I wondered if I’d take any photographs at the airport, but in between sending my brave mother off to ask (in Russian – English speakers were rare) if we could make a phone call to our host, and keeping an eye out through the crowds for a driver holding our name up, I obviously didn’t pull out my camera. In fact my first picture from that trip is this one: my two feet standing on Red Square. During my first trip to Russia, Red Square had been closed due to terrorist threats – hmm, a recurring theme there – so I hadn’t been able to take such a photo before.
However, my point is – and yes, I do have one! – that while these incidents certainly disturb me, they would rarely (or probably never) stop me from travelling. I know that some people add up these kinds of news stories and use them as an excuse to stay home, or at least to avoid “dangerous” countries. But you never really know where is going to be dangerous, do you? I’m betting those visiting New York in 2001 hadn’t picked it as a risky spot. While it’s obviously tragic that lives have been lost, unnecessarily, again, I think it’ll be sad if it puts more people off visiting Russia. Every part of life is risky, even crossing the road at home – and don’t most accidents happen inside the home? – and travelling can bring you such great rewards. Well, off my soap box now. Just saying, that’s all!
Leave a Reply