Now is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s aggressive motion is heartbreaking for the dying, suffering, and economic turmoil it will result in in Ukraine and, indirectly at the very least, over and above. Right here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope that a diplomatic solution can be discovered and peace will return to that fragile and very long-struggling portion of our entire world.
Our mission at RSE is to assistance Us citizens far better know and have an understanding of our neighbors by way of vacation. But when we deliver vacationers to a further nation, we also convey their bucks — pounds that would assist Putin’s aggression. Thus, as of right now, we have canceled all 2022 tours that include things like a end in Russia.
Of program, we will keep a near eye on unfolding occasions and keep an eye on any vacation impacts by the rest of Europe. But it is essential to retain geographic realities in head and bear in mind that a war in Ukraine is as much from our European holiday desires 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 many intervals of tragic warfare in lands considerably from the place we direct our tours (and some closer). And at this time, we see no purpose to transform the rest of our journey and touring ideas.
The tragic fact unfolding in Ukraine only reminds me how crucial it is for Us citizens to maintain on touring and to do so in a way that helps make us greater and far more engaged citizens of our world. I’m flying to Europe upcoming month for a 40-day journey through a dozen excellent metropolitan areas from London to Athens — and I’m proud that thousands of my fellow travelers will encounter the European trip of their desires when acquiring prosperous studying experiences far from property on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.
In the meantime, let’s be grateful for our blessings, help our nation’s leaders as they do their finest to navigate this disaster, and preserve the troubled corners of our entire world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and a lot more) in our thoughts and prayers.
—Rick
