BORNHOLM DAYS

There’s something really special about being reunited with family that you love. After a long absence like the one caused by the pandemic, it’s even more special. We drove to Ystad on September 20, with Martin and Karin, and took the ferry over to Bornholm. After arriving in Rønne, we ate lunch in the main square, walked around a little bit, and then headed north to the campgrounds just outside of Allinge which was to be our home for the week.

John had arranged the cabins months in advance, and we had two of them: one for 4 people which was Anders and me, plus my mom and sister, because it had a bathroom, and another for 2 people which was for Martin and Karin, as it had no bathroom but was only a few yards away from the camp facilities. The cabins were small, but clean and serviceable. John’s family had another 4-bedroom. We unpacked and then headed to the patio at the entrance to wait for everyone to arrive.

John had driven all night, after they left southern Germany at 9 pm, but they pulled in right on time, and we had a big hugfest. Mom and Sarah had been in Germany for 3 weeks, so Kaya and the boys were very used to them, but we had to put off meeting Kaya for a bit as she was completely zonked out in the van. Both the boys have really grown since we saw them last in 2019, Sammy just turned 11, and Jakob already 7.5 years old.

Bornholm is lovely, a very small, contained island, with dramatic cliffs, rocky and sandy beaches, and miles of farmland in the interior. It only took about 40 minutes to drive from tip to bottom, and less than 20 to cross it, by car. We were well situated just outside of Allinge, where the closest grocery store was. The campsite was great, with bread ordering for breakfast each night, 2 big playgrounds with jumping pillows, mini-golf, a swimming pool, and pedal cars. It was very near to the coast as well, with lots of hiking trails through the woods to the cliffs and the water.

The only bummer was that Karin had to leave us halfway through the week, heading to a 4-day seminar for her potential ski guide job, which she received confirmation on a few weeks after our return home.

We spent each day doing fun things, with something for everyone. We visited Hammershus castle ruins (half the party hiked there from the camping grounds), went to the sand sculpture exhibition and shopping in Nexø, wandered around and had lunch in Gudshjem, hung out on the super fine white sands of Dueodde Beach, visited one of the round churches on the island, went to the Bornholm Modern Art Museum and hiked into the woods to Denmark’s highest waterfall in Døndalen (which was barely a trickle), spent a day at the Bornholm Science Museum, made glass art at Lilli’s Glas, hit every antique and junk shop we could find, spent a day at the beach at Sandvig, ate tons of delicious ice cream, and played lots and lots of games, finishing up with a fantastic dinner at Restaurang Sommar in Allinge, and planning next year’s family trip.

The only way it could have been better was if Tom, Danely, and Bryce had been there with us.

Jakob’s sand painting at Nexø

Hanging out at Dueodde beach

Hammershus castle ruins

John from below

Karin collapses

Typical Slaughters (Sarah and Karin)

Liz, Jakob and Kaya taking up space

Harbor scene

One of many ice cream breaks

Kaya plays peekaboo with Anders at our split-window dinner

Round church

Grandma Linda and Martin dissing the artwork at Bornholm art museum

Thumbs up from Sammy for the waterfall

3 women: Simone, Grandma Linda, and Sarah

Ice cream for Kaya!

Mood: happy
Music: UB40—Music So Nice