It’s a “Wonder” I survived TR: Day 14 – We finally return to the scene of the crime!

[Pinky166]

The Cast:

Me, 34 – Disney obsessed, Shopaholic & extremely clumsy!
Lee (DH), 35 – aka the Mad Hatter….



21st September 2009 = Day 14


I woke at just gone 7am after a lovely nights sleep, the pillows were so comfy. I jumped out of bed & went straight out on to the verandah hoping to catch a glimpse of Atlantis but nothing other than sea to be seen. The sun was beginning to rise so Lee joined me and we watched that whilst waiting for our Champagne breakfast to arrive at about 8am (it was part of the Romance package I ordered) we decided to have it today as it would be a lovely way to start our special day.

Breakfast arrived shortly after and we sat out on the verandah to eat it.


Mine:

Lee’s:

Whilst we were eating breakfast in the distance we saw this……

We slowly got closer:

I should explain that in July 2001 Lee & I got married at Atlantis, we stayed there for two weeks & this was the first time we would be returning since then, so we were very much looking forward to spending the day there. After breakfast we got showered & ready for the day ahead. Our main priority was to get lots of photos & film of the resort as back in 2001 we didn’t have a digital camera so we wanted to take lots of lovely photos this time around.


Whilst getting ready to go out this morning I knocked the camera off of the bed. It looked as though I had broken the hood that attaches to the end of the camera lens, thankfully Lee managed to fix it! PHEW!!!! We took another photo once we had docked before we disembarked the ship around 9.30am.

We got a taxi with another family, $4 per person. When we got to Atlantis we walked towards the entrance & I asked Lee for the camera, he looked at me & said you’ve got it? I looked at him & said don’t muck around give it here….with that he turned and ran as fast as he could down the road chasing the taxi! I was having a major panic attack and ran to another taxi who was parked nearby, I asked him if he knew the guy that dropped us off and he said he recognised him and knew where he parked up waiting for fares so I jumped in and Lee was heading back as he couldn’t see the taxi. We just set off in the taxi and I asked Lee where he’d left it? Was it on the seat in the cab? I told him that I hadn’t seen it there as I checked the seat as we got out Lee then opened the top of the rucksack and there inside was our camera. Very funny now but it sure wasn’t then, both of our hearts were pounding like crazy for ages after. Anyway we stopped the taxi and paid him $10 for his trouble (we had only gone about 20 yards so he did ok by us) and headed in to the beautiful Atlantis, in the middle section – Coral Towers.


Continued below.....

 

[Pinky166]

We headed left and walked through the Casino & up into the Royal Tower, where we stayed before. Stopping to take lots of pictures on the way.

As we got to the Royal towers we went to go out the door on the right hand side that leads outside to the spot where we got married, we were stopped by a lady who asked us for our room key or pass. I explained that we were just visiting the resort & she said we weren’t allowed out without a key/pass. I told her we just wanted to walk over to where we got married to take a few photos and that we wouldn’t be using any of the pools etc so she said ok we could go out for ten minutes.
We walked over to the scene of the crime and took some pics, I have posted a few wedding one’s too so you can see the similarities.

Within minutes it began to absolutely pour with rain, which although it sounds crazy it made it even more fun as on our wedding day it poured with rain all morning and the wedding coordinator set it all up inside, this caused Lee great stress, thankfully it stopped raining and dried up to a beautiful sunny day an hour or so before the ceremony so Lee was running around in his suit in the 92 degree blazing sun arranging to get it all moved back outside as originally planned, he managed it with minutes to spare before I arrived. Good job I was late.


Anyway due to my poorly ankle the only shoes I had been able to wear all holiday were my pink Disney crocs and as some of you will know they are so slippery on wet surfaces so Lee had to practically hold me up whilst we slowly walked back inside. By the time we got there we were both soaked through to the skin, we headed in to the nearby toilets to try and dry off but they only had paper towels, no driers. Anyway I ended up wringing my clothes out and rubbing my hair dry as best I could. Lee didn’t have much more success either so we went to Plato’s (the café just off the lobby) and got a Starbucks latte each. We sat at the same tables that we had sat with our families after the ceremony, whilst we were there we texted my parents, sister & Lee’s brother, to tell them where we currently were they replied admitting they were all insanely jealous.



By the time we had finished our coffee’s we noticed it had stop raining but the ground was still very wet so we decided to do all the inside photos first, we started in and around the lobby.

Continued below......

