Take Me to Barcelona - Sundays in My City

Not quite a year and a half ago I wrote a post about why I would go to Paris (or Brussels or Beirut...).  Since then there have been attacks in several places I've been and some places I haven't seen yet.  I didn't want to have to do another post like this.  But here we are.

I've walked down Las Ramblas. Of course I have. It's a Must when visiting Barcelona.  I've crossed the London Bridge (not to be confused with the Tower Bridge although I've crossed that as well).  Of course I have. It's a Must when visiting London.  I didn't see a concert in Manchester but I did walk quite a bit of that city.  Any one of these attacks could have taken place when I was there.

Manchester (May 2016) - Attacked May 2017

My kid at the London Bridge ( May 2016) - Attacked June 2017

La Boqueria on Las Ramblas, Barcelona (November 2011) - Attacked August 2017

I'd go to Barcelona right now (well, maybe I'd wait until tomorrow because it's bed time here).  I'd go back to Paris or London or Manchester.  I'd go to Finland, which was also the site of a "murder with terrorist intent" this week.  I went to Venice last weekend (no, it has not been the scene of a recent attack).  None of this will stop me from traveling.  If anything, it makes me want to travel more. It makes me more determined to go and see and be out in the world.

My heart aches for what is happening in places like Charlottesville, VA.  Fear and hate cannot be allowed to plant roots and grow.

When I was in the Peace Corps we had three goals:
1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

The 2nd goal is something I feel like I am still doing now.  I hope that the understanding people have of Americans is a positive one based on their encounters with me rather than a negative one based solely on the news.  I trust that the good in people will prevail and the recent outbursts of violence and bigotry will be squashed and smothered by the displays of love and tolerance and acceptance. I find travel, meeting people, and learning about new cultures and customs is one of the best ways to expand one's understanding and tolerance and acceptance of people who are different from you.  We're all human regardless of where we're from or how you feel about durian fruit.

How do you feel about travel given what's happening in the world right now?

Why I Would Go to Paris (Beirut, Brussels, Mali...) Right Now

I started this post when the Paris terror attacks happened.  Beirut had just happened.  Then Mali happened. Ankara happened.  And I kept putting this off...I guess waiting for it to end.  I've been to Brussels many times.  I've posted about the city several times.  I've been to Paris and Mali.  I love these places. 

If the Brussels airport is open tomorrow and someone offered me a ticket, I would go.  When I arrived, I would get on the train (which runs all the way into the airport) and take it to central Brussels.  Then I would get on the metro to wherever in the city I needed to go.  I would have done the same after Paris or Beirut (and still would).  I will go if London or Bangkok or San Diego or Toronto or Canberra are attacked.  I will not stay home out of fear of what might happen.  There will be attacks whether I travel or not. 

Gran at the European Union Headquarters (can't remember if this is before or after we got kicked out). The metro beneath this area is where one attack happened.

Dad, Mom and Brother on the Brussels metro after I picked them up at the Brussels airport.

Seeing my sister and brother off at the Brussels airport...in the departures lounge where the bombing occurred today (with a cameo by the purple jacket). [I often take pictures of my feet...not sure why.]

 

When I moved overseas the dogs and I flew into Brussels airport.  I flew in and out of that airport many times over the next 3 years.  I had family and friends visit me by way of that airport.  I've dropped people off and picked people up. I've parked my car in the parking garage there.  I bruised my shoulder on a column outside the arrivals lounge when I went to pick up Gran.  I had food poisoning and went outside to throw up.  I was so weak that I leaned against the column to keep from falling over.  The throwing up caused me to repeatedly slam my shoulder into the column.  Better than falling over!  I laid on the floor of the train station in the airport while Gran stood in line for tickets.  I didn't have the strength to stand up.  It's difficult to imagine anything so horrific as today's attack happening there. 

 

I've traveled to places that are supposedly less safe than western Europe.  I've traveled all over western Europe.  I have no plans to stop.  I've been called crazy for traveling to 3rd world countries.  Now people say I'm crazy for traveling to western Europe. Could something happen?  Of course it could.  But honestly, I think I'm less safe driving to work. 

 

So if anyone wants to give me a ticket to Brussels or Paris or London or Beirut or Mali or pretty much anywhere (there are a few places I wouldn't go but I'll save that for another post) I'll gladly take it! And I'm looking for train tickets from London to Brussels.  Cross your fingers for me because I'd like to find them cheap!

 

How do you feel about the safety of travel right now?  Would you go to Brussels or Paris or any of the other recent scenes of attacks?