While we're keen to live in or around St James, it's not called the platinum coast for nothing - the house prices are pretty high. So we want to consider all options, including the south the island.
In reality I don't know what the rest of Barbados is like. I've been to Bridge Town, Oistins and St Lawrence Gap, but only for quick, touristy visits.
Henry has done some good research and we have a list of places to visit. Jen decides that sun bathing by the pool is a better way to spend the day, while mum is up for a day of driving and checking out properties.
We head towards Speightstown stopping to look at Bakers Woods and Vuemont on the way. It's a very promising start as we instantly fall in love with both. They are very different but have a nice feel. We could see ourselves living in either area. The houses and apartments are small in comparison to our house at home, but provide everything we need.
In Speightstown we love the location, right on the beach, but not the apartments. I also thought we could find Mangos restaurant as it's had some rave reviews but I didn't see it.
We take a long drive to Rockley. We think it's too busy and we don't even try to find the apartments. We fancy some lunch so we head to The Gap but Sweet Potato (a Bajan restaurant we've visited a couple of times) is closed. We'll just pick something up on the road.
Then it's off to find Silver Point. The fact that we can't find it, get hopelessly lost in the process and are driving through torrential rain puts us off this location. We also kept seeing another driver who was clearly lost too. Whats funny is that he and Henry are following each other into numerous dead end roads before finally asking for directions. Of course if Henry had just followed my directions we'd have been ok - men!
On to Ocean City. It's a large house but again we're just not feeling the area
and the rain continues to pour. On the way I spot a sign that said "Ruthie's Garden Centre". I though our own Ruthie would like that one.
By now we're really hungry so I suggest stopping for some snacks at a service station. What an experience. There's a full take away menu of all the best Bajan food. Whatever you wanted was available and for a fraction of the price in stores and restaurants. So I got a beef roti for Henry, a chicken one for mum and a pattie for me. Their rotis were huge but my pattie was small so I got wedges too. All very tasty indeed.
The rest of the day we looked at various developments and just like any other type of shopping, the first one we saw was the best. We just need to find some money now. I'll be working hard on getting some new business when I get back so that we can make our dream a reality. Remember, our "caroaches" are too old and grey to sell so we just have to work hard and save hard.
As we drive home we decide to go out for a meal and spend some time finding a place where there's stuff that the Princess will eat. We settle on Ramshackle - cheap and cheerful
And I book a table for 7 pm.
When we get back the Princess is having a siesta. Unfortunately it did rain back at the Hut too, interrupting her sunbathing. That's a shame. I had hoped it was confined to the south of the island.
We all get ready to go out for dinner. It's nice having the car but I'm glad it's only for a couple of days, otherwise we won't do any walking at all.
Our table is ready when we get to Ramshackle. The nice young waiter is concerned about mum going down the stairs but I assure him she's done it before and will be fine. It's time I had a run punch - it has been a few days. Mum had a banana daiquiri, Jen a sprite and Henry a beer.
We order and the service is both quick and polite - not at all like Surfside. Unfortunately, despite the great service the food is just average. We decide to head up the road to Hole Town to checkout the scene of last week's crime - you know, the woman who was doing the x-rated karaoke? I hope she's singing again but Henry shudders at the thought of it.
Sadly it's pretty quiet down town and although our glamorous granny is there with her enteraugue of young men, she isn't singing. What a pity.
The consensus is to head back to the Hut for a night cap and a movie. We watch "independence day" - Jax would not be pleased with all of these Will Smith movies - while the Princess goes off to bed.
We missed out on seeing our lovely, smiling Keisha this weekend, because we had the car, but I'm sure we'll see her over the next few days.
TTFN
Gem xxx. (sorry the photos aren't so good today)
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