It all began when our sons won a week's family holiday on the Costa Brava. It was then that we discovered L'Escala, and immediately fell in love with the place.  Later the opportunity came to buy an apartment there.

For a few years this was wonderful, but gradually the area around us became too built up, and the promised swimming pool didn't materialise. Our precious two week Spanish summer holidays were largely spent looking at other properties with pools. None was exactly right. Time and again we returned to the undeveloped Carrer Bassegoda area, with its good sea views and quiet peaceful location.  Finally we downsized at home, sold our Spanish apartment, and bought a building plot in Carrer Bassegoda, having first checked the view by standing on top of a step ladder!

Now we could have our own villa. The family helped to design both the Villa and garden, and a pool much larger than average, for our family of water babies.  Everything was finished to the day that our builder (Miguel Bosch) had promised, except for the ground floor apartment, which had to wait another four years until we were able to finance its completion.

In the years that followed we made many improvements, such as the pool's solar heating, and a better water supply. The rear garden was paved and terraced, using the compensation money resulting from my husband's untimely death in 2002.  Just after that the pool slide was installed in acknowledgement of all his hard work for the whole project.

Since the beginning,  many, many friends and family members have spent wonderful holidays at the Villa, all contributing ideas and help.  Because of the Villa, six of us Whitmores have learnt to scuba dive (and still continue), also water skiing and sailing have played a big part in our time in the sun.

Our time at the Villa has enhanced our lives, as we hope it will yours too.