20/24.- Nassau, Paradise Island

Just off the coast of New Providence lies Paradise Island, linked to Nassau by two toll bridges. The main attraction on Paradise Island is Atlantis, a huge 1200-room hotel, restaurant and shopping complex built around a casino decorated in monumental kitsch, borrowing its theme and imagery from the Atlantis myth. The ground floor opens onto a huge aquarium with many-hued tropical fish, sharks, and even an enormous manta ray. The island itself is beautiful, and one does wonder why people would want to spend their time in a dark hall feeding their money into slot machines when there is so much sun and beauty outside. But there's no accounting for tastes, is there?

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