966. Clubs Paradise

Where: Paradise Island, Bahamas
When: March 8, 2005
With: Steve, Mikey, Sween, Chris, and Doug

Today, something happened that has got me all inspired to be revamping the blog and cleaning things up a bit. While perusing the book, I realized that I had been to a place I hadn't marked down before. Eureka! My count just went up by one while I sat on the couch of my apartment!

When it comes to the things listed in the book for the Bahamas, they are all pretty glamorous. I just assumed that nothing I did on my spring break cruise would be...ahem...classy enough...to be included. Turns out that the slightly less exclusive, but oh-so-much-fun Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island was included.  This brings me back to my days as a young college student that hadn't quite realized she'd soon be addicted to travel. Therefore, this post is more about funny photos on spring break than anything, but that's what makes it enjoyable to reminisce.

I must preface that this was the first full day of my senior year spring break. The party was in full swing the morning we docked in Nassau, basically having not stopped since we set sail from Miami the night before. Because we were 22 and on vacation, the obvious activity on the island was to go on a booze cruise...you know, leave one boat full of booze for a smaller boat filled with booze. Why not?

Needless to say, antics and general tomfoolery ensued. By the time we made it back to land, we were giddy and happy with a few more hours until the cruise left port. Therefore, we (literally) piled ourselves into a cab in Nassau to head over the bridge to the smaller Paradise Island to see the wonder that was the Atlantis Hotel.

Even from a distance, it looks massive and over-the-top because you can see this monster from almost anywhere on the island. It's so out of place next to the palm trees and white sand beaches everywhere else on this small, flat island.

Inside the hotel are lavish decorations in a "Greece meets under-the-sea" motif, including giant statues, thrones and pillars covered in seashell carvings. If it weren't for all the blackjack tables and slot machines, you'd think you had found the lost city of Atlantis.  

Outside on the grounds is a mix of pools and fish tanks weaving around the gigantic property. Sometimes, we were allowed to be in those pools, and sometimes, we probably weren't. We were a bit fuzzy on where that line was drawn. 

Underneath the entire property was a network of caves that went through the fish tanks, offering a different view of the sealife living inside.

Oh, to be young again. Again, a pleasant surprise to learn that this ludicrous galavant around the property earned a check in the book. Glad I have a few of the photos to remember it by...