Lighthouse in the Island

My boyfriends brothers oldest daughter, Nina has been asking that could she come to visit us this summer and now I finally had some time off from work. I asked her that what would she like to do while staying with us and she told me that she had visited Tankar some years ago with her grandparents (my parents-in-law) and would like to go again so that was what we opted to do. Luckily my boyfriend asked us the day before that have we booked our tickets yet. I was going to buy them directly from the ship but bought them from the internet do to his coaxing. And good that I did, they told us on the ship that the tickets were sold out.

1,5 hours on the boat and we were there, in this small lighthouse island on the Gulf of Bothnia. First habitants were sealers who build cabins to the island and the first lighthouse of an sort, the cairn. The existent lighthouse was build in 1889. Electricity was added in 1961. In the island there is also 1754 builded church and an working pilot station. What was quite fun fact was that there were no trees in the island because of the farm animals, specially for the sheeps. The fishermans kept herds which ate everything, including the trees before they could grow. Shepherding ended in the 50’s and the trees started to grow.

The island was small so we had plenty of time to walk around it and see the pilot station, lighthouse, church and the little cafeteria and gift-shop. We opted to wander around on our own instead of taking guided tour. We took lunch with us so we had nice picnic in the nature. And I noticed the jealous looks of the ones who didn’t have the foresight to do the same, lol.

It’s possible to stay night in the island and the idea enthralls me, the atmosphere was of its own kind. All the old buildings and cabins, the footpaths between the cabins and the buildings, the dock, everything really. I can imagine what it feels like when the ship has left and you are almost alone in the island. I envy the people who own the cabins and could stay how long they want.

Short story I know but I had such a good day that I couldn't resist the urge to write about it!