Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Thessoloniki Greece, Part 1
Welcome to the Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide podcast. I returned from a 90-day journey around the world, and I'm excited to connect with fellow travelers and share experiences for world peace.
Here is an FAQ about plane or train travel, Thessoloniki Greece, Part 1, and also about a health issue you don’t want when you travel. Give a listen. I guide you to solo travel experiences to bring out your best.
The FAQ is: If you could take a plane or a train, which would it be and why?
Answer:
If I have the choice between a plane and a train, Most of the time… I choose the train.
Now let’s be practical. If the distance is extreme — say, cross-country or intercontinental — the plane wins on efficiency. At this stage of life, I value my energy. Six hours in the air may beat twenty hours of transfers.
But when are both realistic options? Train.
Here’s why.
First, the train allows me to arrive gently. There’s no stripping down at security, no liquid anxiety, no rushing to a distant gate. I walk onto the train. I keep my water. I keep my dignity. That matters.
Second, the scenery. At 50+, we understand that the journey is not separate from the destination. On a train, I see villages, farmland, people waiting on platforms, laundry on balconies. I watch life unfold. A plane gives me clouds.
Third, ease of movement. I can stand up. Walk. Stretch. Visit the café car. Talk to someone if I choose — or not. For solo women, that flexibility feels empowering.
Fourth, arrival point. Trains typically drop you in the center of town. Planes drop you 40 minutes away, followed by taxis, shuttles, and more logistics. Simplicity wins.
Now — here’s where I get skeptical of my own bias.
If I’m exhausted…
If connections are complicated…
If safety or night travel becomes a concern…Going from Oslo to Bergen this past summer, we had a 7-hour delay, stranded in Voss due to the heated tracks. That was not unusual, I later learned. Side note: I did enjoy my time in Voss and learned to slow down.
If I anticipate a delay like this, I will absolutely take the plane. Comfort and safety override romance.
So my answer?
If time is short and distance is long,,,,, fly. If time is flexible and distance is reasonable, take the train and let the world move past your window.
At this stage of life, we're not just getting somewhere.
We’re experiencing how we get there. And that is the difference.
60-second confidence challenge
Your challenge today Confidence Challenge in Greece and on trains.
If you like today’s Confidence Challenge, my book series delves deeper into train travel while walking through the 5 steps to solo travel, from easy to more challenging, with foreign-language communication tips.
You can find the series at the link in the description.
See Book A for addressing this concern..
Find it on the website at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon. It’s a several-part series.
Today’s destination is Thessaloniki, Greece Part 1 of 2
Greece: my bucket list trip: Arrival, Ancient Echoes, and Modern Reality
Welcome to my planned Step 5 travel — the kind where you don’t just visit a place… you live inside it.
This week and next week, I’m taking you to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city — layered with Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, Jewish history, and modern-day contradictions.
🚆 The Train from Athens: What No One Shows You
Athens Station Regional sits across from the metro, and honestly The outside feels neglected. Graffiti. Sparse energy. It’s hot — 95 degrees at peak — and I bought two large water bottles plus my refillable container. A good reminder: hydrate first, analyze later. The train stations along the way felt desolate. No WiFi. Few signs of life. A year ago, there was a tragic train accident in Greece — still in people’s minds. You feel it in the quiet.
From the train window, what did I experience? Out the window: farms, tractors, cows. Olives. Grapes. Hay fields. Solar panels on rural homes. Mountains hugging Athens in the distance.
You will pass history, including both Olympia and Meteora, but your train just keeps moving. Sometimes, Step 5 travel is simply witnessing.
🏨 Zeus Is Loose (And So Was the Address)
My hostel was called “Zeus Is Loose”. Except that the address was wrong. It was Next door. An elderly woman answered at the first address and didn’t speak English. This is where patience becomes your currency.
The hostel was seven stories tall. View over a busy plaza. Elevator worked — thank goodness.
That night, I listened to bouzouki music. A small Greek string instrument. Sad songs. Emotional. Storytelling through melody.
🏰 A City Built in Layers
Thessaloniki is vertical, hills rising, red roofs uphill, white below. Homes attached to castle walls. Churches are lower than the street level because earthquakes and centuries of sediment have raised the city about nine meters since the 5th century.
The White Tower is a local landmark. And eight stories tall — stands by the sea. From higher viewpoints, you see it in context: circular, strong, solitary. It’s a good point of reference if you get lost.
Agora means marketplace. Public square. Politics. Theatre. Drama. In the 6th century, men performed. Women were not allowed on stage.
Today? Women lead tours. Women travel solo. Women dance.
Progress, yes. But not perfection.
What I Learned from Locals
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Average salaries are low; home ownership is difficult.
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Airbnb pressures long-term housing.
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Sunday is for church and family — most stores close.
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Three soccer teams compete fiercely here (one in a yellow stadium).
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Decisions move slowly. Construction moves slowly. Excavations slow everything.
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Fire remains a danger — arson and dry heat are concerns.
I was the only American in a group of 25 on the three-hour evening tour. That matters. It changes conversations.
I met Two Israeli sisters, 69 and 70,who had planned a one-week trip to Greece.
Airspace closures were extended it to a month. They adjusted. Hiked. Stayed strong. Flexibility is not optional in Step 5 travel. They were amazing friends that I met along the way.
Would you have stayed? And most importantly:
Ask your self, Do You belong here?
Even if you are the only American in the group.
Even if you feel wrinkled in the heat.
Even if you look tired halfway through your journey.
Step 5 travel means you are strong enough to hold both beauty and discomfort at once.
Thessaloniki will not perform for you. But if you slow down and listen, she will teach you.
Here is my plan, to help Help women travel bravely — and wisely.
Listen to Part 2 for more on this city.
My missteps:
Travel Mistakes in Greece: Digestion issues
In Greece, I got diarrhea. Took an over-the-counter pill with lots of water. I got better soon afterwards.
What did I eat? Not much but bread, cheese, ham, juice, chocolate, apple, banana, yogurt,
Stay away from what you’re not used to, and hydrate with clear liquids like electrolyte drinks.
Try to keep plenty of water around to flush out the bad and keep the good. I’m not a medical doctor, with common sense advice for you.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you on the next journey.
AI was used to select some of the suggestions for this episode.
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