MONTSERRAT, “THE EMERALD ISLE”
BY CLAY LARROY
BY CLAY LARROY
It
doesn't matter if you take a trip across the state line or the border, being
far from home can be exciting and also a bit stressful. When considering
traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer many more
sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer a chance
to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover ground fast
but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in flight. Each
mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be considered. When you want to
plan a vacation contact me!
Things to see and do in Montserrat
Bird
spotting
Look out for the icterus oberi (a species of oriole), Montserrat's
national bird, at Centre and Silver Hill in the north of the island.
Go
fishing
Hire a fishing boat and try your luck at catching marlin, wahoo or
tuna.
Hiking
trails
Lace up your hiking boots and explore Montserrat on foot. Popular
routes are the Cot trail (which runs through an oki banana plantation to a
historic family house), Runaway Ghaut, the Blackwood Allen trail, and the
Silver Hills trail (which passes through one of the island's oldest volcanic
centers).
Local footy match
Time your trip to coincide with a friendly football match between
the Montserrat national side and a visiting European team.
Montserrat Volcano Observatory
Meet the scientists
monitoring volcanic activity at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. Twice a
week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), they take visitors on a tour of the facility (www.mvo.ms).
Oriole Complex
Trace Montserrat's history at the Oriole Complex, and take a
guided tour of the gardens.
Pelican
Point
Make your way to Pelican Point on the east coast, home to the
island's only breeding colony of the spectacular frigate birds.
Plymouth
From Richmond Hill, cast your eye over the abandoned capital,
Plymouth. The town now lies buried in ash, vanishing a little more each year as
mudflows and volcanic debris mount up.
Rendezvous Bay
Travel by boat to Rendezvous Bay and enjoy the only white (coral)
sand beach in Montserrat; sand in the other bays is of volcanic origin and may
be grey or black.
Snorkel and scuba
Duck underwater with a
snorkel and mask or plunge deeper with full scuba gear. Montserrat's reefs are
teeming with colourful coral and fish (www.divemontserrat.com or www.seawolfdivingschool.com).
Soufrière Hills volcano
Take the opportunity to see an active volcano, and the devastation
caused by the 1997 eruption, from the viewing platform on Jack Boy Hill.
St Patrick's Week
Join in the festivities during St Patrick's Week, which
commemorates Montserrat's slave uprising on 17 March 1768 as well as
celebrating the island's Irish heritage.
Tour the island
Take a two-hour boat tour
round the island to see the Soufrière Hills volcano, the Tar River Delta and
the remnants of the old W H Bramble Airport (www.divemontserrat.com).
REFERENCE SITES
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
“Don’t grow up too quickly, lest you
forget how much you love the beach.”
Michelle Held
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