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Wandering around Vilnius, 51 Gedimino prospektas, Vilnius (2026)

24/12/2025

Hard to believe another year is already wrapping up. It feels like I just got used to writing the date, and suddenly it’s gone. Time is strange like that - so fast it makes me dizzy, even though some years feel glued to me. I still catch myself thinking 2011 was maybe two, three years ago. My sense of time is all bent out of shape.

I’m grateful, though. For our peaceful home 🏡, for the calm we’ve managed to build around ourselves, for the friends who stay close, even when everything else shifts. And for the trips we took this year - Romania 🇷🇴, and then all the way north, past the Arctic Circle ❄️🧭. Sometimes I don’t realise how far we’ve gone until I stop and look back. It still feels a bit unreal.

But with the new year coming, there’s that familiar heaviness creeping in. It always shows up around now. Another year without my dad 💔. I still can’t believe he’s been gone this long - it doesn’t feel real. Time says one thing, but my heart insists it was just yesterday. There’s this stuck feeling, like part of me hasn’t moved at all, even while the world spins past 🌎. I stand still, and everything else keeps rushing forward.

And now here we are again, at the end of another year, trying to hold gratitude and sadness at the same time. Maybe that’s what this season demands.

Wishing everyone a peaceful end to the year, a quiet place to land 🕊️, and people who make the dark days warmer. Merry Christmas, and a gentle, hopeful New Year 💫!

11/12/2025

Wandering around Tauro Kalnas 🌳

In Tauro kalnas, two new children’s playgrounds have been created, combining modern design with a natural feel that blends harmoniously into the surroundings. They are divided by age and activity needs: one playground is designed for the youngest visitors, while the other caters to older kids. Both playgrounds include educational elements, and some of the equipment is inspired by natural forms, encouraging children’s imagination and teaching them about the wonders of nature.

Highlights:

🧗 Active Play: Rope and net elements let kids test their strength and coordination while feeling adventurous.

👶 For All Ages: From gentle trampolines for toddlers to high climbing spots for older kids, there’s something for everyone.

🌞 Spacious & Eye-Catching: Open layout makes supervision easy and gives kids freedom to move around.

Concerns:

⚠️ Plastic Ground Surface: The synthetic surface doesn’t seem very durable. Small pieces are coming loose, which isn’t ideal for safety or the environment.

🛝 The design feels a bit heavy and overdone in places; some simpler, more wooden elements would make it feel warmer and more natural.

🌱 Natural Surface Would Be Better: Sand, wood chips, or grass would feel more natural, be more eco-friendly, and better match the surroundings.

Have your kids played here? What did they enjoy?

28/11/2025

We are so lucky to have a local bakery nearby that produces healthy bread and cookies. They use wholesome ingredients, and you can really taste the difference. It’s great to support a local business while making healthier choices for our family. 🍞🍪💚

17/11/2025

Lanterns in the Garden 🕯️✨

Every November in Germany, children carry glowing lanterns through the streets, brightening the dark autumn evenings. It’s a tradition from St. Martin - a kind soldier who once shared his cloak with a poor man on a snowy night. The lanterns are a symbol of generosity, bringing light and warmth to the season.

Now, far from Germany, we wanted to share this piece of my childhood with our little one. Around the kitchen table with paper, glue, scissors, and tiny, restless hands, there were giggles, scraps of paper on the floor, and proud smiles when the lanterns were finally done.

That evening, our friends joined us for a small walk through the fields - lanterns swaying, songs in the dark and ended back in our garden making Stockbrot over the fire.

Messy. Imperfect. Magical.

This is how traditions travel - through laughter, through little hands, through moments that glow long after the lanterns go out.

02/11/2025

We never celebrated Halloween before. But once you have a kid, the pumpkins start calling! 🎃

27/10/2025

Wandering Around the Autumn Garden 🍁🍂

After more than two months on the road, we wandered slowly through the garden. It was messy and overgrown, a little untamed, but perfect in its own way. In its quiet, persistent way, the garden reminded us that life doesn’t have to be neat to be full, and that even after months on the road, there is a slow, steady magic in returning to the earth you know - in letting it wrap around you, wild and familiar, all at once.

17/10/2025

Trakai may be famous for its stunning island castle 🏰, but what if you’re traveling with kids on a cold, rainy day? Let me introduce you to a lesser-known spot – the Children’s Library in Trakai 📚✨.

Okay, I’ll be honest: it’s not the most amazing library you’ll ever see, but it has its quirky charm. Think retro vibes with a splash of Soviet color – a bit kitschy with those old-school plastic toys 🎨🧸. The play area is simple but keeps the little ones busy. There are beanbags, a few PCs, and even a 3D printer (yes, you read that right) 🖨️.

What’s nice is the small selection of books in different languages like English, German, and Russian 📖🌍. Perfect for curling up on a rainy day. It’s not a place you’d plan your whole trip around, but it’s a decent pit stop if you need a break from the rain and castle crowds 🌈💤.

