It has happened again. In November, there was an explosion in Paris. Yesterday, it was Brussels that suffered. Everyone knows it will happen again, but no one knows where. So, do you really dare to travel?
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ShareLunch at Sergels torg
The terrorists want to spread fear. They want us to know that we are never safe, that their war is everywhere. You don't want to be scared, but when the newspaper headlines reveal one bomb after another, it's hard not to be.
The unpleasant thing is, of course, that someone deliberately want to hurt and kill innocent people, and that it can happen pretty much anywhere. Or can it? Yesterday, I went to Sergels torg to have lunch with a friend at Kulturhuset and had time to think that the safest places in Sweden are probably ... somewhere else.
Do you dare to travel?
But no, I don't think we should stop travelling! The risk of dying in a car accident or from an illness is probably much greater than in a terrorist attack. However, I think it is terrible, not to mention sad, that the world looks the way it does in some respects. So, how do you feel? Do you dare to get on an aeroplane to a European capital tomorrow?
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Travel Friday says:
Lisa and I actually recorded a short extra episode of the Travelling podcast where I mentioned that I currently feel safer on an island in Thailand than I would at home in Europe. But as you say, the terrorists want to spread fear. We must not let them win! Wrote some of my thoughts here: http://resfredag.se/att-resa-nar-varlden-skrammer/
Hugs!
23 March 2016 - 8:30
Jeanette says:
Well, I don't want them to take over my life through my fear, so I certainly won't stop travelling.
A: How wonderful to have been in those premises as a child!
23 March 2016 - 9:32
admin says:
Travel Friday, how right you were to record an extra episode about this! It is this that is in people's thoughts right now. I will look in and read your post!
Louise in Turkey, thank you for your comment! I think that you often feel safer at home than away regardless of where you live (well, not if you live in a trouble spot of course!) and it may be because you have better control at home, know how things work, know which neighbourhoods you may not be able to move in alone at night, etc. But you should not be worried about going here! 😉
Jeanette, I couldn't agree with you more! A: Only from the age of 13 though, before that I lived in Skåne 😉.
23 March 2016 - 9:35
LouiseiTurkey says:
Where are you safe and secure? Where can you protect yourself from all the evil? I feel worryingly safe where I am now and where I live. In the country where they drive like maniacs without seatbelts, where around 90 million people live, and which also borders Syria. But here in Turkey, where there have been several attacks over the past year, I feel very safe, as strange as that may sound.
And I am very much considering whether or not I should venture a trip to Sweden this summer.
Have a great Thursday!
Louise in Turkey
http://www.louiseiturkiet.se
23 March 2016 - 8:42
Ama de casa says:
It is, of course, absolutely terrible. Disgusting! But they shouldn't win - I could definitely imagine travelling today. Although I will not do it.
23 March 2016 - 10:21
Lennart says:
What happened is terrible, but we must continue to dare to live!
23 March 2016 - 10:21
Renate's travels says:
Interesting thoughts... I'm writing a post about this myself at the moment. What has happened in several places in Europe now is shocking and tragic, I still feel that one should not stop travelling - then the terrorists have won in a way. They want to spread horror among people. I think it's more about considering other destinations than many places in Europe and the Middle East right now.
23 March 2016 - 11:02
Hallin on the Resia blog says:
A few days after Paris, we went to London. Of course we talked about it, but once there we managed to suppress it. No, this is not going to stop anyone from travelling. Somehow it feels more important than ever.
23 March 2016 - 11:03
Snows says:
Sure, you get thoughts like "do we dare to travel?" but at the same time, fear must not take over and stop us humans. But I admit that we choose not to travel to certain destinations and Turkey is one of them right now...
23 March 2016 - 11:38
BP says:
Of course I dare to travel, but some destinations I would probably avoid right now. Belgium, France, Germany, Turkey and Greece, for example.
Where are we going...
23 March 2016 - 12:02
JoY says:
Of course it's crazy if we stop travelling, that's what I think. At the same time, I have decided not to travel to my friends in Turkey this summer. I don't think anything would happen there, but the flight there worries me the most.
