ALL THE THINGS YOU’LL NEED TO KNOW TO VISIT, TO SHOP, TO STUDY & TO LIVE IN MONTSERRAT!

THIS SITE IS FOR SALE, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

HAIR STYLISTS

Julies Beauty Salon and Laundromat, Sweeney's, between Radio Montserrat and the Gas Station
Owner: Juliana Meade
Telephone: (664)492-1568
Description: Julies Beauty Salon is open Monday to Saturday 9:00. A.M. until late depending on business. We style unisex, Caucasian, and other types of hair, relaxers, bonding and weaving, perms, and we do manicures and pedicures.
Owners Comment: I have over 25 years experience as a hair care specialist. Our Laundromat offers same day drop off service as well.

HARDWARE SUPPLIES

MS Osborne Ltd, Box 287, Brades, Montserrat
Tel: (664)491-2494, (664)491-3288
Fax: (664)491-4760
Email: msosborne@candw.ms
Operations Manager: Nigel Osborne
Specialty: With everything from construction materials to wholesale foods and beverages, MS Osborne's is the place.
Owners Comment: If you are building or renovating a home or business we have materials from tiles to tin and if we don't have it, we'll order it for you. We have containers arriving every two weeks and will get what you need.

Romeos Wayside Store, 10 Cemetery Road Carrs Bay, Box 340,
St. Johns
Tel: (664)491-2797, (664)491-4484
Fax: (664)491-4755
Owners: Donald, Valerie, & Julian Romeo
Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Specialty: We are an all inclusive hardware store. Our specialty is our service and competent staff. If you need color matching in paint for your home in any one of hundreds of colors or a special order of that "must have tile from Puerto Rico" we can help you!
Owners comment: This should be your first and last stop in Montserrat for those specialty and hard to find items. Our motto is, " If we don't have it, we will tell you where to find or order it for you!"  Try us first!

Galloways Hardware & Building Materials Ltd, P.O.Box 404 Sweeney's
Tel: (664)491-6318
Fax: (664)491-4009
Email: jegallow@candw.ms Web Site: www.jegalloway.com

HEALTH
In your travels around Montserrat, you might encounter one or more of the charming graveyards. As you wander through plastic flower strewn stone markers, you will see that in the past people here lived very long lives. Many of those that we have seen are people who lived well into their eighty’s with little or no modern medical intervention. At one time, this was a very healthy place.

In planning your trip to Montserrat, remember that if you should have a health problem, do bring your medications as they may well not be available on island or if available the heat may have affected their potency. If you have any emergency or serious medical problem while in Montserrat, do plan on an immediate medical evacuation to nearby Antigua or to the United States.

Note: Siguaterra is a fish poisoning disease caused by a marine bacteria not uncommon in the Caribbean, in Hawaii and in Florida. Though a serious disease, it is not all that common and there are medicines that can treat the disease so don't be put off local seafood if you are lucky enough to find some.

HEALTH FOOD STORES see GROCERIES

TAKE THE HELICOPTER FLY BY OF SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO
(LATEST) Click on the link above to see some breathtaking views of the Soufriere Hills Volcano from a helicopter.

TAKE THE HELICOPTER FLY BY OF SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO
(2007) Click on the link above to see some breathtaking views of Soufriere Hills Volcano from a helicopter.

HELICOPTER TOUR OF MONTSERRAT & SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO
(2005)
Click on the link above to see some breathtaking views of this lovely island from a helicopter including photos of Soufriere and Plymouth.

 HIKING IN MONSTERRAT CLICK HERE! or CLICK THE PIC OR HERE!

FOR MORE ACTIVITIES & THINGS TO DO SEE:
SITES TO SEE AND THINGS TO DO IN MONTSERRAT

HISTORY
This 39 square mile island was first settled by the Caribs. Visited in 1493 by Columbus and named Santa Maria de Montserrat, the island waited until 1632 for English and Irish settlers to arrive from nearby St. Kitts. It was in that year that the British in St. Kitts sent their Irish dissidents to the island which later became something of a Caribbean safe haven for political and religious free thinkers.

Later more Irish settlers arrived, this time from Virginia bringing their slaves and developing tobacco, indigo, cotton, and sugar plantations. Though little is left of the Irish culture, the shamrock remains the image stamped in your passport as you pass through immigration and most Montserratian names are of Irish origin.

The abolition of slavery in 1834 coincided with earthquakes, hurricanes, and declining sugar prices bringing ruin to the island's economy. British philanthropist, Joseph Stuge founded the Montserrat Company Ltd. which bought many of the failing plantations in 1857. The company planted lime trees on the land and sold small parcels to islanders who began producing the lime juice that would come to restore Montserrat's economic viability.

