Paradise Island

Ryan and I returned Sunday from our trip to the Bahamas. I knew it would be an awesome trip, but I had no idea it would be that amazing. It was a trip of a lifetime and we were sad to leave. We have already decided we will be returning to the Atlantis in the Bahamas in the future and next time we are bringing Charlie! This is going to be a long blog post, but I want to document everything I remember from this trip so that I can reference this later down the road if I ever have a bad day or question just how blessed we are!!!

Ryan earned this trip through his hard work and achievements through Sysco. In his company, marketing associates work for the following awards each year: Presidents Club, Chairman’s Club, and the most elite status that can be achieved is a Sysco Torchbearer. This is a nationally recognized award and only employees who reach this status earn this trip as well as a Swiss watch, plaque, and gold ring with a diamond! Ryan is dedicated and has worked extremely hard, and continues to impress me with all of his accomplishments, I am so proud of him. We were told by others that this trip would be amazing and that we would be treated like royalty, and that was an understatement! We were joined by about 200 other qualified winners and their spouses from around the United States and Canada.

We left College Station on Wednesday night and headed to Houston, and spent the night with my parents. I am so grateful my parents offered to care for Charlie while we were gone, as well take us to and from the airport! My Dad, Ryan and I left for the airport the next morning at 4:30am….yes, it was early! After we got to the airport, checked our bags, and ate breakfast, we flew to Ft. Lauderdale, FL where we had a layover. Our next flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas was the only bad part of our trip (in fact, I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw the size plane we had to take to get there). We boarded the 19 passenger turbo prop plane, and I said a prayer for dear life! I thought I might have broken Ryan’s hand by the time we landed an hour later….but no worries, he was a trooper!



We were greeted at the airport in the Bahamas by a team of Sysco travel staff who didn’t let us lift a finger, they picked up all of our luggage and we were entertained by a Bohemian three piece band while we waited in line at customs! We were then shuttled to our final destination, the Atlantis! It was GORGEOUS and the views from the tiny plane and the shuttle over had me anxious for what was ahead.





Once we arrived at the hotel, we checked in and were given a welcome packet from the Sysco travel team outlining the times and events that were scheduled for us….and our bags were waiting in our room for us. We were also informed upon check in that we were given a $300 room credit to use anywhere in the resort! Ryan and I decided to take a walk around the resort before we had to get ready for our Welcome Reception with the others. We walked hand in hand around the aquariums, through some shops, the casino, and down the beach. What an awesome place, and the views were breathtaking!






We finally made it back to our tower and up to our room to freshen up for the Welcome Party. We figured it would be drinks, maybe some food….
It was UNBELEIVABLE! And I was so mad, because I didn’t even take my camera! Our Welcome Reception was on the Royal Deck of the resort and we were lead to it by all of the amazing decorations, lights, authentic Bohemian Band, and huge spread of food, desserts, and unlimited drinks! The food was to die for, and the entertainment was unreal! Before the end of the night there were conga lines, authentic Bohemian entertainers in costumes, blowing and juggling fire, and walking on stilts. Our tables were covered in the most amazing decorations, noise makers, and place settings. WHAT A WELCOME!!!
When we got back to our room, there was a gift on our bed…two beautiful beach towels, a beach bag, sunscreen, and after sun lotion accompanied by a note from the Sysco Travel team!

We woke up the next morning and walked down to our private breakfast buffet outside by the waterfalls, and overlooking the beach.






After breakfast we went back to our room, changed into our bathing suits and walked down to the dolphin cay! We had made a reservation to swim with the dolphins! Ryan and I were both very excited! It was an awesome experience, and we are SO glad we did it. We kissed the dolphin, rubbed down the dolphin, held her, gave her commands to do tricks and jumps and turns…it was so cool! We learned lots of fun facts, like how much they weigh, how long they live, and other interesting things. It was a great experience…..Charlie would have LOVED it.







