Is travel to Spain safe this Friday?
 

My very old fashioned parents are worried about us travelling to Spain this Friday (7/21) due to all the unrest. Any thoughts on the realities of this being an issue?

What unrest?

None whatsoever. I wouldn't travel to Beirut or Haifa, but see absolutely no reason not to go to Spain. Please tell your parents not to worry.

If you are talking about the unrest in the Middle East, remind your parents how far that is from Spain, therefore Spain is totally unaffected.

If they honestly think there is any "unrest" in Spain other than the erstwhile Basque issue how will you convince them otherwise?

yes, the unrest in the Middle East. I did mention how far removed Spain is from there but you know parents.

Ask them if they would bring snow skis to Texas if it was snowing in New York.

No need to worry at all.

Hi T,

Highly unlikely that current problems in the ME will affect your visit to Spain.

((I))

PS,

>My very old fashioned parents....

Would you prefer New fashioned parents who didn't care? :)

((I))

How about "parents that aren't clueless"

Agreed. This isn't so much old-fashioned as just plain ignorant. And when you combine ignorance with even the best of intentions, it becomes dangerous.

Wasn't aware there was any unrest in Spain.

If you mean the middle east - there's unrest somewhere in the world every day - you just don't hear about most of it if you stick to American news channels - rather than international - BBC etc.

Okay - I have held my breath over these posts - but need to just get it out of my system once. Get out a map and check out the distance between Spain and the east end of the Med! Let's just get back to the posts on whether one can wear white running shoes in Paris, how Brit food is garbage, whether to take TC or cash, and whether I need a converter/adapter/transformer for my IPOD!!!!

Thanks I feel better now!

Gosh - hope that TRAC does not stand for Trolls wRiting Assinine Comments :-)

A friend of mine is actually traveling to Spain today. We were talking about his upcoming trip and he was genuinely worried too.

Not because he thought that Spain was right next door to Lebanon or Israel, but rather because he's afraid of the "outreach" of this "new" war in the mid east. He's traveling on AA and memories of 9/11 are haunting him.

I think people have a right to be a little or a lot worried if they want to be. And I don't think they should be slammed for it either.

>..because he's afraid of the "outreach" of this "new" war in the mid east. He's traveling on AA and memories of 9/11 are haunting him.<

As I've noted before, these crazies do what they want on their own schedule, if they can.

It has nothing to do with current events.

((I))

The OP asked about thoughts on the "realities of this [all the unrest] being an issue" - sorry still stand by my last post. Give me a brak - what about the 40 million people who live in Spain - wonder is they are worried about the unrest and outreach.

Perhaps your parents recall the train bombings of relatively recent vintage in Spain; or perhaps they have read of the terrorists' objective of restoring the Caliphate, which can be read to include Spain in their empire.

However, as horrifying as the terrorists make their deeds, in reality they affect a very very small percentage of tourists. Perhaps your parents would be comforted if you pledged to contact them frequently; I wouldn't promise a daily call, as they would be worried if you forgot, or were late, but a call every few days could help allay their possibly well informed fears.

Travel to Spain THIS Friday ?????

For the love of God, I urge you to ..... !!!!!!

Thanks JAGIRL, raydotman,p_m,clevelandbrown.
And to the rest of you, well...

I can only say that in light of everything that I know at this moment, I wouldn't bat an eye at going to Spain this Friday. Yes, people have a right to be concerned about whatever they want to be. But fear can be a very irrational thing and that needs to be recognized.

Spain is not the issue...your parents just care...wherever you go is a worry. I was in London on the day of the First bombing last summer with my 3 little ones and on the second bombing on our way back from Spain, we figured lightning wouldn't strike twice. Oops.

Spain is a wonderful, friendly and large country. My husband always asks would the "house" in Vegas take these odds on your safety? Yes it would! See if that helps! hee-hee

Hi Trac, just saw your thread.

I had a couple of family members that almost freaked out everytime we left our state. I felt so sorry for them as for some reason they just "knew terrible things were going to happen, airplane would crash, auto accident, illness, food poisoning etc etc".

Clevelandbrown has a good idea. I wouldn't be specific but perhaps tell them you will call them every 4 days or so but it will depend on your schedule.

BTW, back in the 1970'a when calling back to the states from Europe was not easy and as inexpensive as now I would send a postcard about every three days to these older family members. And from Naples I sent one saying that we were going to meet up with Italian friends and than would go to Greece. Well the wife of the Italian couple got ill and couldn't travel. So we did not go to Greece. We went to Capri instead and had quite a lovely time.

Little did we know that a horrible earthquake had hit Greece right when we had mentioned on the postcard we would be there. And one of the few times the postcard we sent arrived within days of our mailing it.

So instead of relaxing these dear people I actually really almost gave them a nervous breakdown, lol. No, it wasn't funny and I felt terrible when I found out but it was rather ironic as I was trying so hard to keep in touch and keep them relaxed.

Go to Spain and have a wonderful time and hopefully after you return home and get settled back in your can give us a trip report.

Trac, do you have a cell phone that works in Europe? They could call you whenever they feel the need.

I would like to share with you a story about my late grandfather. He was an old-fashioned man who only left the US to serve in WW2. I learned early on never to tell him about my travels until after I returned home. I kept quiet beforehand because I knew he would worry himself sick. But once I was home, he was fine with hearing about my trip.

One time at Christmas a relative of mine slipped up and mentioned my upcoming trip to Greece. Granddaddy took out his hanky, sat down and cried, and begged me not to go. He went on to tell me how unsafe the world is outside the US. Never mind the fact I had been outside the US dozens of times in the past, but he couldn't stand the thought that I might not come back.

I realize that keeping secrets is not the answer in every family and it might not work for you. But I just want to say that I understand what it's like to have an old-fashioned loved one who really doesn't get the fact that a war in the Middle East does not make the entire world an unsafe place.

I like the idea for calling home. If they have a computer, email them at every opportunity. Let them know how beautiful it is in Spain, how friendly the people are and that you are having a great time. If any little snafus do occur along the way just keep it to yourself until you get home.

Have a great trip.

Statistically, the most dangerous part of your Spanish journey comes between your home and the airport.

USNR :))

It's that part of his trip that my friend is the most worried about! :))

Your parents are a little right and you are too. Best advice would be: go have fun, but remember to keep in touch with them often. It is such a small effort, buy one of those cards for international calls and for a few dollars keep them happy too.

Go somewhere safe - like Washington DC.

Even if you include all the deaths & injuries due to terrorism in Spain you are still more likely to be killed/injured/raped/robbed in the US than Spain