Rainy day in Paradise

Today brought us some very windy and wet weather. Felt like home, that's for sure. But despite the grayness, we managed to have some fun.

Mom and I tried to start the day off right with a trip to the gym. Unfortunately, everyone else on the ship has the same idea and it was packed. Not a free machine in sight. So we settled for a soggy walk around the top deck, where our feet slogged through the puddles of water left on deck from the storm the night before.

We docked at about 7 AM but we did not get off the boat until about 9:30 (after a nice breakfast at the buffet). Several of the shops were not open until 10 but we walked around the bustling metropolis of Nassau while things started to get moving.

Nassau reminded me a lot of St Maarten and St Thomas, with lots of jewelry shops all selling pretty much the same things. But we managed to find a few interesting finds and had a good time looking through the shops.

We went back to the pier at 11 to meet our excursion, which was a tour of the Atlantis. After a short but packed ferry ride to Paradise Island, we braved the winds once again to follow a 40 minute tour through Atlantis. We saw 4 giant Chihuly works in the casino and toured through the Dive, which is essentially an aquarium / museum. The funny thing about Atlantis is that it is based on Plato's imagination. The entire concept of Atlantis is essentially a dream that Plato had about what that city might look like. People spent a lot of time and money trying to prove it exists but ultimately it is simply a dream. Interesting that this enormous tourist attraction has been built around that theme but i guess Disney and Vegas are not that much farther off.

The aquarium was amazing, with jellyfish and 10 foot sting rays. A very impressive sight.

After spending way too much for a mediocre buffet, we tried our hands at the casino. Or more accurately, we handed over our offering to the casino gods. I actually walked out about $12 ahead after showing mom and Mary how the Wheel of Fortune machines worked. But overall we left more than we took away.

Mary and mom say this place has changed a lot since they were here a few years back. All I can say is that while it was nice, it was not unlike Vega to me. Of course, the crappy weather must have had an impact on that to some degree but it was not too impressive in my eyes.

Tonight is our formal night. Mary and mom are upstairs getting ready while I hack away at this computer. I believe we are having lobster of some sort but can't totally say.... anyway, I am sure it will be good. Last night's prime rib was excellent.

Tomorrow is our day in Coco Cay. Hopefully the weather will be nice but no guarantees. I just hope they decide not to stay if the weather is not nice - I don't want to have to pay for the snorkel gear and floaty mat we reserved unless the weather is worth it.

Cheers!