If Italy is supposed to be safe then why does it have a public announcement on this site dated 10/2/01??? http://travel.state.gov./travel_warnings.html <BR>What does this really mean? <BR>

These types of warnings are being passed out all over, not just in Italy. <BR> <BR>If you are so worried, stay at home as you would not enjoy your trip. <BR>Just don't think Italy is the only country you need to use caution in.

I'm actually not SO scared, I am looking for info. as to what this kind of warning indicates. I am looking for the real meaning of it, and how much these kinds of warnings have affected people's travel plans. and yes I do understand Americans now have to be careful wherever they are. Next time I hope to receive a more useful response.

A, I just got back from Italy a couple of weeks ago. The public announcement (not a warning) was issued two days before I had to leave. There's actually a thread about it somewhere on this forum. I never could figure out why Italy got an announcement and other Western European countries didn't, but I can tell you that I felt totally safe when I was there.

To A - Is Italy safe, then why? I asked myself the same thing. I guess it is a general statement to all Europeon Countries. We heard the same thing and panicked and canceled our trip to Ireland and Italy. Our friends went onto Ireland and just got back and said they felt very safe there. They had a wonderful time. It took them forever to get through customs (this is a good thing), their luggage got there two days late, but all in all except for horrible weather they had a great time and missed us. The same warning that they had for Italy also pertained to Ireland. They chose not to go to Italy until they could do the trip with us. This trip is in the planning stage now. <BR> <BR>After plenty of soul searching and advice from this forum we came to the conclusion that we made a big mistake when we canceled. (Our Bad) We know it now. <BR> <BR> Travel is a personal thing and if you are frightened think it through. Do what is right for you and your family. The warnings are not going to go away over night (as we found out). Life is so short. Somebody asked me on this forum if I felt guilty for canceling my trip, my answer was NO. The TRUE answer is we could kick ourselves in the butt for over reacting. I hope this has helped you and maybe somebody can learn by our mistake. We have already made reservations for one trip to Europe this year and hope to go again at least twice next year. Italy is on the agenda. <BR> <BR>I hope you did not get offended by XXX, but this question has been askd so many times-Me for one-and after a while people get frustrated becau

(a ghost) pushed the send button. Anyway, it is very frustrating because I don't think that there is an answer to that question. I hope if you are going to Italy, have fun, say HI for us, be safe and call home a couple of times and STAY AWAY FROM TV. It can drive you to drink. Chow for now

To A: xxx's reply was indeed useful. It said that since you seem to be worried about travelling to Italy (state.gov warnings or no warnings, makes no diferrence), then by all means skip your trip and stay home - and get mugged at your own home-downtown-USA instaed!

I smell a troll.

X & Y, I guess A has an alternative and go to Italy and have a poor innocent child thrown at him/her while their mother or father picks your pockets and robs you blind. FYI- Crime rate has gone down after 9-11. "A", do what you have to do. God Bless America

If I'm not mistaken, there was until recently a warning about Oklahoma and Florida also~anywhere there has been any kind of concern to the Federal Govt.they post warnings, then they can't say that they "didn't warn you"~Italy was warned about originally because of the Govt.meetings held there, I think in Naples? = the ones where there was rioting and a policeman shot a protestor to death in the street.So, maybe they are also warning you to watch out for the police?

My post was not meant to be taken in a bad way. <BR>I was simply stating the facts. <BR>If someone is so concerned about this warning, this is all they are likely to think about if they were to go, and therefore, not really enjoy their trip. <BR>Isn't it better to stay at home where you would feel safer and relax? <BR> <BR>Italy isn't a place you want to come to and have to constantly think are they out to get me. It is already a big step going to a foreign country that you really don't know what the people that live there know or feel, let alone going when you have this type of preoccupation. <BR> <BR>This warning went along with the others that told all americans traveling overseas to be careful. <BR>Remember the one warning about american capitalism? Most people took that to mean stay out of McDonalds, Planet Hollywood,etc. <BR> <BR>Take it like this, if other countries started warning their citizens about going to the US, they would say the same thing as the US is saying right now to us. <BR>You cannot possibly be so naive to think that the California bridges are the only things that are supposedly at risk at the moment. <BR>Every country is having their own problems just like the US at the moment, only you don't hear about them. We living overseas hear about the US, but you all don't hear about all our problems. <BR>Just know that everyone is in the same boat at this moment. <BR>Caution is urged everywhere you go. <BR>