 

[Pinky166]

We took over 800 photos at Atlantis! So I’ll try not to overload you all.


Anyway we then went down the steps as I was desperate to see if my friends Fred & Fredette (that’s what I nicknamed them back in 2001) were still there, aka the huge Manta Rays in the aquarium (a 2.7 million gallon tank). We knew we had to pay to go through The Dig & aquarium so we purchased our tickets ($35 each) they put a wristband on us which gave access to the aquarium area and hotel grounds but doesn’t include the pools and beach.

We spent the next few hours wondering around the outside taking photos and reminiscing, it was so hot – 99 degrees!!! We kept stopping off in the shade to cool down and have a drink. Here are some of the many pics we took:

One of several swimming pools:

The Mayan temple slide:

The beach:

Once we had walked around we stopped for an ice cream, Lee had vanilla & I had Ben & Jerry’s chunky monkey. We were conscious that time was ticking on, it was 2.30pm and I wanted to get some things from the gift shop so that’s were we went next. I bought some postcards, magnets, candle holder & a christmas tree decoration, along with a few gifts for our families. We decided to get a cab back to the port as I was panicking that we needed to be back on board by 3.30 and it was 3pm already. We got back to the port and stopped in the office to get our passports stamped (you don’t have to do this but we wanted to as we had just renewed our passports so wanted a new Bahamas stamp).

Continued below......

 

[Pinky166]

As we boarded we were surprised there wasn’t a big queue, we went straight back to our room to drop the shopping off. It was then that I noticed that I had glanced at the following days navigator and we didn’t need to be back on the ship until 7pm!!!! I am putting it down to the fact that Lee doesn’t drink Champagne so I had to drink the whole bottle on my own at breakfast!


We weren’t too worried as we had had a lovely day anyway, the only thing we missed out on was lunch in the restaurant where we had our wedding dinner. (Since returning we are now booked on the first Dream cruise next January so that we be top of the list for that cruise )


After a few minutes cooling off in the room we decided to get something to eat as we hadn’t manage to stop for lunch earlier, we also decided that now would be a good opportunity to deliver our fish extender gifts. It was great fun hunting down all the rooms and sneakily delivering them. We then grabbed a cheeseburger & coke each from Deck 9, after we popped up unto to Deck 10 to take one last photo of Atlantis before returning to our room.

I rested my ankle on the bed for a while whilst writing out the Atlantis postcards I bought for my family as I wanted to post them at Castaway Cay the next day. We then got showered and changed before heading to the Walt Disney Theatre on Deck 4 for the Toy Story , The Musical. I must point out that you are not allowed to take flash photography (even though some did ) so I used my little point and shoot camera to take a few photos (I even held it right against me so the display screen didn’t disturb anyone sat behind me.) It was a great show and very cleverly adapted for the stage.

My favourite bit….

Once the show finished we rushed back to our room to get changed as it was Dress Up night, we changed and went straight back out to Parrot Cay stopping off in the lobby on the way to get a photo taken.

We had a lovely meal, laughing and joking with our Hawaiian friends at how we almost broke and lost the camera then rushing back too early. For starters we both had Chicken tenders in a jerky marinade, I didn’t like them so Lee ate mine too, for main course Lee had Grouper with saffron rice and I had the mixed grill – shrimp, sausage wrapped in bacon, steak, lamb chop, mash potato and asparagus. I only ate the steak & mash, Lee had the rest. Lee had 2 x Corona’s and I had 2 x lovely Strawberry Daiquiri’s during the meal, for dessert we both had French toasted banana with coconut ice cream which was lovely, followed by two Latte’s. It was a lovely evening with Chris and Raylyn and not forgetting great service from Kate and Balwan.


After dinner we had another look around the shops and viewed our photos in Shutters. Then went back to our room where we were met with……

It was a lovely romantic way to end the day.



Coming up – Day 15 = Castaway Cay & Palo’s!!!!!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Wow the Atlantis looks so beautiful and Claire i want your camera

 

[wickesy]

Great photos Claire and those breakfasts look delicious.

 

[Jets fan]

What lovely photos of the day and your wedding. You looked lovely in your dress. Atlantis looks fab, never been there but have been to Grand Bahama Island and loved the sea and beaches.

Tina

 

[CustardTart]

Oh Claire, honey!!!!! What fabulous day!!!! I love the way you could see the Atlantis approach from your balcony - not a given, I'm sure and so special... Lovely, lovely photos - glad that camera hadn't gone astray...

