Location: Montserrat
Today was pretty intense with science class, preparation for our longest voyage of the trip, and spending six hours on shore exploring the island of Montserrat. Montserrat is a country that is still recovering from a volcanic explosion that occurred over twenty years ago and completely buried the island’s capital. They are currently building a new capital; even though the population has decreased by almost 70% (due to emigration to England after the eruption), the remaining islanders are still happy and enjoy life to the fullest.
We spent most of the day exploring destroyed buildings that had been buried by ash from repeated eruptions. As we walked through a ruined hotel, the ash had been dug away to form a pathway, showing that the ash was over a foot deep in certain spots. Our tour guide recalled spending time at the hotel before the eruption, and it really put the destructive power of Mother Nature into perspective.
Tonight we start our two-and-a-half-day passage, sailing to our most southern destination in Grenada. I cannot wait to spend the next two days just sailing through the clear, blue ocean and add country number four to this trip.