I was looking for something else when I just now found this - - and I am not "pushing" the Catholic viewpoint of life, nor any other religious agenda - - but you might want to read this, and see if it guides you through any anxiety you are feeling about traveling to Italy right now: <BR> <BR>http://www.santasusanna.org/paulistS...tTragedy.shtml <BR> <BR>If the "American Catholic Church in Rome" (Santa Susanna, the parish of the Paulist order) isn't a "target of America" within Italy, then I don't know what is. And if they can be brave, and keep their arms open now, maybe we can all feel a little braver about going to "La Patria". <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

No, Italy is not safe if your looking to stay thin or if you in any way shy away from interacting with the corner grocer. I certainly feel safe and just as home there (at least in Northern Italy) as in the Midwest. Signed, "been there since Sept. 11" Will be in London and Seoul this winter and Paris this Spring. M.

A - We just returned from Italy and France and felt safe. I think the warning you are referring to came out around the time there was a meeting being held in Italy, possibly with the exiled Afgan leader who now resides in Rome - not sure. At any rate, credible threats are passed along for your protection. It's not to scare or overreact, it's just to provide info when it's received. Keep in mind none of these threats have materialized yet, it's just reminding you to be extra safe. If deciding on lunch, perhaps pick a local pasta place instead of McDonald's? <BR> <BR>We saw graffiti our first night in Pasis that said "US go home or we'll kill you". That was very comforting. Just vandals I'm sure, but didn't make for a pleasant welcome. We debated about going on our trip and are so we glad we decided to go. Eveyone needs to make their own decision, but for what it's worth, we had a great tume.

Returned from two weeks in Naples area. We felt very safe and well-protected by Italian military police and the U.S. Marines. As with every major city of the world, be aware of your surroundings and don't do foolish things to call attention to yourself. <BR>We loved Capri and Rome and hope to return very soon - like maybe in Feb., 2002. Carol

To A, X, Y, Z, and the rest of the ABC soup: I guess that A's message does reflect a trace of anxiety - otherwise why does he hide his name & address? Guys, let me assure you that osama is not scanning the Internet to track A's real name and have someone await him when he lands in Italy. He has much more important targets on his mind... <BR>Rex: I found great compfort not in the sermons of Santa Suzanna but in their list of recommended restaurants when we stayed in Rome last year. Some of the restaurants were to kill for (that's if you like simple pasta/wine/bread places). <BR>A: do yourself a favour and don't cancel your trip. The only Osama's you'll encounter would probably be the ones in your mind...

Yep, in fact, Germany has a warning for travelers to the US, pointing out an increased risk of more terror attacks and recent anthrax attacks. They advise increased vigilance in metropolitan areas and sites of "symbolism".

Re: Safe in Italy... I've just returned from a trip in Italy including Venice, Florence and 2 weeks in Rome. I'm a sinlge Canadian woman who travelled alone. I felt perfectly safe everywhere in Italy, in fact, people went out of their way to assist me when they found out I was a tourist. BUT, my idea of safety is perhaps different from other peoples. For instance, it didn't make me nervous to go out walking late at night in Rome, or in Paris for that matter. I acted confident and strong, and if people were going to bother someone, it wasn't going to be me. No problems. At all.

There are travel warnings in Europe, but they are warnings about travelling to USA. After all, it is USA that is Osama´s "Big Satan", not Italy. People also have cancelled their USA trips and booked other destinations where they feel safer instead.

OK I think we are all going to become xxx'ers. <BR>Let's keep one anon per post please. <BR>If your xxx is already being used, try to at least delete one of yours. Make yourself different so we know there is more than one person replying. <BR>Can you imagine an entire post with all anons or all xxx's. <BR>Do we want to try one? <BR>At least though lets not make it a troll one just to ruffle peoples feathers.