 |
| Flowers blooming in the yard here in the Korovesi neighborhood, here in Savusavu. |
After yesterday’s warnings from the US State Department, and today’s world news, we carefully consider where we’re traveling over the next few years. This travel warning was issued on November 24, 2015 includes the following:
“The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats. Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. This Travel Alert expires on February 24, 2016.
- Follow the instructions of local authorities. Monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities.
- Be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions.
- Stay in touch with your family members and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency.
- Register in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).”
As we’ve mentioned in the past, we don’t take these warnings lightly. If we were simply on a two week vacation/holiday traveling to a less vulnerable location, it could be of less concerning. With the world in front of us, we can’t help but proceed with caution.
As we consider countries we visited a mere two years ago: Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Kenya, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, UAE, we realize had conditions been as they are now, we may never have visited those countries or sailed along these seas.
Looking back, we’re grateful for the experiences, knowing the likelihood of us ever returning is slim to none. As we waited for six and a half hours at the airport in Istanbul, sitting in crowded areas, we couldn’t help but consider the risks may be high in such a busy area.
The night before our ship docked in Izmir Turkey on June 12th and 13th, 2013, we’d found this letter sitting on our bed upon returning to our cabin after dinner:
 |
| The letter we discovered on the bed in our cabin on June 11, 2013. |
As we rode on the packed tour bus in Turkey on the long drive to visit the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey we couldn’t avoid feeling aware that the risks existed in this country, along with others in the upcoming itinerary.
The day after we visited the Pyramids in Egypt, the State Department issued a warning for American citizens traveling to Egypt. Luckily, during our tour of the Pyramid, our trusty armed guard, Mohamed, who’d traveled with us on the bus, stay close at our side as shown in this photo below:
 |
| Mohammed, who carried a foldable Uzi in holster under his black suit. Oddly, he took a liking to us and stayed close to us during our tour of the Pyramids. |
By reading world news daily, we feel we’re abreast of areas of concern worldwide as we continue to book locations far into the future. Long ago we followed warnings from the US Department of State, realizing that no where on earth is exempt from risk.
It was only 15 months ago we spent two weeks living in Paris, often walking the city streets for hours each day. Parisian citizens and tourists are now wrought with worry and fear over recent horrific attacks.
We remain mindful and on alert as we continue on our journey, hoping and praying for safety and good fortune to continue to travel along with us.
Photo from one year ago today, November 25, 2014:
 |
| One year ago today, we posted this photo of Spam options available at the Kihei, Maui grocery store where we shopped each week. For more details, please click here. |