Sophisticated Scene
Our SL team is fortunate enough to travel all around the world. With just a few days out of the office and packed itineraries at the most luxurious destinations, it’s only natural to simply want to go back for more! Our Louisville team recently enjoyed experiencing The Reef at Atlantis in the Bahamas for our November/December issue. And just a few weeks ago, I returned to one of my family’s favorite vacation spots, this time discovering a few more special places I never knew existed around the property.
Among those was “Sacred Space,” a sculpture series on the beach just near The Cove at Atlantis. It’s a peaceful and inviting section, tucked in an alcove within a peninsula that is the resort’s most coveted portion of the exquisite turquoise water. Robert Merlin of SmartFlyer sends many of his clients to that very spot. “The Cove gives you the best of Atlantis,” he says. “It’s a luxurious private sanctuary where you can escape away from the masses while at the same time giving you access to everything that makes Atlantis one of the most fun destinations in the Caribbean.” This was perhaps our best stay by the way as Rob managed to get us upgraded into “The Indigo Suite,” where our balcony provided a view of the tranquil ocean waters, and our windows looked out over Dolphin Cay and Nassau’s Harbor.
I learned about “Sacred Space” in the elevator monitors when my daughter asked to see “the ladies” (the sculptures) that were displayed in the repeating video of the property. Renowned Bahamian artist and sculptor Antonius Roberts debuted this art installation about two years ago. Each of the seven dancing women was sculpted using local Madeira trees. Over time, many guests have built cairns– stacks of stones– in the space, perhaps as a memorial, a tribute to the fine memories created in the Caribbean or a salute to the Bahamian heritage. Roberts says he created the space to be “a specific, historical memorial to reflect and embody my personal philosophy about art and how it can be used interactively. It also embraces my profound interest in the conservation, preservation and transformation of our environment, and the 700 islands of the Bahamas.”
If you head to Atlantis and are considering attempting the mind-blowing “Leap of Faith” waterslide– a near vertical drop into a tank of sharks– perhaps visit “Sacred Space” first to help you stay grounded in your intentions!
Have you visited one of the places we’ve featured? Send us your travel pictures and tag your favorite destinations on social @sophisticatedlivingmag.
