As we speak is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s aggressive motion is heartbreaking for the dying, struggling, and financial turmoil it’s going to trigger in Ukraine and, not directly not less than, past. Right here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope {that a} diplomatic answer might be discovered and peace will return to that fragile and long-suffering a part of our world.
Our mission at RSE is to assist Individuals higher know and perceive our neighbors via journey. However once we deliver vacationers to a different nation, we additionally deliver their {dollars} — {dollars} that will help Putin’s aggression. Due to this fact, as of in the present day, we’ve canceled all 2022 excursions that embody a cease in Russia.
After all, we are going to maintain an in depth eye on unfolding occasions and monitor any journey impacts via the remainder of Europe. However it is very important maintain geographic realities in thoughts and keep in mind that a battle in Ukraine is as removed from our European trip desires as a battle in Guatemala can be from Texas or Florida. For 40 years now, we’ve lived, labored, and traveled via many intervals of tragic warfare in lands removed from the place we lead our excursions (and a few nearer). And presently, we see no cause to alter the remainder of our journey and touring plans.
The tragic actuality unfolding in Ukraine solely jogs my memory how essential it’s for Individuals to maintain on touring and to take action in a method that makes us higher and extra engaged residents of our world. I’m flying to Europe subsequent month for a 40-day journey via a dozen nice cities from London to Athens — and I’m proud that 1000’s of my fellow vacationers will expertise the European journey of their desires whereas having wealthy studying experiences removed from house on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.
Within the meantime, let’s be grateful for our blessings, help our nation’s leaders as they do their greatest to navigate this disaster, and maintain the troubled corners of our world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our ideas and prayers.
—Rick