was in awe of it for the entire week. The completeness of the artistic expression and vision truly blew me, and my family away. The truly valuable experience of the all - permeating sealife, given sanctuary in the massive tanks, penetrated my psyche the way a fishing charter or beachside chalet never could. This experience was rich, well thought out and truly unique.
So what kind of souvenir best represents a week of bliss and soulful expansiveness? Not the french milled soap from our room, although it was divine. Not the conch shell jewelery, because I later saw it for less at a farmers market at home in Canada. Not the locally produced cd of jump up junkanoo that later sounded flat and cheesy. It was a childrens book. A book that describes certain features of the many types of sealife we experienced there, together. It has the amazing ability to bring to life in our memories the joyful discoveries we made and to remind us of our own stories, the ones now enriching and enhancing our experience of life together. Like the Lost pool of Atlantis... the one with the Godlike figure holding the triton that only a 3 year old could find. Together, we treasure our trip to the Bahamas so much that I realized, for future travels, spend less on souvenirs and more on complete experiences.
If you can, go to Atlantis in this lifetime and tap into the fabric of our human nature, where we are one with the waters, deep in the heart of our lost worlds.
PS - Apparently there is one in Dubai, too.
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