MONTSERRAT, CARIBBEAN

Sometimes we talk about devastation, as sometimes it happens. In Montserrat it came in a tremendous way, very rarely in modern times anything of the kind happenned that touched such an incledible pourcentage of the population. This is because it is such a tiny island with around twelve thousand inhabitants before the big eruption, may be only fife thousand by now.
In 1997 a massive explosion of the Soufrière Hills volcano distroyed more than half the island, including the capital and forced the dislocation of most of the locals; such a part of the island is still an "exclusion zone", due to the risks of renewed sismologic activity.
I went there on a day trip from Antigua, which this is fairly enough to see what is available. Everything to be seen is related to the tragic events of 22 years ago.
First you are taken to a valley which defines the line of separation, where you can walk on ashes, lava and boulders and see nice abandoned villas. Then you go to the Volcano Observatory, located on a high position but out of the possible lines of destruction when the volcano stikes. From the mirador you have the volcano mountain in front and you see Plymouth,the (ex)capital, near to the sea and with just a few towers and houses above the ashes and debris: most of it lies now under the surface. Later at another mirador you can see, on the east side, the old airport - or inded what remains of it.