We stayed at the Atlantis in July 2003 and abso-flamin-lutely loved it!!! I have such great memories of Samuel (then just 10 years old!) hurtling down that Mayan 'leap of faith' thingy!!! He has always wanted to go back and stay in the bridge that links the towers - he's not demanding or anything...

I'm also thinking of spending the day there when we return in January 2011...

Glad you enjoyed the Toy Story show - I remember hating it but 1) I think I was in a bad place that day and 2) I just loved Hercules the Muse-ical... Always happy to give these things a 2nd chance tho'...

 

[mandymouse]

Another fantastic day Claire. Thanks for adding your wedding photos too, it was lovely to see those as well as your recent pics

Your photos are brilliant and I'm actually looking forward to when we next sail and Paul can take lots of pics with his new camera

I can't wait for your Castaway Cay installment

 

[gemmybear83]

Awww lovely day Claire! Henry has always wanted to stay there - the resort looks beautiful!

 

[natalielongstaff]

Atlantis looks lovely claire, glad you didnt lose your camera !!!

 

[Pinky166]

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments.

What lovely photos of the day and your wedding. You looked lovely in your dress. Atlantis looks fab, never been there but have been to Grand Bahama Island and loved the sea and beaches.

Tina

We've stayed on GBI too, it was lovely.

Oh Claire, honey!!!!! What fabulous day!!!! I love the way you could see the Atlantis approach from your balcony - not a given, I'm sure and so special... Lovely, lovely photos - glad that camera hadn't gone astray...

We stayed at the Atlantis in July 2003 and abso-flamin-lutely loved it!!! I have such great memories of Samuel (then just 10 years old!) hurtling down that Mayan 'leap of faith' thingy!!! He has always wanted to go back and stay in the bridge that links the towers - he's not demanding or anything...

I'm also thinking of spending the day there when we return in January 2011...

Glad you enjoyed the Toy Story show - I remember hating it but 1) I think I was in a bad place that day and 2) I just loved Hercules the Muse-ical... Always happy to give these things a 2nd chance tho'...

I wouldn't like to see the room cost for the bridge suite! I think it may be a bit..... Lee & my BIL loved the leap of faith slide too, you wouldn't catch me on it though.

We can share a cab over, then you can be the one to remind Lee to pick up the camera.

That's a shame but you should definately give Toy Story another chance.

Another fantastic day Claire. Thanks for adding your wedding photos too, it was lovely to see those as well as your recent pics

Your photos are brilliant and I'm actually looking forward to when we next sail and Paul can take lots of pics with his new camera

I can't wait for your Castaway Cay installment

Thanks Mandy, hopefully CC day will be up later today.

 

[fav_is_tink]

All caught up - another fabulous day

Great photos, Atlantis looks gorgeous

 

[Snowy-girls]

OMG,your pics are gorgeous-800 is alot of pics but if they were all as fantastic as the ones you have shown on here i would quite hapily look at them all .Lovely to see your wedding photo's again,Lee looks so young(and has hair ).
I love what they done with your room .
I must admit i was cracking up at the camera issue ,although i am sure it was'nt funny at the time ,glad it was safe all along.x.

 

[darthtatty]

Fab day.x
Its brilliant you were able to visit where you got married. I love doing that at WDW, going back to the wedding pavillion.xx

 

[jamjar84]

What a fab day, and how lovely that you got to go back to the scene of your wedding.

Atlantis looks gorgeous, I want to go right now. Lovely pics of the hotel and your wedding pics.

The camera situation sounds like something that would happen to us on holiday, thank goodness it was resolved.

Great update.

 

[Linda67]

Claire, your reviews and photos are just wonderful
I have never taken a cruise and this is really making me want to try one
What route did your cruise take and how long was it for ?

 

[Ware Bears]

Ahh, now I understand the title of your thread!!

What a lovely day, how fabulous to be able to revisit where you got married.

Your wedding photos are really lovely and what a fantastic place to say 'I do'. We intended to go over to Atlantis on our Nassau day but my girls were reluctant as they were enjoying the boat so much so it was really nice to see your photos.

 

[Chilly]

Did you pay for the petals?

 

[TotallyAngelic]

WOW ... Atlantis looks amazing and your photos are stunning ... what a romantic way to start and end your day and what a wonderful idea to re-live your wedding day. You look gorgeous in those wedding photos .... beautiful dress and bouquet.