Photographed by John Pearce
I can see her now, an old friend who is deceased; her blue green eyes which seemed to take the color of what she was wearing along with her spider like body leaned forward toward me trying to grab my attention as she starred into my eyes as she was telling me about her travel experiences. She said “If you have not been on a cruise you have not lived a life.” It has been a week and I can not shake this conversation out of my memory.
Last week the Oasis of the Seas made its inaugural voyage to Port Nassau. It was raining heavily, to me the heavens poured down in celebration as the people harmoniously gathered by the thousands. The attendance was abundant as they crowded the western coast of Nassau to get a glimpse of this wonder; The Oasis of the Seas is considered the largest cruise ship in the world. My daughter and I also gathered at the nearest vantage point as it left Nassau after spending seven and half hours in port with its 6500 passengers. The ship literally made a 180 degree turn in what seemed like 200 yards in front of me. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered my homeland of Montserrat.
Montserrat 1989, Hurricane Hugo had severely damage Port Plymouth Wharf. A Dutch company by the name of Interbeton was contracted to construct a new Pier/Wharf/Jetty. As Sir Howard Fergus puts it “The British responded generously, in the islands rehabilitation. Shortly after it was completed in; 1992 Montserrat was booming.” I can vividly remember that hundreds of Montserrat flocked to the shore line and hundreds were stationed at the Taxi Stand to get a glimpse of two Cruise Liners (Renaissance 11 and Freewind Cruises) We all felt good and it seems as if we were served a heavy portion of the economic pie relative to our fellow OECS brothers and sisters.
It has been 15 years since the discussion about not living if I have not been on a cruise. It has also been 15 years since Port Plymouth has hummed her lonely chorus as the harbor is now buried in ash. The Jetty that Interbeton built is still there. It smiles as fishermen sail swiftly by, meanwhile my friend’s words reverberate today and memories of Plymouth lives on. I have since looked up information on cruise ships (Ocean Liner Exclusive Luxury Resort, The Queen Mary 2, Cunard Lines, Monarch of The Seas etc. ) and upon reflection, perhaps she was right maybe I do need to go on a cruise and see the world from the sea.
