Viajero2

I have to ask because it is impacting me; I have decided not to visit Italy until after the elections (I was considering a late fall trip). While I hate the fact that terrorists have impacted my travel plans with fear, I wish I was more confident on the ability of authorities (anywhere) to protect civilians from these coward bastards. Please, I kindly ask you to keep your replies in the travel context. Thank you.

chicagolori

If you dont mind sharing - Where do you live now and where were you planning on going in Italy?

I am planning to return to Italy next year - not letting the recent events stop me. I think the odds of getting hurt in some type of attack are probably less than getting hit by a car or run over by a train in my city. I think its a constant potential threat where ever you are.

I live in downtown Chicago so we are always cautioned to be careful. I am not sure any officials in any city of the world can completely protect us. Maybe because of that, I feel I would be just as safe in Italy than in a big city here.

Also - if you are really reluctant still, maybe avoid the larger cities and go to smaller villages. Thats the real Italy for me anyways. You could fly into Zurich and travel to the lakes, you could fly to Florence and visit Florence, Tuscany, Venice. There are alternatives that might make you feel safer and still get you a wonderful travel experience.

lincasanova

as long as the terrorism stays on the ground.. it will not affect me more than from the emotional heart-breaking feelings of sympathy for all involved.

I often think of how our children are growing up getting accustomed to hearing about this new threat we must learn to adapt to.

i am going to travel as much as i can afford to, time-wise, and money-wise. I am not confident the terrorism will ever stop, so, am just trying to put things into perspective.

Patrick

I know what you mean. There is a possibility that a terrorist will cause an attack on our local supermarket here in Naples, Florida. I'm locking myself in, and not leaving. I'm having everything delivered to me as soon as I can set up a proper metal detector outside my door.

If you can't tell, this is just being silly. The odds of being in a terrorist attack in Italy are less than your being struck by lightning as you walk out your front door!!! How do you plan to get to Italy? The chances of your plane crashing on the way are FAR greater than your being a victim of a terrorist attack once there!

faredolce

Hi!
I will be in Italy in November for 15 days, including Rome, and I can't wait. Events such as the terrible day in Londan this past week have not impacted my plans one bit. I am a little nervous, but I am little nervous each time I get on the subway (in NYC) to get to work every day. My point is, how does one plan to avoid terrorist acts? It happened in my own backyard.

Lots of things make me scared, lots. I share your fear and apprehension. This is scary stuff. Its not about not feeling it, its about overcoming it.

This is coming from someone terrified of flying - ten years ago, I never thought I would see Europe.

By the way, when you are in Italy and you see the guards with machine guns now and again, you feel really, really good about the level of protection being provided. Honestly, some neighborhoods in Brooklyn scare me way, way more. (not trying to dis the 'hood, but I am being honest!)

faredolce

I can't believe I misspelled London. I just can't see what I am typing in this tiny box!

ira

Dear V,

I can understand your concern, but not your fear.

Think how bad you will feel if you are hit by a truck at home, when you could have been in Italy.

dglewis

It is kind of WAY back in my mind since I'm going to Italy next weekend
But ya know, if we do back down and if we (tourists) do reduce 'normal' tourism in Italy, 'they' win!!.
So my stubborness is going to make sure I go.
Besides, I agree with another person on this list that you could drive to any bad area in virtually most cities in the world and get into trouble anyways.

susanteach

My sister and I (32 & 38) are leaving for our Italy trip tomorrow morning. I now live in Chicago, she still lives in Virginia. Before she left to come to my place, her coworkers came up to her asking, "Are you still going?" "Aren't you scared?" I think their questions were not intended to be cruel, but were just awful to do to someone before leaving on a trip. In fact, on 7/7, after the London attacks and reading that Italy was "next," I was a bit anxious. That anxiety ended the next day. I have to admit though, the fact that Italy's PM says he's pulling troops out of Iraq this fall does a lot to make me feel better. Is that move best for the cooalition? No, but it helped me lose the last tidbit of anxiety about the trip.

