Blog 1 — For Whom the Belle Tolls

The traditional gift for your twenty-first wedding anniversary is brass or nickel—said to symbolize durability and strength—but for our twenty-first last week, Clint and I decided to go the route of sun and sand instead. This last year has been a bit taxing, and it has been a while since we have been able to escape to the beach. We thought immediately of the Bahamas, specifically, of the Atlantis resort. It has been a destination for so many of our family vacations over the years that we have lots of great memories there, and we were eager to get back and create some more.

We left bright and early Thursday morning and, thanks to a short flight time, arrived just on schedule for lunch. We grabbed sandwiches at a favorite deli and were out by the pool in no time, already forgetting the rain and cold weather we had left behind in Charlotte. I’m sure brass and nickel are wonderful, but the warmth of the sun and the breeze off the ocean seemed like a great gift just for us. We lingered by the water, talking and reading until the sun went down, and then walked down by the marina for a casual pizza dinner. We strolled through some souvenir shops and then walked through the resort’s aquarium (the largest open-air marine habitat in the world, and always a fascinating sight to see with eels, sharks, sting rays and more).

Friday was actually cold and windy! We tried valiantly to enjoy some time out by the pool or the beach, but the wind gusts made it impossible (and freezing). We wound up coming back inside and changing into jeans and sweaters. Luckily, the resort had plenty of Christmas decorations to see to keep us occupied. We also tried our hand at a few slot machines in the casino (sadly, no big winnings) to pass the afternoon before it was time for dinner.

The Atlantis resort, all decked for the holidays.

Clint was craving sushi, and since he has been putting up with me for 21 years now, I acquiesced. We had dinner at Nobu.
I am not a big sushi lover, but their black cod with miso is delicious.

This chair is an iconic, and probably the most photographed, spot at Atlantis.
We always joke, “If you don’t take a picture at the chair, did you even go to Atlantis?”

I’m not going to say we didn’t miss the dogs (of course we did) but it was so nice to sleep in every morning and wake up without the help of two wet noses ready for breakfast, no alarm clock, and no schedule to keep. Our biggest concern was finding lounge chairs in a desirable location before too many of them were taken…ah, what bliss. The cold and wind from Friday subsided and Saturday was literally picture perfect, thank goodness! There is usually a man selling coconut drinks out on the beach, but I suppose the weather the day before had scared him away. We all know I love a gimmick so I was a bit disappointed. Luckily…

Atlantis added a signature cocktail to their menu that comes in a pineapple.
The heart wants what it wants, and sometimes, that is a drink that comes in some type of tropical fruit.

It was sad to pack up our beach bag and leave our lounge chairs for the final time, but we had a dinner reservation that we had been looking forward to awaiting us at celebrity chef Jose Andres’s restaurant, Fish. The food was amazing and definitely did not disappoint: Clint ordered the branzino, I chose the whole grilled lobster, and we shared a twice baked potato and oven roasted baby carrots. You know you are in the hands of great chefs when baby carrots knock your socks off! It was a memorable, wonderful anniversary meal.

Enjoying some Christmas in the Caribbean.

We had a short but relaxing trip, the perfect getaway before all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins. Being married (and staying that way) isn’t always easy, and it’s nice to take moments to appreciate each other and the effort it takes to make things work. I definitely think twenty-one years deserves a pina colada and a lobster dinner. Which also makes me thrilled at the prospect of how we will celebrate twenty-two!

An Atlantis Anniversary

For Whom the Belle Tolls