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.

PS,

>My very old fashioned parents....

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

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.

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.