autumn picnic on Öland

This weekend we packed a picnic basket and went on an Öland excursion in the autumn sun!

We didn't have any buns at home, so we started the trip by going to Fredrik's Bread & Pastries in the harbor here in Färjestaden to buy goodies to put in our basket. Fredrik's bakery was included in the White Guide the same year it opened and is run by Fredrik, who was a finalist in the pastry chef of the year. Despite the exquisite pastries, there is only one thing that matters to the girls when we are there; cinnamon rolls and croissants.

After filling our basket with fika bread, we went to Kapelludden, which is on the same level as Borgholm, but on the eastern side of Öland. Here you will find everything you need for a lovely autumn excursion: a ruin with shelter from the wind, a beach to look for shells and boathouses where you can sit and sunbathe.

We found a sunny, sheltered spot in the ruins of St. Brita's Chapel, which was built in the 1200th century when there was a trading post here. Now it is a beautiful excursion destination, and a place where many birdwatchers go. We set out the buns and poured the hot chocolate we had brought with us. Next week is the autumn break here in the region, and then we plan to go on more excursions like this here on Öland.

Below the ruin stands the old stone cross that was built during the same period as the chapel. The cross was actually blown apart when Hurricane Per ravaged the island in 2007, but has been restored and put back in place.

A stone's throw away is the beach where the children ran to play. Because who said it has to be summer to play on the beach? 

Evelyn was looking for shells…

…while Bally ran back and forth on the beach, digging his paws in the sand and rolling in wet seaweed. He didn't smell like cinnamon buns on the way home, you could say. But he had fun!

It is not usually very windy at the boathouses, and birdwatchers often stand here with their binoculars. One of the most wonderful things to do on a sunny autumn day is to sit with your back to a boathouse and enjoy the sun's warming autumn rays, the sound of the birds and the waves crashing against the shore.

Although it's clear – eating chocolate is also one of the best things you can do. When we were driving home on the east side, we stopped at Miss Frankenstein in Gårdby and bought her handmade chocolates.

Ebba Frankenstein runs what is probably Sweden's smallest chocolaterie, and inside you are always greeted by a warm smile and the smell of chocolate. Ebba learned the art of chocolate in Scotland, and now she makes cakes to order and chocolates that can be found in gift shops and on restaurant menus, among other places. My favorites are the fennel chocolate, the mint chocolate and the chili chocolate with Öland chili. (Yes, I have a thing for chocolate.)

Colorful marshmallows on chocolate bars aroused the girls' sweet tooth, who quickly climbed onto a chair.

Evelyn got to taste chocolate fudge and tested whether she could pull marshmallow pieces out of the chocolate. If you don't try, you never know.

In Miss Frankenstein's garden there are several art installations that the children usually stop and look at. This armchair is always just as popular. After our visit to Miss Frankenstein's chocolaterie we went home again, full of buns, hot chocolate and with nice chocolate pralines to pick out in the evening when the children have fallen asleep. When the autumn holidays come, I look forward to more days like this!

// Helena Elm, October 2020