Not the most exciting library ever, but hey, sometimes you find the unexpected in the most random places! 😉

05/08/2025

Last year in June, we set off with our seven-month-old and a van full of curiosity, chasing the slow roads through Lithuania - where rivers wind wide, and history sleeps in the hills. 🚐🌿

We began in Kacerginė, where the Nemunas River moved quietly like a thought. A summer storm caught us mid-walk - sharp, sudden - but a kind couple pulled over and offered a lift back to our van. Our little one’s first hitchhike: soaked clothes, warm hearts. ☔️

In Zapyškis, time paused beside the red brick bones of St. George’s Church, standing quietly since the 16th century. We slept in its shadow, tucked in by the whisper of grass and the weight of old stones. ⛪️🌾

The next morning, we found Vaiguvos Upelis Gatvė - a road like no other, half path, half stream, leading to just a handful of homes.

At the Sudargo Mound Complex, we climbed into silence - five great hills shaped by ancient hands. Wind and wildflowers. 🏞️

Jurbarkas passed quietly, but in Bitėnai, the sky filled with wide-winged storks - nests perched on chimneys, lampposts, tree crowns. They watched us pass with calm eyes, guardians of the village. 🕊️

We camped by woods, woke with birdsong, and wandered to Rambynas Hill, where Lithuania meets the Kaliningrad border. From the top, the Nemunas curved below like a ribbon of memory. 🌲🎶

In Panemunė, we looked across the water to Tilsit - once known for its cheese, now Sovetsk - a town on the edge of yesterday.

Tauragė greeted us with quiet streets and kind smiles. In Pagramančio Park, we climbed a tower high above green valleys and winding rivers. 🌄

And finally: Lakštingų Slėnis. A place that lived up to its name. There we met a German family, three years on the road in their selfmade truck, sharing stories and a bit of wild freedom. ✨

We left with muddy boots and lighter hearts.

22/07/2025

Some weeks ago, we visited the Mažųjų erdvė (The Children’s Space) at the Children’s and Youth Literature Department of the National Library in Vilnius. 📚🏛️

It is an unconventional library designed specifically for the youngest readers, modeled after the Swedish children’s library concept, which is based on the psychological and physical developmental characteristics of children. Here, the focus is on how children view and explore the world, discover various objects in it, including books.

This library corner does not adhere to the usual alphabetical order for organizing books. Instead, young readers and their parents can find books by categories, such as books about animals 🐾 or adventures 🗺️, funny 😂 or scary 👻 stories, poetry ✒️, or books in foreign languages 🌐. This eliminates the need to remember the author’s name or book title. Books are displayed to catch children’s attention, with covers facing outward 🎨.

The layout is thoughtfully designed: games and toy-like books for crawling infants are placed on the lower shelves, picture books organized by category are within reach of slightly older children, and books on higher shelves are accessible to older children with the help of special ladders 🪜.

The reading room model originates from Sweden, and the creation of this space in the National Library involved collaboration with the Swedish Institute, the Embassy of Sweden in Lithuania, and the company IKEA Lithuania 🛋️✨.

If you're looking for a new place to explore with kids in the center, I highly recommend this library!

Working hours: Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Located at Gedimino pr. 51, Vilnius.

18/06/2025

Pink Soup Festival 2025 💗🥣

✨ Every year in Vilnius, the Pink Soup Festival celebrates Šaltibarščiai — Lithuania’s famous cold beet soup — with music, food, and lots of pink everywhere!

Honestly, two years ago felt more fun — smaller, cozier, and full of charm.
Now it’s bigger, super crowded, and way more commercial.
Also… no free pink soup this time! (Or maybe we just missed it? Classic. 😅)
Why is it always the same with festivals like this?
At least there was a cute IKEA play corner for the kids 🥳
Still, fun to see all the chaos in pink 🌸💕

27/05/2025

Exploring Vilnius Old Town with kids? 📚✨ Make sure to visit the Adomas Mickevičius Children’s Library on Trakų Street – a hidden gem full of charm, history, and fun for the whole family! 🌟

Did you know this library is set in the historic palace of Sofia and Juozap Tiškevičius? 🏰 With roots dating back to the 15th century, this building has seen it all, from elegant pastels and vaulted ceilings to being a refuge during WWII. Today, it’s a vibrant space that welcomes young readers into its cozy embrace. 🌈📖

Step inside to discover many cozy reading nooks, including a carpeted area surrounded by books that’s perfect for little ones to dive into a story 📚💫. The library also has craft and play corners 🎨🧸, a room filled with PCs for budding tech enthusiasts 💻, and even games available to rent for some extra family fun 🎮🧩.

Beyond books, there’s a whole world to explore here: 50,000 publications in various languages 🌍, plus regular creative workshops, storytelling sessions, and educational activities 🎭✨. And don’t miss “The Tree” art installation by Leonard Gutauskas 🌳🎨, drawing visitors in from the bustling streets outside.

Whether you’re looking to escape the rain 🌧️ or just need a cozy corner to relax 🛋️, this place is perfect for kids and families alike!

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12/05/2025

Wandering through Vilnius with our friends 🌞

Wandering around Vilnius