We've been travelling to Barbados for around 35 years and have forgotten how many times we've visited.
Way back in the past, I had a 'thing' about Barbados. I think it started when Cadburys chocolate people came to school with a film of 'How we make chocolate' and those little penny bars to give out, one each. I was about 7/8 and very impressionable. The film started with sugar cane cutting in Barbados .... the sky was so blue, the vegetation so lush .....
When I was around 20, there was a documentary about the island showing as the 'second film' at the cinema. There it was again, that intense blue, the emerald greenery, the vibrant colours of the flowers .... how could I resist? I was sunk!!!
When a certain airline (who I suppose must remain nameless) brought the flights down to a realistic price, our whole family took advantage. At first we stayed on the South Coast, which is lovely, but when we found the Sunset Crest/Holetown area, I felt I'd come home.
This genteel area has more gentle seas, the underwater national park (so the snorkeling is great) and it has great facilities - everything's on the doorstep. I always tell guests that they don't need a car here except for sightseeing purposes.
The area has seen some sympathetic re-development in recent years, with pleasing results. The facilities are right up to date for the 21st century whilst all the character and charm of the Caribbean has been preserved, notably the chattel village - a cute collection of brightly painted wooden shanties selling a wide range of goods. By contrast, we have Lime Grove, a smart, semi open-plan shopping mall selling all the top designer labels. It offers several restaurants and a cinema too.
We saw Mangoes in Spring of 2003 and I fell in love instantly. In my eyes it was the perfect house in the perfect place. It did need a lot of TLC, but after quite a bit of updating, it's now a home we are proud to share and we have every confidence that our guests will love it too.