Resorting to the Bahamas
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Joel R. Spencer
Two airport changes, with the last hour on a small prop plane flying
over the open ocean from Miami to Nassau, were probably the reasons
Atlantis has been undiscovered by Costa Mesa residents.
The famous city did, however, yield its name to a vacation
paradise enjoyed by two local families during their end of a summer
blowout trip. Bob and Judy Burlingham invited neighbors Joel, Karen
and Jordan Spencer to join them on their journey. These families have
vacationed together before in “exotic” locations such as Palm Springs
and Montana, but this was kicking it up a notch. Bob and Judy were
the advance parties and arrived first to scout out the location and
stock up the fridge. When the Spencers arrived at 2 a.m. Nassau time,
the cold local beer looked perfect.
Vacationing as a pack, the group spent seven days exploring the
wonders of the Bahamas, luckily returning each evening to the
two-bedroom condo/suite which gave everyone a little space to wind
down in anticipation of the next day’s schedule. Oh sure, the
obligatory trips to the straw market and the casinos were
accomplished, but with this many type-A personalities, the
one-upmanship of activities were a daily surprise.
Four out of five (someone had to be the photographer) experienced
a full encounter with our mammalian friends. Seeing a dolphin
torpedo-shoot your friends, wife and child across a lagoon toward a
rock jetty is quite exciting. To offset the gastronomical evening of
conch cooked 14 ways to Sunday, the four adults experienced what can
only be described as a feast at the Whitehouse (think food quality of
the Ritz in a building and garden older than most of America).
One of the days was dedicated to exploring the island in a rented
van; it only took two hours for the “one” on the island to get
delivered. Four back-seat drivers and three hours into the tour found
us in the middle of a beautiful forest filled with the entire
island’s discarded cars and buses. However, the island road did
finally lead us to the World Famous Marching Flamingos. Flamingos
seem to be very in right now, but marching with them in an arena to
the commands of Captain Jack -- now that is trend setting.
Rounding out the week included diving with bell helmets, playing
golf on a course that cuts through Oprah and Michael Jordan’s yards,
deep sea fishing for 4-foot barracudas, and hours of sun, beach and
more sampling of those great local beers. Each night, the adults
would venture off to another find for dinner, while Jordan Spencer
spent the evening in the Atlantis Teen Club.
The week allowed us to celebrate his 13th birthday in a
world-class way. Many nights, he was the last one returning to the
room after hanging with the other 13- to 17-year-olds doing what they
do best -- listening and dancing to a deejay, instant messaging, and
gaming on the computers and videos provided.
Atlantis has truly created a resort that has everything for
everyone. From the spectacular water park, with slides and lazy
river, to the underwater aquarium that rivals Long Beach, to the
casino that stretches for two blocks -- it was all there.
Unfortunately, we had to leave the mythical Atlantis at some point,
but coming back to paradise was a good incentive.
* JOEL R. SPENCER is a resident of Costa Mesa
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