Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Athens, Greece, Part 2 of 2

This is the Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide podcast.

The FAQ is: I'm currently taking 2 "high-risk" medications and will be traveling to Germany, Austria, and Czechia from the US in the fall (will be in each country less than 5 days). I know I'll need a doctor's note, keep everything in the original packaging, and declare them. What has your experience been traveling with prescription medication? Have you ever been pulled for extra questioning, had medication confiscated, or forgotten/skipped declaring, etc.?

Answer: No, I've never been stopped for medication, nor has anyone I know. But you should always have a doctor's prescription, and it should be in the original packaging. You should have the supply amounts for the trip you are taking. So be mindful of any country laws and regulations. Always check first.

Please note that I am not a medical doctor, but a business and marketing DBA.

60-second confidence challenge

Your challenge today, Confidence Challenge in travel, is to get tickets to an event in a different country. If you're trying to see a big event like the World Cup, you may need to check the current conditions, pricing, and immigration rules. I attended the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and I hope to go to the next games in 2028, but it's not a sure thing to get a ticket. You can sign up now if you want. See the show notes.

https://la28.org/en/newsroom/la28-launches-global-olympic-ticket-sales.html

If you like today's Confidence Challenge, my book series delves deeper into specific events for travel, like Olympic Games, while moving through the 5 steps to solo travel, from easy to more challenging, with foreign language communication tips.

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, and part C is almost ready for pre-sales.

Today's destination is Athens, Greece, Part 2 of 2

Remember, it's a Step 5 destination. Here's some guidance for you on the places to see in Athens.

Acropolis Visit

I entered the Acropolis at 7:10 PM, so I only had 50 minutes, but that was enough. Visiting at night was better since it wasn't too crowded. But you get kicked out at 8 pm, so I had another couple of hours to explore the areas around the buildings, and they were still visible from the nearby hillside. It did get cooler after 8 p.m., too.

I think that there is so much more than just the main attractions. Spend more time here in the evening, when it's still light outdoors.

Saturday: M2 to Elliniko

I took the metro to the Acropolis station, but it was under construction, so I had to change my plans. No problem

Last Day in Athens

I went swimming in the bay near Edem, a public beach accessible by tram. There, I met Don and Joan from the USA, who are now locals thanks to the Golden Visa program, having obtained resident status here for $250,000. They're living the good life now! They showed me the ropes at the beach and provided great insight into life and culture here. They are a sweet couple, probably in their 55s or 60s. In the '80s, Don lived in San Diego with his former wife, raised kids there, and worked for General Dynamics.

Afterward, I visited Poseidon Taverna, a restaurant near the tram station, and later hiked up Proponisia Mountain, or Hill. I enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the roof of my hostel while talking to Damien from Holland and my roommate, Danny from Takoma.

I also had breakfast with another hostel roommate, Amanda, a tech expert traveling solo. Additionally, I spoke again with Ryan from Melbourne, Australia. He missed his flight and expressed his desire to run with the bulls in Spain soon. I gave him some of my leftover books and food for his future trip.

Food: Gyros with pork

Recommended Activities: Hop-on, hop-off bus, Architecture Museum, and a city tour.

I did a lot of walking this week, averaging 10-17 kilometers every day.

A side note: I just hit the 5,000-mile mark on my walking badge app, some of it in Greece.

My missteps: I got scammed online

I was scammed on Amazon for a product I did not order.

A random vendor mailed me some jewelry. I did not order it. Then I saw a bill for $400. It was impossible to get a refund, because the seller was no longer on the website. After several months, I did receive a refund, but it was a challenge to get it. Don't let that happen to you.

AI was used to select some of the suggestions for this episode.

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