Nassau, The Bahamas
The plan for my last full day in the Bahamas was to see Atlantis. The famous resort is located on a separate island called Paradise and connected by a bridge to the island of New Providence where Nassau is.
I went to the cruise harbor again and past it over the bridge to Paradise Island. The views from the bridge were worth the walk. There is an entrance fee for vehicles but it is free for pedestrians.
A lady greeted me when I got off the bridge, gave me a map and advised to go to Cabbage Beach if I wanted to have a nice swim. I followed her directions and got lost as I often do. Even the map did not help. I turned around and walked toward the hotel. Its towers were well visible and I could not possibly miss it.
The main theme of the resort is the mythical city of Atlantis. I refer anyone who wants to know more about the resort to its website. I only mention it is truly impressing what the developers created here. The rooms naturally are not cheap.
Nobody stopped from wandering around except for the beach area which was for the hotel guests only.
All was looking great, however I came not just to see the mega-resort. I wanted to enjoy its amenities too. Not being a hotel guest, I had to buy a day pass for that. I followed the signs that directed me to a place where they supposedly sold those passes. I went from one booth to another and all of them were closed.
People around me splashed happily in exotically decorated pools. Perhaps, I needed to go back to the hotel reception and to ask there but I was way far from it and already did a lot of walking since morning. I was hot and sweaty, and dying to get into water. I changed into a swimsuit and dove in one of the pools. Lifeguards perched on their towers paid no attention to me. I do apologize for breaking the rules and hope that nobody follows my bad example.
Having been sufficiently refreshed, I looked for something else to do. People were doing rafting in circular tubes. I am afraid of fast moving water; it makes me disoriented but some invisible force pushed me toward the entrance and I decided if kids could do it then I could too.
I caught myself a tube and climbed, rather clumsily, inside. There is a conveyer belt at the entrance where the staff directs you to get on the belt. At first, you just sit in your tube and wait until the belt drops you into the Rapid River. The water flows slowly in the beginning to give you time to adjust and to learn how to control the tube.
The most important thing to know is that nothing should be sticking out of the tube – no foot, knee, arm or, God forbid, head must come into contact with rocky river walls. Curl up and hold on! The water runs faster and faster, it swirls the tube around throwing it forward or sideways. It takes you through waterfalls, rolling waves and white-water rapids.
My first reaction was “get me out here!” The Rapid River does have a couple of wider areas with steps where you can exit. If you miss these areas then enjoy the ride! The river is one-mile long and I could hardly wait for the end of my scary experiment. When the river brought me back to the entrance, I rowed fiercely with both arms trying to get myself out. Despite my efforts, the current carried me to the conveyer belt where the staff helpfully loaded me on the belt again. I struggled to indicate that I did not want another ride. They smiled reassuringly and told me to relax. I gave up and literally went with the flow. Amazingly, it felt great the second time. Truly, someone above decided to teach me a lesson on how to confront my fears. I loved every minute of the ride and this time, the end came too soon.
Before leaving the resort, I went to see the underground aquarium. It was fantastic. Apparently, it was also for the hotel guests only. I did not know that because I happened to enter it through the exit and exited it through the entrance where an astonished security guard looked at me questionably but said nothing. This time, I made an honest mistake. Feeling like I did enough for one day, I hurried back to Nassau.
I called home when I got to my condo. It was snowing in Colorado and I did not regret that I was not there.