| Fourteen years ago, my husband and I visited the | | | | St Lawrence Gap. As we walked the mile long Gap |
| island of Barbados on a cruise ship. Barbados is the | | | | area, I knew this would be our future spot on the |
| farthest island of the Caribbean chain, and once we | | | | island each year. The west coast is rather sedate, |
| stepped off the ship, our love affair with the island | | | | and spread out compared to the lively south coast. |
| started.Being a travel consultant, I had read up on | | | | We found more than 20 restaurants, hotels, |
| the island, and the images of "flying fish" and "green | | | | nightclubs, shopping, and a great beach all in one area. |
| monkeys" stirred my imagination. Also the fact that | | | | We could hardly contain ourselves til next years |
| there is nothing but water separating Barbados and | | | | vacation. The love affair with Barbados was in full |
| the coast of Africa meant we were going to truly be | | | | swing.Thirteen years later, we are still in love. The |
| in the West Indies, and close to the equator. That | | | | same driver picks us up at the airport each year, and |
| alone was enough for a sun and beach lover!When | | | | welcomes us back home. As timeshare members, we |
| our ship docked, we opted to take an island cruise | | | | have made many friends over the years. Who would |
| via taxi. Four hours later, we had covered the island's | | | | have thought that fourteen years ago we would |
| coastline from the calm waters of the west coast on | | | | have English, Canadian, Danish and Bajan friends that |
| the Caribbean Sea, to the raging Atlantic coast on | | | | we keep in touch with throughout the year, and can't |
| the east, and the lively south coast. You just have to | | | | wait to see each winter season.As soon as winter |
| love an island that offers a completely different | | | | hits here in the Midwest, I have thoughts of eating |
| experience on all coasts. When the cruise ship pulled | | | | flying fish and seeing the green monkeys playing |
| out to sea, I can remember having a longing for an | | | | outside our balcony in the morning. Do the fish really |
| island that I had only experienced for a day.Upon | | | | fly? Well, they skim over the water, and they do |
| returning home, we started planning a land based trip | | | | have wings. Are the monkeys really green? Their |
| to the island. Being a beach lover, we made | | | | color could best be described as a combination of |
| reservations for the next year on west coast of the | | | | green, brown and yellow.The real reality is the sun |
| island. I remembered the water being glassy calm, | | | | shines brighter, the water is like a warm bath, and |
| and longed to spend lazy days at the beach. The | | | | some of the most friendly people occupy this 160 |
| west coast attracts the rich and famous, and is | | | | mile paradise. I feel safe there, and unfortunately gain |
| home to fabulous homes, hotels and villas. This | | | | weight each year eating great food from one side of |
| coastline is located on the Caribbean Sea, and the | | | | the island to the other. And when I get a travel |
| water is perfect for snorkeling and swimming. Fine | | | | request for Barbados, I can hardly contain my |
| dining is a fact of life, and Barbados is known for | | | | excitement telling a client all the inns and outs of the |
| some of the best restaurants in the world.As we | | | | island.This is a brief story about a love affair with an |
| started to meet other vacationers, we quickly | | | | island, and its people. At times I feel guilty about not |
| learned that most of them had been to the island | | | | having the same feeling about the other islands I've |
| many times before. I found this unusual, since most | | | | visited in the Caribbean. After all, I am a Caribbean |
| Caribbean vacationers opt to experience new islands. | | | | travel consultant, and I am not supposed to be partial |
| What was even more surprising, many of the English | | | | to just one island. I love all of the Caribbean islands, |
| and Canadian visitors spend the entire winter season | | | | but I'm in love with Barbados.If your curosity is |
| on the island every year. It certainly made us "short | | | | peaked after reading this article, then be advised |
| termers" with our two week vacation.My curiosity | | | | after one visit, your future travel plans may head |
| about these long term repeat vacations prompted | | | | you in the same direction each year.Linda Thompkins |
| me to ask why they returned year after year. Their | | | | has seven years experience as a Caribbean Travel |
| answers centered around the friendly locals, variety | | | | Consultant, lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is owner |
| of lodging that caters to long term visitors, sunny | | | | of Travel 2 the Caribbean Online Agency. She also |
| weather, great food and a standard of living that is | | | | manages two travel blogs. Linda has traveled |
| conducive to making the island a second winter | | | | extensively throughout the Caribbean. Travel 2 the |
| home.After a week of being beach bums, we | | | | Caribbean offers clients and visitors online booking, as |
| ventured out to the southern coast, and found the | | | | well as travel agent booking services. |