Inlet must be the most bizarre-looking national capital you have ever seen. Apart from a few huts on the beach and the collection of shops known as the festival village, there are only two magnificent buildings and lots of dust.

Both market structure and Cultural Center. And if they looked like they had just been removed from wrapping paper, it is because they possess. Cultural Center, in particular, looked spectacular out of place. This art, performance and media facilities are arguably the most up-to-date throughout the Caribbean region. And it is expected that he will be one focal point in the city being built from scratch.

Little Bay is north of Montserrat and, 20 years ago, it was nothing. That’s the part of the island looks just right for wandering goats. Capital was (and still technically) Plymouth, south-west of this small Caribbean island. That was before the volcano moves. Soufriere Hills volcano that is inactive for more than 400 years before it began erupting in 1995. It is still active and many of Montserrat have been buried in ash and mud as a result.

Two-thirds of the island is now in an exclusion zone. The houses that were there (mostly Montserratians living in the gated area off) are best left on, destroyed at worst.

Plymouth is a modern-day Pompeii, was buried and burned out. Now only be seen by boat tour or from the top of one hill overlooking it; offers a view of the heart-in-mouth image destructive force of nature.

When it became clear that it was not safe to live in Plymouth and the surrounding area, mass evacuation is required. Schools and churches became temporary accommodation for the hundreds, shelter tent erected next to a steep mountain road and established businesses to move to a small hut in the north of the island.

Rose Willock, who is station manager at Radio Montserrat evacuation, said the emotional damage, as well as physically.

“Some people lost everything but it was not a major problem. I know my house will be one of the first to go and I’m ready for it,” he explained.

“But the family close enough separation and people are still in a state of change.”

Many Montserratians chosen to live abroad, mainly driven by the generous relocation package offered by the British Government. Sometimes the father went and the children lived; in others, a large family spread all over the world.

Rose argues that those who stay in a position much better. “We’ve moved. We’ve got closure and more comfortable with it,” he said.

“This is our home – this is the only place we know and we would prefer to stay at home and see him return to normality.”

Little Bay development is part of the effort to rebuild. Cultural Center – partly funded by the former Beatles producer Sir George Martin, who once had a recording studio on the island – is the first step. Ambitious plans for Little Bay, including the breakwater, yacht marina, hotel and condominium complex and a safe harbor. Away from the coast, the plan is to create a “cluster” – a focus on culture, a legacy, one for business. Government and civil service – currently huddled in a series of hastily-built structure on top of the hill – will also move there.

This project will cost approximately $ EC300 million (approximately $ 170 million) and much of that amount of foreign aid will come. It is expected that everything will be ready in 10 years.

Equally important to the island, however, is the return of tourism. People slowly trickled back – most of what gawp for a volcano that has been done.

But the number of visitors is still at the stage where people are pulled out of curiosity. Local wanted to talk with strangers at the bar, showed them around and tell their stories of upheaval. They also wanted visitors to go and tell their friends about the experience – it’s doubtful that there is a friendly place on earth.

And Montserratians was looking into the future than the past. Various tour operators – including a wet suit, a heritage village, guesthouses, campsites and a day tour companies from neighboring Antigua – have been handed over funds to help them expand and stimulate interest in the whole island.

Like Rose Willock said, “Exciting things are happening.” And Little Bay is probably the most interesting of all.

“The New City will never Plymouth – which can not be replicated,” he said. “We have a chance to make it what we want. We can make our city can be proud, one that can also serve as a monument.”

TRAVEL NOTES

GETTING THERE

Montserrat is in the Caribbean. To get there, need to take a short flight with Winair from Antigua. There is also the intermittent ferry service between the two islands, the Montserrat government hopes to create a permanent soon. Getting to Antigua require changes in U.S. plane