In the present day is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s aggressive motion is heartbreaking for the dying, struggling, and financial turmoil it is going to trigger in Ukraine and, not directly at the very least, past. Right here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope {that a} diplomatic answer may be discovered and peace will return to that fragile and long-suffering a part of our world.
Our mission at RSE is to assist People higher know and perceive our neighbors via journey. However after we convey vacationers to a different nation, we additionally convey their {dollars} — {dollars} that will assist Putin’s aggression. Due to this fact, as of in the present day, we have now canceled all 2022 excursions that embrace a cease in Russia.
In fact, we’ll hold an in depth eye on unfolding occasions and monitor any journey impacts via the remainder of Europe. However it is very important hold geographic realities in thoughts and do not forget that a struggle in Ukraine is as removed from our European trip desires as a struggle in Guatemala can be from Texas or Florida. For 40 years now, we have now 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 purpose to vary the remainder of our journey and touring plans.
The tragic actuality unfolding in Ukraine solely jogs my memory how necessary it’s for People 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 hundreds of my fellow vacationers will expertise the European journey of their desires whereas having wealthy studying experiences removed from residence on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.
Within the meantime, let’s be grateful for our blessings, assist our nation’s leaders as they do their greatest to navigate this disaster, and hold the troubled corners of our world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our ideas and prayers.
—Rick