An ESC is an opportunity to discover more countries and cultures

Explore the surrounding area of Thessaloniki and beyond

by Alex Humbert

When you decided to be a volunteer, whether it was for a change of scenery after graduation, for a gap year or any other reason, your aim must surely have been to make yourself useful, but also to discover new cultures and new countries.

One of the advantages of being a volunteer with the United Societies of Balkans is that you get to live in a big house with lots of other volunteers, as well as a wide variety of countries. (I say advantage, but it can also be a disadvantage sometimes. I must admit it’s complicated to get along with everyone, but that’s normal, that’s life and you have to learn to make concessions and live with it). So, as I was saying, just living in this house allows you to travel even further than your host country!

But if you’re really into travel, being in Thessaloniki can open up a wide range of countries for you to visit! And above all, it can give you the chance to discover the Balkans, which I think deserves a little more attention because it’s full of rare gems.

Balkans countries

If you decide to leave Greece, it’s easy enough to reach Turkey, Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia or even Albania, Romania and Serbia by bus. At the train station, you’ll find various travel agencies that can help you get there (and sometimes, it’s better to make the trip on the spot, as you may be in for a nice surprise and find a cheaper route than you expected).

Balkans map

© Wikivoyaage

On the other hand, if you’re more of a quick-flyer type of traveler, you can find very affordable prices, even very cheap prices on low-cost flights, but you’ll need to plan ahead. Lack of finance is sometimes the enemy of spontaneity, but if you really want to go, the bus is still a great way to see the sights and enjoy the moment too: sometimes, it said that “it’s not the destination that counts, but always the way”, and this phrase fits the context perfectly.

This is just my opinion, but I find that if you want to say that you’ve visited a country, you need to visit both the capital, and a small village in the countryside. Having experienced it myself, living in the countryside shows us the real life of the country we are in, not the tourist life or the fast-paced one! And if you live in the city, it can also be a great way to unwind and get a change of scenery.

That’s why, if you’re going to Skopje, I would recommend visiting the Matka Canyon, or if you’re going to Bucharest, I would recommend the castles of Peleș and Bran: in both cases, you’ll see some magnificent landscapes!

Another tip: if any of your flatmates are from the country you want to visit, or have already visited it, don’t hesitate to ask them for advice. Even if there are plenty of good advice sites online, getting it from someone who knows you at least a little is different, and may give you more ideas or recommendations.

Travel tips

A s always when traveling abroad, there are things to remember, especially when leaving Europe, so I’ve made a short list of 5 tips to keep in mind at all times. For the internet, as soon as you leave or enter the European zone, you can either take advantage of free wifi or you can buy Internet data directly from your phone operator or Esim on sites such as Airalo, Holafly or even on GetYourGuide. But if you don’t want to buy any, I recommend downloading the “Here WeGo” application and using the offline function: you have to download the map beforehand, but afterward it’s available all the time and without mobile data. The only drawback is that if you want to take the bus, for example, as you’re not connected, you don’t have the opportunity to find out the timetable, etc. And speaking of buses, I advise you to download the “Moovit” application, which will be very useful even in your daily life in Thessaloniki!

Travel tips in Bal

© Alex Humbert

Surrounding area of Thessaloniki

If you would rather visit the surrounding area, I would recommend Zorpidis, which offers some very interesting day trips costing between 15 and 25 euros, depending on where you want to go. However, some of the visits are only in Greek if there are very few foreigners, so I hope you will come across one that is in Greek and English. But in any case, even if you don’t understand the information, the landscapes and places you’ll be visiting won’t change!

In addition to organized trips, you can also travel using KTEL, Greece’s intercity public transport service. You can find the buses you want online, or go to either Macedonia Intercity Bus Station or KTEL Halkidiki Bus Station to buy your ticket.

© Zorpidis

A word of advice: take advantage of national events such as the Carnival in Patras or even the one in Stratoni, which will allow you to discover another place where USB has volunteers, as well as the Easter celebrations on the island of Corfu, for example.

Traineeship

There’s one last way to “travel”, and it can even be linked to your ESC: traineeships. Before, during or after your ESC, you can take part in traineeships, which will be useful both personally and professionally, as they train you, improve your already acquired knowledge or even take you off the beaten track, depending on the project. You’ll also get to meet new people, discover new cultures and explore new countries.

Whether you are alone or with your housemates, inside or outside the country, take advantage of all the opportunities it offers to discover new countries and cultures! It’s a great way to make new memories, but it’s also a great way to get out of the context of volunteering, home or work and get a change of scenery. And if you’re traveling with several people, it can even allow you to visit places you wouldn’t necessarily have thought of on your own!

To conclude, I have just one final recommendation: get the most out of your volunteering! And above all, in your own way!

Easter in Corfu

© Elena Leiter