Lately is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s competitive motion is heartbreaking for the dying, struggling, and financial turmoil it’ll motive in Ukraine and, not directly no less than, past. Right here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we are hoping {that a} diplomatic answer will also be discovered and peace will go back to that fragile and long-suffering a part of our international.
Our venture at RSE is to lend a hand American citizens higher know and perceive our neighbors thru trip. But if we convey vacationers to some other nation, we additionally convey their bucks — bucks that may beef up Putin’s aggression. Subsequently, as of lately, we have now canceled all 2022 excursions that come with a prevent in Russia.
After all, we will be able to stay a detailed eye on unfolding occasions and track any trip affects thru the remainder of Europe. However it is very important stay geographic realities in thoughts and keep in mind that a warfare in Ukraine is as some distance from our Eu holiday goals as a warfare in Guatemala can be from Texas or Florida. For 40 years now, we have now lived, labored, and traveled thru many classes of tragic war in lands some distance from the place we lead our excursions (and a few nearer). And right now, we see no explanation why to switch the remainder of our trip and traveling plans.
The tragic truth unfolding in Ukraine handiest strikes a chord in my memory how vital it’s for American citizens to stay on touring and to take action in some way that makes us higher and extra engaged electorate of our international. I’m flying to Europe subsequent month for a 40-day shuttle thru a dozen nice towns from London to Athens — and I’m proud that hundreds of my fellow vacationers will enjoy the Eu shuttle in their goals whilst having wealthy studying studies some distance from house on a 2022 Rick Steves excursion.
Within the period in-between, let’s be grateful for our blessings, beef up our country’s leaders as they do their absolute best to navigate this disaster, and stay the bothered corners of our international (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our ideas and prayers.
—Rick