Sticking to the roads with the campervan instead.
Hugs
23 March 2016 - 12:18
Dryden - Traveller's Edition says:
I also see it as that I intend to continue travelling, although of course I may consider destinations a little more carefully. Also thought of writing a post about thoughts about Brussels and maybe do it in a couple of days, but right now I'm going on "as usual" and writing about the next trip instead. That's how I want to think. However, I had a big post about my visit to Charles de Gaulle in the pipe but there was too much, so I pushed that post forward for a while.
23 March 2016 - 12:24
Veiken says:
I have no hesitation in travelling again and again. However, I avoid large crowds, but am not consistent there either. Bruce Springsteen is coming to Gothenburg this summer! Then there will be a lot of people and I will not stay inside like a scared hare! 😉
23 March 2016 - 12:45
emollient says:
Ugh yes! Well, I probably dare to go to Copenhagen airport today for further travel to Hong Kong, but it is not without feeling a little anxious when you get to the airport. I can't understand why there isn't a security check before entering the airport. But that's the question of how open/closed a society we want, I guess. Terrible is what it is and it probably doesn't matter where you are, it can happen anywhere. I try not to let fear rule, but it's not easy when these things happen.
23 March 2016 - 13:50
Lena in Wales says:
It's scary, but I'm not going to stop travelling.
Good comparison with travelling by car, for example
23 March 2016 - 14:17
biggeros says:
I feel exactly the same way. With the fact that the terrorist attacks continue and no one can stop them. So it's not surprising that people think that way. How can we stop something we have no knowledge of. Of course we have to keep travelling, but security has to be strengthened with the help of more scanning cameras already at large public entrances. Also more surveillance cameras. This means more queues and less personal rights. Good post.
Many do not dare to raise this topic and discuss it openly.
23 March 2016 - 15:08
admin says:
Ama de casa, you are absolutely right, if you allow them to scare us into different habits, you have let them win.
Lennart, I agree! It becomes quite pointless and boring to just walk around being afraid...
Renate, I don't think we should let them win either. I think you should be able to travel in Europe too, but maybe avoid it if some specific place has an extra terrorist threat.
Hallin, there is usually a feeling of discomfort for a few days, but it usually passes. And maybe you're right, maybe it's more important than ever not to stop travelling!
Znogge, I agree. I'm certainly not going to stop travelling, but if there's an extra high risk somewhere, I might still want to avoid that particular destination....
BP, I might be drawn to certain destinations. But not all the ones you mention...
JoY, yes, it is difficult not to be completely affected. And it is incredibly sad...!
Dryden, I understand how you feel. There will be a strong sense of unease for a few days, and maybe it's just as well not to publish exactly then. Then, of course, you should publish your post as usual!
Of course, if you have to avoid all the crowds, life becomes quite limited. I might be able to avoid some, but not all.
Emolis, you don't want to have to go through more security checks, but maybe it will happen in the future. Wishing you a nice and good trip!
Lena in Wales, traffic is often the most dangerous thing we expose ourselves to... and we don't hesitate!
Deciree, it seems terribly wrong that terrorists should be allowed to decide. We will continue to travel, both with and without a motorhome.
Biggergeros, I suspect there will be more and more controls. Sad development, but perhaps necessary.
23 March 2016 - 15:38
Deciree says:
Isn't it sad that terrorists should decide how we should live? I don't like that. Of course we will continue to travel, but mostly in the motorhome. But we will never stop travelling. We will continue as long as we can.
23 March 2016 - 14:46
Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:
Terrible events!
If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, it doesn't matter if you are travelling or at home. But I actually feel a bit uncomfortable now when I take the metro over the big bridges.
Happy Easter anyway!
Agneta
23 March 2016 - 18:32
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
I've been in Berlin for the last few days and travelled on from the main railway station there today. Some thoughts arise, but fortunately I have not been afraid. Still, unfortunately, I think twice before choosing a destination. I was in Istanbul in September/October, but had not, for example, booked a trip there now. I really wish the terrorists hadn't succeeded in spreading fear, but that's hard to avoid.