After the dolphin interaction we ate lunch at the marina pizzeria! It was delicious and right up Ryan’s alley! Then we headed to the water park at our resort. We did all the awesome slides, Ryan was proud of me for not being a chicken! One of the slides was so cool….it actually went through the aquarium so it looked like we were swimming with the sharks! There was also a mile long river ride around the resort that had lots of fun rapids and drops and waves, it took about 30 minutes to ride it and we did it 3 times! So much fun!
After our water adventures we got drinks at one of the many bars and went and relaxed on the beach for a while. It was paradise. It was the most beautiful beach I had ever seen.











After our long day we went up to the room and showered and got dressed for our evening out. Sysco broke everyone up into regions and took them to the finest restaurants around. We were told by lots of people that we got to go to the best one! We went to the famous Graycliff restaurant, the only 5 star restaurant in the Bahamas, visited by lots of celebrities and located in a 206 year old mansion. It was fantastic. We were wined and dined and after our 5 course meal we were taken to another drink and dessert reception on the water….so awesome and beautiful!
Afterward, we decided to hit the casino and instead of playing slots, I joined my husband at the blackjack table where we played for hours and actually walked away with some good winnings (well, I did!). When we finally got back to our room and we had more gifts waiting for us! Rum cake and painted pottery plates…two things the Bahamas are very well known for. So cool!

After our long day before we slept in until 9:30 and missed our group breakfast! So we decided to try out the popular restaurant downstairs that everyone was raving about. It was SO delicious….fresh omlets made in front of you, fresh Belgium waffles, pancakes, fresh fruit, loads of bacon, sausage, potatoes….and the list goes on and on….it was incredible! After our HUGE breakfast Ryan headed back to the casino (he was just dying to give them more money!) and I headed out shopping….then I made my way back to the beach to lay out….then to the pool for a dip, and I even floated the river again….all by myself….it was heaven! Ryan and I met back up for a late lunch and then we headed back to our room to relax, watch football, and get ready for the Farewell Gala in the Grand Ballroom. Everyone was dressed up, the men in their suits and women in our cocktail dresses…so fun, felt like prom LOL! We met in the lobby of the Ballroom for drinks and then we were lead to our tables….it was absolutely GORGEOUS! The candle lit ballroom was dripping with chandeliers, incredible place settings, the decorations were the most incredible I have ever seen. The made us feel like Kings and Queens. We were served and incredible meal that included wine, salad, filet minion and lobster tail, vegetables, potatoes, breads, chocolate and strawberry shortcake….is your mouth watering yet??? It was fabulous. They recognized all of the award winners and discussed the future of Sysco with its top sales men and women…it was very special and I am so glad I was able to share it with Ryan.
After dinner, we went back to the room and changed and headed back to the Casino…where, like the night before Ryan and I played side by side at the black jack table for hours….and like before, we drank lots, I won lots and Ryan lost lots! It was so much fun!! Again when we finally got back to our room we had another gift waiting for us….a beautiful silver and crystal starfish….and note from Sysco, about being a STAR!



Sunday morning we shared one last breakfast by the water, and got packed and ready to head to the airport. I was so sad to leave, but SO anxious to get home to Charlie! Of course we never lifted a finger again on the way back to the airport....Sysco took our luggage from our rooms and unloaded it once we got to the airport, I could really get used to being waited on hand and foot! We had a long day of travel….back on the tiny scary plane to Florida….then a three hour layover in Ft Lauderdale. We met an awesome couple from Sysco New York and ate lunch with them at Chili’s, and watched the Texans/Giants game with them. They were Giants fans….so that wasn’t too much fun since we all know how bad the Texans sucked it up on Sunday!!! We said goodbye to our new friends and headed back to Houston about 5:30. Our flight finally landed around 7:30 and my parents met us at the airport with my sweet Charlie!!! He was thrilled to see us and talked our ears off all the way home about all the fun he had with Mimi and Poppa. We ate dinner with my parents, and then drove back to College Station….home sweet home….

Our trip was complete PARADISE. And I can’t wait to go back!!!