Resorting to the Bahamas

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