|
|
|
|
June, 2004
Alas, we left Simpson Bay, St. Maarten around 7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 15th and spent the next 18 hours motor sailing to Monserrat where we arrived at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 16th. We decided to take the rest of the day off and rest. The next day we toured the southern part of the island guided by Sam White, a local tour guide. Monserrat's first European settlers were Irish who arrived from St. Kitts in 1630 and the island is known as the Emerald Isle. In 1995, the Soufriere Hills volcano exploded and eruptions continued through 1997. The southern half of the island experienced the most devastation and the remains of the ruined capital, Plymouth, are a humbling reminder of nature's power. Here are some photos of Plymouth.
Our tour guide, Sam White, took us hiking through the hills of Monserrat, so we could have an opportunity to view the town of Plymouth still desolated after nine years. It was an unbelievable sight, and Sam who lived near Plymouth could only recently return to his home. Though he had obviously experienced a great loss, Sam was a very charming and upbeat man, and we thoroughly enjoyed his company. After our volcano tour, Sam climbed a nearby tree and picked mangos for us. He showed us which mangos were ready to eat and how to peel them with our teeth. Sam was a fabulous guide and it was an educational as well as moving experience.
After our tour, we had a late lunch with Sam at a local diner called Tina's -- very tasty and then we prepared for our sail to Guadeloupe. Take a look at What's Happening to see the latest. Don't forget ... keep coming back. |
