Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

It’s Easter, spring has sprung, and on Sunday Christians around the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. The last year has been full of Easter for me and my TV crew, as we’ve been busy producing our new “Rick Steves’ European Easter” special for public television. The show — filmed in Spain, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Greece — will air on most stations this weekend (check for your local listings). If it’s more convenient, you can watch the Easter special online. One way or another, if you want to inject a multicultural dimension to your Easter celebrations this year, there’s no better way to spend an hour. I hope you enjoy the special — and I hope it brings more meaning to this season. Happy Easter!

Following yesterday’s attacks on Brussels, the US State Department issued a travel alert for Americans regarding “potential risks of travel to and throughout Europe.” Does this mean we should stay home?

In a word: No. This is a travel “alert,” not a “warning.” The State Department reserves “warnings” for serious business: It means, essentially, “Don’t go there.” But an “alert” just means “Be careful.” According to the State Department, “We issue a Travel Alert for short-term events we think you should know about when planning travel to a country.”

Isolated terrorist events — 2004 in Madrid, 2005 in London, 2012 in Boston, 2015 in Paris — are as tragic as they are impossible to predict. With this alert, the State Department is simply confirming something we already knew: Going forward, it’s possible that there will be more terrorist events in Europe (just as it’s possible here in the United States).

Also, at frightening moments like this one, keep in mind that there’s an important difference between fear and risk. As the State Department recommends, while you’re traveling, be vigilant. Be aware. Exercise caution. But at the same time, don’t be terrorized. That’s exactly the response the terrorists are hoping for.

Brussels — and the rest of Europe — are, if anything, safer today than before yesterday’s attacks. Security everywhere will be on high alert. But, unfortunately, many Americans will cancel their trips to Europe. As a result, ironically, they’ll be staying home in a country that loses dozens of people each day to gun violence.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Brussels, the victims, and their loved ones. As for me, I’m flying to Lisbon in ten days. And later this summer, I’m booked to fly out of the same Brussels airport that today is a shrine of grief and tragic bloodshed. Am I allowing myself to be terrorized by the terrorists? Hell no. It all comes back to my firmly held belief that the best way for Americans to fight terrorism is to keep on traveling.

Any political advisor recommends that their candidate relate to the concerns of older voters and the middle class. So we know what those running for president think about issues of concern to those groups. But what about hunger and the most vulnerable citizens in our country and beyond? If hungry people voted, the rumbles in their tummies would be heard. But they’ve got more immediate concerns and hurdles keeping them away from the polls on Election Day. Still, for those who care about hunger issues, it’s helpful to hear each candidate’s thoughts on the challenge. And Bread for the World (which we’ve supported for 20 years and for which, together via my Facebook page, we raised $500,000 last Christmas) has collected statements from each candidate still standing. Take ten minutes now and review these statements. While they all “care about the hungry,” it’s fascinating to see how their political philosophies shine through in their statements.

Find out how you can help to get candidates and voters to focus on hunger and poverty in our country, and around the world, at bread.org/election.