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| Posted by Jerome Konen on 09/08/06 |
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| The Storyteller |
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| Photo by Jerome Konen |
| Ingi Hans Jónsson, the storyteller of Grunðarfjördur. |
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08 August 2006 - At the tourist information, we met Ingi Hans, a funny friendly guy, being somewhat in the centre of the village community in Grunðarfjördur, located on the northern shore of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Today this village is an important fishing harbour and rates among the first villages in Iceland for exporting fresh fish.
Ingi Hans was born here in Grunðarfjördur, went to Reykjavík for a while, but quickly found out that his social engagement was rather needed in a village like Grunðarfjördur, were he started setting up, together with his wife Sigurborg, a community planning. 'Every person has the right to live the life he chooses!' says Ingi Hans and points out that their community work showed up already some good results, even recognized by the government. Listening to the people definitely pays off. In some way he's at the head of the social evolution, he shows in his museum, that is at the same time a tourist office, a cinema and a coffee shop, 'an open door to our community' he tells me proudly while riffling through an old photo collection.
Museum time and now back to history. Once six men were rowing in the fishing boats, a damned hard and wet job. Then in 1906, a hundred years ago, the first engines were installed on board and allowed the fishermen to go far more out, making bigger hauls, a relief in their work. Most were farmers, going out on the sea as well. As if the work on their farms weren't hard enough, like having 50-80 sheeps and some horses to care about. Then electricity came to the countryside and changed their social life. Used initially for the radio, people stayed up longer and had less sleep. These are just some of the topics of the museum in Grunðarfjördur, and this all thanks to Ingi Hans.
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