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

 

Right now is a profoundly unfortunate day. Russia’s intense motion is heartbreaking for the dying, struggling, and financial turmoil it will induce in Ukraine and, indirectly at the very least, over and above. Here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope that a diplomatic remedy can be uncovered and peace will return to that fragile and extended-struggling component of our environment.

Our mission at RSE is to enable People improved know and understand our neighbors as a result of vacation. But when we deliver vacationers to one more place, we also convey their pounds — bucks that would help Putin’s aggression. Consequently, as of now, we have canceled all 2022 excursions that include a end in Russia.

Of study course, we will retain a shut eye on unfolding situations and check any vacation impacts as a result of the relaxation of Europe. But it is significant to hold geographic realities in brain and keep in mind that a war in Ukraine is as considerably from our European holiday vacation goals as a war in Guatemala would be from Texas or Florida. For 40 yrs now, we have lived, worked, and traveled through a lot of durations of tragic warfare in lands significantly from where by we lead our tours (and some closer). And at this time, we see no motive to change the rest of our travel and touring options.

The tragic fact unfolding in Ukraine only reminds me how vital it is for Us citizens to preserve on traveling and to do so in a way that helps make us superior and far more engaged citizens of our environment. I’m traveling to Europe future thirty day period for a 40-working day excursion by way of a dozen great metropolitan areas from London to Athens — and I’m proud that 1000’s of my fellow tourists will practical experience the European trip of their dreams even though having abundant discovering encounters much from residence on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.

In the meantime, let’s be thankful for our blessings, assist our nation’s leaders as they do their very best to navigate this crisis, and maintain the troubled corners of our entire world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our thoughts and prayers.

—Rick