These days is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s competitive motion is heartbreaking for the loss of life, struggling, and financial turmoil it’s going to purpose 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 challenge at RSE is to assist American citizens higher know and perceive our neighbors via trip. But if we deliver vacationers to some other nation, we additionally deliver their bucks — bucks that might strengthen Putin’s aggression. Subsequently, as of lately, we’ve got canceled all 2022 excursions that come with a prevent in Russia.
After all, we can stay an in depth eye on unfolding occasions and observe any trip affects via the remainder of Europe. However you will need to stay geographic realities in thoughts and take into account that a battle in Ukraine is as a long way from our Ecu holiday desires as a battle in Guatemala can be from Texas or Florida. For 40 years now, we’ve got lived, labored, and traveled via many classes of tragic struggle in lands a long way from the place we lead our excursions (and a few nearer). And at the moment, we see no reason why to switch the remainder of our trip and traveling plans.
The tragic fact unfolding in Ukraine handiest strikes a chord in my memory how necessary it’s for American citizens to stay on touring and to take action in some way that makes us higher and extra engaged voters of our international. I’m flying to Europe subsequent month for a 40-day travel via a dozen nice towns from London to Athens — and I’m proud that 1000’s of my fellow vacationers will revel in the Ecu travel in their desires whilst having wealthy finding out stories a long way from house on a 2022 Rick Steves excursion.
Within the intervening time, let’s be glad about our blessings, strengthen our country’s leaders as they do their best possible to navigate this disaster, and stay the bothered corners of our international (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our ideas and prayers.
—Rick
