1. The Travel Channel tells me Atlantis is the third best destination resort in the World.
Can't argue with that. What a beautiful place! The Royal Towers with the famous "bridge suite."
According to Critias, around 11 thousand years ago, there existed a race of humans with a very superior lifestyle. They traded the abundant copper that grew underneath the island on which they lived, called Atlantis, to countries like Spain for money. Having no true leader, they lived for a long time happily. A special stone called the Stone of Destiny guarded the city and gave it electricity. The Atlantians used more modern technology compared to the outside world. However, the Atlantians soon began to use the stone's mystical powers for pure greed. They began to scavenge the seas like pirates and wanted to start an Atlantian empire by beginning to raid nearby countries. The Sea Gods held a meeting, and decided to punish the almighty civilization. So, as the Atlantians were close to dominating the world, the God of the Sea, Poseidon, sent a surging large tidal wave over the magnificent city. Atlantis sank into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantis was no more.
In 1990 developer Sol Kerzner decided to rebuild Atlantis as a world class resort and spa. He demanded absolute authenticity insofar as possible. They researched ancient legends, and even developed an Atlantian alphabet and hieroglyphs. No expense was spared.
I can't argue with the results.
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2a. Welcome to Atlantis!
Makes a decent first impression.
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2b. Flying horses?
As you pull up the perfectly manicured drive to the Porte-cocher, you are welcomed by South African sculptor Danie de Jager's bronze flying horses.
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2c. No need to knock, just come on in.
The huge door leads you into the Great Hall of the Waters in the signature Royal Towers.
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3a Welcome to the Great Hall of the Waters.
Marble and sculpture; spectacular.
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3b Surrounded by art.
Eight murals by Spanish artist Albino Gonzalez depicting the history of Atlantis circle the Geat Hall. The colors are, again, spectacular.
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3c. Water everywhere you look.
At the foot of the Grand Staircase is the Café at the Great Hall. It has large windows that look into the sunken city, which is actually an 11 million gallon saltwater habitat. We ate there on our first night. The food was amazing, and the service impeccable.
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4a. Get yourselves a room...............
Our little chunk-o-paradise.
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4b. ..........with a view;
and what a view.
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4c. lots of view.
of the main pool.
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5a. The week before Christmas is a good time to go.
Not too crowded, and the decorations are amazing.
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5b. A really good time to go.
Everywhere you go, it feels like Christmas.
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6. The dig.
The 11 million gallon saltwater habitat is built to look like an archeological dig. You start at the dig office, and wend your way through about a half mile of tunnels with large windows to view the submerged ruins.
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Lots of fish
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7. Everywhere you look beautiful landscaping and water.
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This flying fish fountain was sculpted by Naples, Florida sculptor Kathy Spalding.
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8. A katrina dolphin named Kelly.
Kelly is one of sixteen dolphins rescued from the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Katrina. On April 4 of this year my 32 year old baby was the first of the Katrina dolphins to give birth. She gave bitrth to a beautiful son named Runner. We got to play witrh Kelly and Runner for two hours.
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Kelly was very happy!
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Kelly and Runner.
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9. More cool stuff
The Power Tower. Home of five great water slides.
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We referred to this guy as the "designer logo" ray.
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Fourteen foot sawtooth shark.
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10. Gift ideas for the Ol Hippie.
Big boat.
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Bigger boat.
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Biggest boat.
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11. Fish's eye view.
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12. The old man did all of the slides.
I still got it!
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13. Last and certainly not least, the casino.
I love blackjack and texas hold-em poker. I had a decent week; won a few hundred. The little woman lost 80% of it at the slots.
Ah, women; you can't live with em.................pass the beer nuts.
- Norm
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