Fogo Island 2022 trip
I am currently on Fogo Island. It's on the eastern edge of Canada, even further east than Newfoundland, and is called "Fogo Island" in Japanese. My second son started working at the Fogo Island Inn here in May 2022. Although it's just a summer job for him as a university student, it's a fantastic experience to work at this world-famous hotel all summer.
Newfoundland and Labrador, located at the northeastern tip of Canada, is a region that even Canadians rarely visit. The area was originally the land of Indigenous peoples, but in the late 10th century, Vikings settled there, and the district is still registered as a World Heritage site. L'Anse aux Meadows is located at the northern tip of Newfoundland, so we couldn't go there this time, but fans of the Netflix Viking series might know about it. Of course, the Viking series is fiction, but characters who may have actually arrived in Newfoundland appear in the show.
When you arrive in St. John's, Newfoundland by plane from Toronto, it takes another 5 hours by car to reach the ferry terminal for Fogo Island. After a ferry ride of about 45 minutes while enjoying the archipelago's sea view, you arrive at Fogo Island with a population of about 2,200 people. Fogo Island Inn, which had been on my "must-visit spot someday" list for several years, might have finally become a reality thanks to my second son.
Built in 2013 by Shorefast, a non-profit foundation established by social entrepreneur Zita Cobb from Fogo Island, Fogo Island Inn aims to revitalize the Fogo Island economy after the decline of cod fishing. Since its opening, the modern hotel towering like a spaceship in untouched nature has continued to attract many guests from around the world.
Staying at the hotel, free from busy everyday life, gazing at the sea, hiking, visiting with Blake, the Newfoundland dog living with the hotel staff, touring artist studios, trying Newfoundland's "shed" cuisine, and various other attractions besides hiking.
The atmosphere of the luxurious hotel doesn't make you feel like it has a high threshold, which is due to Newfoundland's deeply rooted hospitality culture. The staff are extremely friendly and everyone is a resident who loves Fogo Island from the bottom of their hearts.
Next time, I'll talk about the wonderful hiking trails scattered throughout Fogo Island and the Michelin-level hotel food based on foraging.
Eiko's Shorthand Story:
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