Meet our expert, resident Program Directors
Erika Poluden
With Grand Circle since 2011
99% of travelers rated their experience with Erika excellent
"Erika was sweet and kind, and went out of her way to meet everyone’s specific needs. She was extremely knowledgeable and was able to share general and specific information about our sites, as well as adding personal information to enhance our experience."
–Beverly & Robert Levine, 8-time travelers, Rockland, Massachusetts
Born in: Vilnius, Lithuania
Resides in: Vilnius, Lithuania
Languages: English, Lithuanian, Russian, basic French and Spanish
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, knitting, cross-stitching, cycling, going to the cinema, theater, and concerts
Get to know Erika:
I grew up in Soviet Lithuania. That period of Lithuanian history was quite complicated, and living conditions often were not easy. We had tiny flats (often three generations lived under one roof in two rooms), and sometimes had a lack of food and staple commodities. However, these problems were not as painful for children as they were for their parents who had to work hard solving them. Thanks to my family, I had a nice childhood. We spent much time reading, visiting museums and theaters, and even managed to travel inside the USSR. I think my passion for traveling was born at that time.
I have visited 46 countries—mostly in Europe, but also in Asia, Africa, and Central America. Traveling is my greatest passion. My partner Tadas and I like traveling on our own. Making detailed plans and itineraries of trips, finding out the most interesting places to visit, and all other preparations, help us know the countries we’ll be visiting better and discover lots of interesting things.
History is the most controversial topic about the region, and always a great discovery for travelers. I am proud that people here managed not only to survive hard times, but built beautiful cities and created such interesting culture.
Erika’s Insider Tips:
Unique Food & Drink:
The most popular summer soup in Lithuania is Šaltibarščiai, which is a cold beetroot soup. It is made from grated boiled beetroots, sliced cucumbers, boiled eggs, chopped green onions, and fresh dill—all floating in kefyras (almost like a yogurt), and served with hot boiled potatoes. It’s possible to taste this specialty at almost every café or restaurant, but my recommendation is Zemaiciai (Vokieciu st. 24), a restaurant in Vilnius.
Hidden Gems & Highlights:
Mint Vinetu (Šv. Ignoto 16/10) is a bookshop of used books in Vilnius (English books are available), where you can just sit and read while having different sorts of tea—their specialty is mint tea—and coffee, as well as delicious carrot cake. Beside books, they sell interesting souvenirs and offer Internet service. It’s a nice place to meet people, spend some free time, and get rid of already read books. Mint Vinetu is open every day from 11am to 8pm. Photo courtesy of Mint Vinetu.
Special Places & Pastimes:
In Vilnius, I highly recommend visiting a unique part of the city called Uzupis. This is a funny, crazy, and unkempt corner of Vilnius that—in struggling to recover from a time of being abandoned during the war—has taken on a somewhat bohemian aspect. It has a gentle energy driven by poets, artists and dreamers. Its scruffy appearance hides character, charm, and a certain indefinable something that evades even poetic description. The main attraction in Uzupis is walking around looking at the decrepit buildings. You might find yourself wondering how the place got into such a state, but it’s worth keeping in mind that what you are seeing here is a snapshot of what much of Vilnius was like after the Soviet occupation. Interesting art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and an unexpected view of the old town makes the place very attractive.
Iconic Items & Handcrafts:
Many shops and stalls throughout Lithuania can be found selling amber, which comes in a range of colors. You can find amber that has preserved insects in its center—the insects became stuck within the liquid resin 50 million years ago—but these pieces are more expensive. Beware of forgeries—try to buy from shops that provide certificates for the goods. In my opinion, the best place to buy amber are the amber galleries (Sv.Mykolo str. 12 and 8) in Vilnius, where visitors are introduced to medical and industrial amber applications and their role in Lithuanian culture and traditions, and are taught to recognize real amber from fake. They’ll also explain the amber formation process. You’ll find a display of unique amber pieces and a collection of jewelry here, too.