Montserrat was largely an agricultural island with little development until the late 1960's when residential tourism became a way of life. Donkeys and foot paths were gradually replaced by cars and roads. Cement blocks became the building material of choice.

All was well until the eruption in 1995 of what was thought to be a dead volcano. It has ruled the island and its people since then, first through evacuations and then through the destruction of the island’s capital city, Plymouth. Still, some islanders have shown a great reluctance to leave. The northern third of the island is generally considered safe and the community has moved and adjusted to the havoc wrought by the Soufriere Hills volcano in the south with great financial assistance from Britain and other donor organizations around the world.

HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
January 1
New Year's Day

March 17
St. Patrick Day Celebrations, performances and concerts top the list, which is not to downplay the wearing of the green.

May 6
Labour Day

June 3
Whit Monday

August Monday
A weekend celebration of the 1834 emancipation of slavery includes beach barbeques and affairs at local organizations.

Christmas Festival
Mid December to New Year's is a time of concerts and parties.

December 26
Boxing Day

December 27
St. John's Day

HOMES FOR SALE IN MONTSERRAT Just Click This link!

HOME MAINTENANCE HINTS

Ants
A direct application of sprayed Windex™ or a mixture of ammonia and water will kill most ants on contact. Another option is a sprinkling of boric acid.

Cement Basics
Standard mix
1 cement/2 sand/4 stone
Sealing mix
2 cement/1 lime mixed with water to make a thick paint. Seals the holes and gives a smooth finish. When dry, rub the surface with an abrasive flat stone to give it a perfectly smooth surface.

Fungus on the cement underneath the house
First scrape the surface clean and soak it with straight bleach (an anti fungal bleach), then let dry and repaint.

Tin roof
If it is bought unpainted, wash the tin with vinegar to set the surface and then paint it. The paint used is a heavy duty sort of polyurethane with color. You can also install the roof and wait for nature to key the surface and then paint it. That is what we did with our new tin roof. When we sold our home it had been on the house for six or seven years and still was not in need of painting.

These really are the perfect roofs for climates with extreme temperatures. Aside from seeing them on traditional and estate homes on islands all over the Caribbean, we saw them on every home and hotel in Ushuaia, Argentina, the jumping off point for Antarctica. In that case the extreme cold was the issue and the tin served very well. Tin comes in standard lengths 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 feet. What isn't commonly known is that tin roofs are a good bit more expensive than the more common asphalt shingle roofs, but they keep the house much cooler. Best of all, damage on a tin roof can be repaired without the ugly splotchy effect that repairs have on shingle roofs, especially in the sunny Caribbean where shingle colors fade very quickly.

Termites
Species: isoptera, Rhinotermitidae-anisopliae: These insects are very beneficial in cleaning up fallen wood in the forests and making nutrients available to growing vegetation. When they head into a home it is an entirely different situation. The modern chemical pesticide treatments are only 30% effective though they are highly toxic and very long lasting in the environment.

As an effective alternative to pesticides, you may use a direct application of diesel fuel on any termite nests or tracks that you may find. Boric acid is also an effective treatment. The Orkin termites page is also loaded with valuable tips on keeping your home pest free.

Preventive measures include:
1. Removing all loose wood and cellulose material (paper boxes) from around your home. Aside from being a good practice in keeping termites from your home, cleaning up loose paper and wood around your foundation is a great way to prevent fires as well. Your home insurance provider will be especially pleased with the care you have taken of your property.
2. Ensuring that all wood attached to your home is at least six inches above the ground.
3. Taking every measure to keep your foundation dry!!!
4. Grading your property to keep water away from your home and buildings.

HOMES FOR RENT see ACCOMMODATIONS IN MONTSERRAT

HORSEBACK RIDING See The "S" Page -- SITES TO SEE AND THINGS TO DO

HOSPITALS see MEDICAL SERVICES

HOTELS see ACCOMMODATIONS IN MONTSERRAT

HOUSEKEEPING

Carmen Thomas , Olveston, Montserrat
Cell: (664)496-8942
Specialty: Ironing, general housekeeping, and sewing.
Owners Comment: I can interested in part time work as a housekeeper or to do your ironing. I am trained as a seamstress so any sewing you need to be done just give me a call and I'll be happy to do it.

HUMMINGBIRDS OF MONTSERRAT
If you would like to see some Hummingbird activity that we got around our Hummingbird feeder, just click the photo or Here!