Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? Eurail Travel planning Hi there, I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest. I’m in San Diego now, sharing my best travel ideas and working on another book for you to enjoy: 5 Steps to Solo Travel, Part C. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world. Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Kristen. Kristen loves to travel. She recently received a Fullbright Scholarship and took a trip with her husband and sons to a foreign country, Portugal, for several months. She’s full of great travel ideas and will be helpful as I continue to...
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This is a Best of..... Have any questions? Please ask. The photo was taken by me on the grounds of one of the many museums of the Smithsonian.
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Episode title: SLO to San Diego by Train, GF Diets, and a Confidence Challenge Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, a world traveler who has traveled solo for over 50 years. I'm coming to you after a recent trip to Asia. I visited Taiwan and South Korea for 10 days. I’m here to share my best travel ideas and work on solo travel. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world solo again. The aim is world peace through cultural exchange. I’m about to travel the world for 90 days. Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener who recently retired as a...
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Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan FAQ Should I use public transportation abroad? Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan Lesson Learned: Don’t schedule everything Day 1 Travel Tip: Trust your gut instincts, if unsure, pivot fast. FAQ Response: Should I use public transportation abroad? Yes, you should try it at the least, but not in rush hour with all of your luggage. One way to test it out is to try it early in the morning, before rush-hour workers arrive, but while it’s still light outside. Most of the time, you only need a card to swipe, and you...
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Seoul, Korea episode Listener Story Spotlight A friend and a listener named Lois recently went to Hawaii. She told me she spent much time getting travel insurance for herself and her partner. She had to pay more than she expected as her partner was having a birthday between the day she bought the service and the day of the trip. But she said it was well worth it for her peace of mind. The FAQ for today is: Where to find the best travel insurance for a long trip abroad. 1. Start with a neutral comparison engine; you can see this in the show notes. Why use it first? Where to click ...
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Ecuador: planning Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Pat who loves to take 40-minute walks. She does one every day. We have traveled together to Spain and have been ski buddies for over 10 years. She's a superb figure skater and loves cats. Maybe you even know my friend. Her last name is Brown, inspiring me to go to the Galapagos Islands this year. Thanks, Pat, for that encouragement. The FAQ for today is: How do you choose your outfits for weather conditions that constantly change? The answer is more straightforward than you think: It's basic...
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Travel Planning: Part 1 Colombia In this episode: Where an I heading series: Part 1 Today’s Mistake- avoiding potholes and buying new tires Travel Advice: Safety and security tip FAQ: How do you use SERVAS? I use Servas International to help me plan my trips. You sign up on the website, and a representative will contact you and interview you. They will make sure you are a real person and check references. Then, you get a Letter of Engagement, and you can contact hosts and day hosts. Today’s destination: Planning my trip to Colombia Friends to meet in...
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Boulder, Colorado FAQ: Isn’t it awkward to eat alone? Step 1 question Destination episode: Boulder, CO. Lesson Learned: Got on the wrong train line. Travel Tip: Screenshot your map before leaving Wifi FAQ Response to Isn’t it awkward to eat alone? Yes, it is the first few times. No doubt. But it gets easier with every time you do it. Soon, you’ll just walk in a restaurant and not even think about it. I can relate to the woman who has never done it, because I remember my first time. I was scared. I told the hostess: “I’ve never eaten solo in a...
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Special Episode Blue Zone Travel The five "Blue Zones" in the world, which are regions identified as having a high concentration of people living to a very old age, are: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California, USA. Notably, four of these Blue Zones are located near oceans, making them easily accessible by sea travel. Ocean proximity: Blue Zones like Costa Rica and California are situated not too far from coastlines, making them ideal destinations for those interested in combining a...
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Are you traveling? Tell me why or why not. Need a confidence boost? Here are the 5 Steps to Solo travel, summarized and a link to the book on Amazon. Step 1: Local Solo Travel. Close to home local travel. Step 2: Domestic solo trips, familiar with the territory. Maybe cross country. Step 3: National travel with more complexity, such as Alaska or Hawaii Step 4: International travel in familiar cultures Step 5: Fully independent, adventurous international solo travel. I’ve been creating this podcast weekly since 2018. I’m on my way to helping more than 100,000 women travel...
info_outlineWelcome to the Special Bucket List Travel Series of Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide.
Patti Christensen from San Diego talks about one of her favorite travel destinations, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Copenhagen, like much of Denmark is a city on the water. One of the first things you want to do when you go to Copenhagen is go on one of the sightseeing Canal boat tours with a live guide. You hop on this great open-air boat and slowly experience various city views. Copenhagen combines brand new shiny buildings and historic buildings going back centuries. The boat trip past the multicolored buildings is fantastic, with photo-worthy sites all along the route. And as long as you’re in that area, you might join the locals in a dip in the swimming beaches in the harbor. I found the water extremely cold, but the docks and the beaches were full of sun-worshiping people enjoying themselves.
There are also so many wonderful and free museums and historic sites to see. Among my favorites is Rosenborg Castle, where you can see the Danish Crown jewels. There are also several other palaces and historic sites. At Amalienborg Palace in downtown Copenhagen, you can watch the changing of the guards every day at noon. It's very similar to that in London but with fewer crowds.
Another must-see in Copenhagen is Tivoli Gardens. This was the world’s original amusement park; they say that Walt Disney got some inspiration from Tivoli Gardens. It combines beautiful flowers and landscaping, kids see buildings and children shows, and wonderful restaurants. Throughout the summer, great concerts are going on. One must make a trip to Tivoli Garden and eat some beautiful food.
One of the things you’ll notice in Denmark is everybody rides bikes. if you get a chance, rent a bike and tool around. The city is very flat and rideable. You’ll see whole families riding bikes, kids riding bikes to school, and adults using bikes to commute. You have to ride a bike in Copenhagen.
There are many places that have great street food, especially at the Reffen Copenhagen Street Food market. This is the largest street food market in all of the Nordic regions. It includes reasonably priced food from around the world. Copenhagen is definitely a melting pot. The most famous sausage eaten in Denmark is a medisterpolse, spicy and delicious.
One more thing that you could really enjoy if you happen to be in Copenhagen in July is the Copenhagen jazz festival. The Danes love their jazz, which goes back to the 1930s and 40s when American jazz artists traveled extensively in Europe. The jazz festival, started in 1979, is a month-long festival at small venues, large concert halls and churches, and really big outdoor stages. Many of the events are free and the music is fantastic.
And of course you have to go and at least have a glimpse of the Little Mermaids statue. This comes from Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale about a mermaid. When you see the little mermaid, you might be surprised at its size. My local cousin said, “Nobody ever called the big mermaid”. But getting your picture taken by the statue is one of the experiences you should have at least once.
Thank you, Patti Christensen for that great episode.
If you like this, listen to three more episodes from the Bucket List Series Podcast of Dr. Mary Travelbest's Guide. This is a Step 5 trip (5 Steps to Solo Travel).
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