Thoughts on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine – Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

 

Right now is a profoundly unhappy working day. Russia’s aggressive action is heartbreaking for the death, struggling, and financial turmoil it will bring about in Ukraine and, indirectly at the very least, past. In this article at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope that a diplomatic alternative can be found and peace will return to that fragile and prolonged-struggling aspect of our world.

Our mission at RSE is to assist People in america greater know and realize our neighbors by way of journey. But when we carry vacationers to one more country, we also carry their bucks — dollars that would help Putin’s aggression. As a result, as of now, we have canceled all 2022 excursions that include a cease in Russia.

Of program, we will maintain a shut eye on unfolding functions and keep an eye on any vacation impacts through the relaxation of Europe. But it is critical to preserve geographic realities in thoughts and try to remember that a war in Ukraine is as considerably from our European holiday vacation dreams as a war in Guatemala would be from Texas or Florida. For 40 many years now, we have lived, worked, and traveled by means of lots of durations of tragic warfare in lands significantly from wherever we guide our tours (and some closer). And at this time, we see no purpose to transform the relaxation of our travel and touring strategies.

The tragic truth unfolding in Ukraine only reminds me how crucial it is for Americans to preserve on touring and to do so in a way that tends to make us superior and additional engaged citizens of our entire world. I’m flying to Europe subsequent thirty day period for a 40-day excursion by a dozen great cities from London to Athens — and I’m proud that countless numbers of my fellow travelers will encounter the European trip of their dreams whilst obtaining rich mastering experiences much from household on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.

In the meantime, let us be grateful for our blessings, help our nation’s leaders as they do their ideal to navigate this disaster, and hold the troubled corners of our environment (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our thoughts and prayers.

—Rick