At this time is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s aggressive motion is heartbreaking for the demise, struggling, and financial turmoil it would trigger in Ukraine and, not directly at the 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 by means of journey. However once we convey vacationers to a different nation, we additionally convey their {dollars} — {dollars} that may assist Putin’s aggression. Due to this fact, as of right this moment, we’ve got 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 by means of the remainder of Europe. However you will need to maintain geographic realities in thoughts and do not forget that a warfare in Ukraine is as removed from our European trip desires as a warfare in Guatemala could be from Texas or Florida. For 40 years now, we’ve got lived, labored, and traveled by means of many durations of tragic warfare in lands removed from the place we lead our excursions (and a few nearer). And right now, 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 vital it’s for People to maintain on touring and to take action in a approach that makes us higher and extra engaged residents of our world. I’m flying to Europe subsequent month for a 40-day journey by means of 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, assist 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
