Fårö - pronouced ‘for return’ - without the turn. British pronunciation

Talking of turns, sometimes it’s nice to follow your instincts and take the ones that feel nice.

If you were to take a Swedish ferry to the island of Gotland,

and then immediately take a left turn,

you would after a bit of driving, arrive at a smaller ferry.

Following your whims still, hopping on this småller ferry, you would then, miraculously and without even knowing it, as it turns out, arrive, as the sun sets, on the småll island… of Fårö.

Now before I share more pictures and such, I must point out it’s a strange place.

Strange in the loveliest of ways. Eery, quiet, soothing.

It’s no wonder Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman filmed, lived and died here. It’s a place for lovers of quaint light, quiet lulls, and quite long beaches with nothing to disturb you from your walks and thoughts.

Please enjoy this complimentary attempt at illustrating just that.

What was particularly nice about that moment was the ukulele singing in the wind. All the long high pitched notes you hear are the harmonics produced by the strings, vibrating in the strong Fårö gusts. It’s a natural whistling of sorts and everything you hear was filmed and recorded there and then. I hid the camera’s microphone in a scarf to protect it from the wind and put it at the base of the blue soprano, singing in the bicycle basket.

Now, having read an article about how to engage readers on a travel blog, please enjoy therefore my top 5 things to do on Fårö.

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO ON Fårö

1. rent some bikes

Yeah, rent some bikes. It’s a nice place to do so.

2. Take small paths

And somehow end up on what might be, in hindsight, some sort of reserve (WOOPS).

3. Upset some birds

Because probably that’s their breeding ground, so turn around while shielding your family with a blue ukulele (sorry about that Fårö), but at the same time also notice a huge weird structure in the distance that even the locals know nothing about.

4. Instagram a uke in a boat

Take a picture of said ukulele in an old fisherman’s barge because that’ll look fire on social I suppose. Then forget to post it.

5. Reward yourself

Drive to a café and have FIKA.

*Between the windmills and stoned walls*
*The light and hum of Gotland calls*
*Unless you’re hungry, famished I’d say*
*Then grab the motor, off to a café*
*All this adventuring won’t make you meeker*
*You just need to keep well fed*
*That’s why the Swedes have ‘FIKA’*
*“It’s our tea time” ‘s what they said*
*Have a cardamom bun*
*Wash it down with some coffee*
*Enjoy the low sun*
*Getting lower to be*
*Back up in the morn*
*For another fine day*
*For now it’s a yawn*
*And a rest come our way*

BONUS Thing to do: Film some sheep

They were very cute.

Thanks for following the adventure, if you like it do share it. It really does make a difference in my life, for the project, if you do. Thanks.

Fårö - Bergman's Island