23 March 2016 - 19:00
Alexandra says:
No, I don't feel afraid, I can't go around worrying. If something happens, it does, but I might as well die in an accident in my own home (and probably that risk is greater too).
I don't think the most important question is "how should we increase security" etc. but I think the most important thing is to ensure that IS/daesh does not succeed in recruiting more people all the time. By, among other things, creating employment for people so that there is no marginalisation in societies. People who have felt excluded from society have always been easy "victims" for sects and there is no difference now. (Daesh is not a sect, but the principle is the same).
23 March 2016 - 18:15
Matts Torebring says:
If you dare to travel, so do we, for the summer holidays. I don't think we will give up our plans. The Mediterranean and France are attracting us. Things are happening everywhere. In Tranås, a man was stabbed from behind for no reason at all. A man was killed by a drunk driver, sitting in a bus shelter, waiting for the bus. Nobody is safe anywhere.
23 March 2016 - 20:52
Helga says:
Yes, it's so exaggerated what happens, but I fly almost every day and pass through airports too. I am actually not afraid. I rely on the statistics.
But my parents, for example, are very worried about me running around all the time.
23 March 2016 - 20:56
Ditte says:
It is terrible what has happened to you in Brussels and everything that has happened and is happening both in Europe and in the countries controlled by ISIS (ISIS controls many places around the world).
We will not travel less because these attacks are not something we can protect ourselves from. It is our entire lifestyle that is under threat and I am not afraid. I will continue to visit the countries and cities I want to.
I am not going to let myself be limited.
We travelled from Bangkok today and there were thorough checks there, as well as at Arlanda, which I think is good.
It's interesting to read how you and others see things...
23 March 2016 - 21:34
admin says:
Alexandra, I agree that the problem should really be tackled at an earlier stage, so that people don't want to commit terrorist acts, but I guess it's unfortunately not an easy task. A more controlling society is not really fun, but maybe it goes in that direction...?
Much else and some concrete, I agree. Terrorist acts can happen in Sweden too. However, the risk is hardly present in the countryside, but only in city centres, at airports and the like. But I don't intend to avoid any places because of that!
Marianne, the thoughts do come and it is an unpleasant feeling. At the same time, these feelings usually pass fairly quickly, and everything returns to normal.
Matts, absolutely right! Don't give up your journey! As I said, things can happen anywhere and if you limit yourself, I think you will be unhappy and bitter...
Helga, I don't think you should be afraid either! Statistically speaking, this is on a fairly small scale after all, and traffic is probably much more dangerous (which no one is afraid of for some reason). But terrible it is ....!
Ditte, as you say, it's not possible to protect yourself, and if you start limiting yourself too much, life will feel very boring. After all, we live with far fewer terrorist attacks here than people do in some other countries, but some people are a bit worried about the development.
24 March 2016 - 8:59
bia says:
Happy Easter weekend!!!
Hug beer
24 March 2016 - 20:17
steel city anna says:
There are quite a few places I wouldn't travel to ... I'm drawn to London, I was there during the 2007 terrorist attack but have been there since then too, although now I know a lot more. Not so keen on big malls either. I would also avoid Stockholm, but I have family there, so I'm in the spirit.
However, I feel more generally safe where I live. But certainly the last few years have changed my way of acting and refuelling.
26 March 2016 - 1:00
Caroline King says:
No, of course you should not stop travelling. Anything can happen at any time and especially when you are not careful. We have quite recently spent two months in Egypt in many areas that some countries warn not to go to. I can say that I feel less safe in Italian traffic than in Cairo and unfortunately you can expect more unpleasant events in the future at home. Just be vigilant and take it easy.
27 March 2016 - 0:26
Maria says:
I won't let these sick terrorists stop me from travelling wherever I want 🙂 I wouldn't exactly be happier staying in my home town either just to be as safe as possible, I can't live like that... But yes, if I were to go to a big city tomorrow I would probably be a bit more vigilant than usual. But I would go and enjoy the stay anyway.
28 March 2016 - 10:44