At this time is a profoundly unhappy day. Russia’s aggressive motion is heartbreaking for the loss of life, struggling, and financial turmoil it’ll trigger in Ukraine and, not directly at the very least, past. Right here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope {that a} diplomatic resolution could 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 once we carry vacationers to a different nation, we additionally carry their {dollars} — {dollars} that will help Putin’s aggression. Subsequently, as of at this time, we have now canceled all 2022 excursions that embody a cease in Russia.
In fact, we’ll maintain a detailed eye on unfolding occasions and monitor any journey impacts via the remainder of Europe. However it is very important maintain geographic realities in thoughts and keep in mind 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 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 right now, 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 means 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 1000’s 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 glad about our blessings, help 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
