In addition to the luxury accommodation, what made it feel even more special to us was the fact that all profit from the hotel went back into the community.
The hotel was built by the Shorefast Foundation (a 'shorefast' is the line which secures a cod trap to the shore apparently), a charity to help the island communities. It was set up by one woman who grew up on the island and then moved away to Ottawa, but never forgot her roots.
Fishing - primarily cod - used to be the income of the locals, but with the depletion of stocks in the 1950's/60's, it became even harder to make a living on the island. The provincial government recommended a resettlement program to the eleven communities, but they fought back. Before then, the communities had lived independent of each other; but they came to realize if they worked together, they would be more likely to be heard. Some people were resettled, but other communities managed to remain put and they formed the Fogo Island Co-operative Society Ltd, a community-based fishing enterprise which took over from the private enterprises which had controlled the island fishing beforehand.
Despite this growing business, young people continued to leave to find jobs, and the island's population continued to dwindle.
The Shorefast Foundation built four artist's studios around the island, aiming to attract artists from around the world and place Fogo on the map. They then built the hotel, with an aim to provide jobs to the young members of the community and breath life - in addition to the important fishing heritage - into the island once more.
It took three years to build the hotel, employing local craftspeople, and obtaining all materials as local as possible. Items which couldn't be sourced from the island or Newfoundland were bought from ethical manufacturers. Everything, even down to the screws, was given special attention as to it's origin.
I could go on and on about the Shorefast Foundation and the hotel, but I fear it may be one of those things in which the finer details aren't too interesting unless you have been to the place, smelt the air, felt the passion. If you do want to learn more about the fantastic project, please go to the website: shorefast.org where you can read the story from start to finish.
The hotel was built by the Shorefast Foundation (a 'shorefast' is the line which secures a cod trap to the shore apparently), a charity to help the island communities. It was set up by one woman who grew up on the island and then moved away to Ottawa, but never forgot her roots.
Fishing - primarily cod - used to be the income of the locals, but with the depletion of stocks in the 1950's/60's, it became even harder to make a living on the island. The provincial government recommended a resettlement program to the eleven communities, but they fought back. Before then, the communities had lived independent of each other; but they came to realize if they worked together, they would be more likely to be heard. Some people were resettled, but other communities managed to remain put and they formed the Fogo Island Co-operative Society Ltd, a community-based fishing enterprise which took over from the private enterprises which had controlled the island fishing beforehand.
Despite this growing business, young people continued to leave to find jobs, and the island's population continued to dwindle.
The Shorefast Foundation built four artist's studios around the island, aiming to attract artists from around the world and place Fogo on the map. They then built the hotel, with an aim to provide jobs to the young members of the community and breath life - in addition to the important fishing heritage - into the island once more.
It took three years to build the hotel, employing local craftspeople, and obtaining all materials as local as possible. Items which couldn't be sourced from the island or Newfoundland were bought from ethical manufacturers. Everything, even down to the screws, was given special attention as to it's origin.
I could go on and on about the Shorefast Foundation and the hotel, but I fear it may be one of those things in which the finer details aren't too interesting unless you have been to the place, smelt the air, felt the passion. If you do want to learn more about the fantastic project, please go to the website: shorefast.org where you can read the story from start to finish.
Back to the holiday...
Birthday excitement over and after a better nights sleep in our new room with solid foundations, so therefore feeling a little less zombie-like; the following afternoon a guy from one of the communities (villages) near to the hotel took us on a tour of the island.
Fogo Island lies North East of the coast of Newfoundland.
25km long and 14km wide, it is home to approx 2,395 people (and 500 caribou, which, to be totally honest, was the one thing I was desperate to see...)
The name 'Fogo' is thought to come from the Portuguese explorers and fisherman. Fogo = Fire in Portuguese. The story goes, they were passing when they saw a big fire on the island, and therefore it became known as the fire island.
The English and Irish weren't supposed to settle on Fogo apparently.
But they did....
But they did....
One community, Tilting, is an Irish settlement. Our guide, C - a very friendly, very very chatty chap - was from here, and did indeed sound very Irish.
In fact, when T and I first checked in to the hotel, we thought it funny the guy who checked us in was Irish - small world and all that.
Then the next morning we chatted to the receptionist, who also sounded Irish, as was the lady who bought the breakfast to our room...hmm..a little strange.
Soon, it finally dawned on us that that was just the dialect of the island!
Then the next morning we chatted to the receptionist, who also sounded Irish, as was the lady who bought the breakfast to our room...hmm..a little strange.
Soon, it finally dawned on us that that was just the dialect of the island!
Driving through different communities, C then took us to one of the four corners of the world:
...although unfortunately it was too icy to walk right to the tip.
As the sun started to set, the views of the island became even more stunning:
Our last stop before returning to the hotel was a visit to the shop of the Wind and Waves Guild. Run by volunteers, the shop sells wares made by locals from the island as well as the neighbouring island, Change Island.
These talented people made all the soft furnishings in the hotel; from the patchwork quilts on the bed, runners depicting stories with special meaning for the islanders, throws, rugs, to the cushions on the chairs...
These talented people made all the soft furnishings in the hotel; from the patchwork quilts on the bed, runners depicting stories with special meaning for the islanders, throws, rugs, to the cushions on the chairs...
As much as we wanted to buy nearly everything there, our bank balance heaved a sigh of relief as our baggage allowance on the flights back limited our purchases. We still bought a couple of patchwork cushions, and every time we look at them we will think back to our time on the island.
It was a very interesting and informative couple of hours but, much to my dismay, the closest we got to seeing a Caribou...
...was on the wallpaper in our room...