Grinisa

My family and I are leaving for Italy next Saturday. While the recent bombings in London and Madrid have made me a bit more fearful of train travel, I'm sure we will still use the Metro in Rome and pray for the best. We will have a car for the Tuscany/Umbria portion of the trip. As others have stated, you are far more likely to get killed on your local streets than by a terrorist attack in Italy.

Intrepid1

From the information available the "prospect of a terrorist act in Italy" is very low.

I'd really like to know what makes you think the prospect will be lower <b> after </b> the elections?

Sorry, but posts like these end up being magnets for political rants and raves. IMO you have done <b> yourself and everyone who reads this</b> a disservice by trying to frighten others with your own misguided judgements.

kswl

Actually---yes. quot;&gt;
Our next trip is beginning to take shape, to Scandinavia, probably this winter. (Yes, we ARE crazy!) Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland--all seem very remote and removed from terrorism. I know it's naive to think any place on earth is immune from political unrest, but there is a long-standing stability and serenity there that is looking very attractive at the moment.

Holly_uncasdewar

&quot;They&quot; have been threatening to attack inside Italy for a couple of years now. Their most recent threat is not news. Berlusconi also announced this past spring that they would start pulling their troops out of Iraq in September. Again, no news there.

sbc98grad

We'll be in Rome two weeks from today before we board a cruise for our belated honeymoon. We'll travel to Rome from London, where we will have spent four days. This is my second trip to Europe and my husband's first. Our travel plans won't change, but we do plan to use more buses/taxis than subway systems and to stay away from public transportation during rush hour. I know the chances of attacks are very small and that other risks we take each day have a higher probability of impacting us. We'll be careful and try to make good decision as we always do when traveling. Ultimately, this long-awaited trip is meant to help us experience new cultures, religions, languages, etc. Perhaps this is the best way to defeat those who insist on tyring to scare us into staying home.

artsfan

&quot;Think how bad you will feel if you are hit by a truck at home, when you could have been in Italy.&quot;

Despite its absurdity, Ira's statement has enough humor and truth in it that I just might put it on an index card and tuck it into my carry-on when we arrive in Rome next month.

P_M

Patrick was being silly, but he has a point. Why do you think you are any safer at home then overseas? Based on this, I never, and I do mean NEVER allow the prospect of a terrorist attack alter my travel plans. There is no place left that's 100% safe anymore. I refuse to hide away and live my life in fear because that's what the bad guys want.

Nimrod

&lt;&lt;..I never, and I do mean NEVER allow the prospect of a terrorist attack alter my travel plans.&gt;&gt;

What if you had planned to spend last evening in center city Birmingham? I think you plans would have changed and you wouldn't have much choice about the matter.

grace_omalley

I am taking my second trip to Rome in November. I will not let the terrorists rule my life. Besides, I have two daughters in DC and I know that terrorism could happen there, too. There is no way in the world that I will stop visiting my daughters just because of these evil cowards.

DeirdreStraughan

I live in Italy, and commute to Milan's Central Station every day on commuter trains. Do I feel less safe? Not really; nothing has actually changed since the London bombings, including the likelihood (high, low, who knows?) of a similar attack in Italy. The Londoners themselves are pretty much back to business as usual, and IMHO that's about all any of us can do.

Italy will be holding an &quot;exercise&quot; this week, simulating a terrorist attack to see how everyone handles it. Should be interesting. If I can get any good video, I'll post it on my site.

best regards,
Deirdr&eacute; Straughan

www.straughan.com (personal)
www.tvblob.com (work)

Patrick

Huh, Nimrod? If someone were in Birmingham last night and forced to evacuate, so be it. But I fail to see how that relates to the idea of making travel plans or altering the plans. Of course, they may force you to alter your actual activities, but that is different from making your plans.