While Danny and I prepared for our trip to Europe, we heard about the terrorist attack in Manchester, England. Our whole vacation started with London at its heart. I would attend the Bloggers Bash on June 10th.
We didn’t change our plans.
Instead, we drove from Glasgow to Edinburgh, Scotland when I noticed London trending on Twitter. To be honest, a second terrorist attack so soon after Manchester gave me pause. Was it an outbreak?
We didn’t change our plans.
After a fabulous week in Scotland, we flew to Gatwick airport and took the train to London. I wondered if police presence would be everywhere. Would any of the tourist attractions be open? Would we have to stick around the neighborhood of the Wellington Hotel?
The fabulous Bloggers Bash was the next day. We planned to take London by storm on Sunday. I brought my most comfortable walking shoes. I wanted to see Buckingham Palace, check out my buddy, Chuck, I mean Charles Dickens’ haunts, and go to Covent Gardens.
As soon as we walked out of Victoria’s station, I was struck by the number of cute little children, dressed to impress.
And just like that, I was over any doubt or fear.
Of course, we didn’t change our plans.
When I asked people in London how they felt about safety, they all said, “We have to live their lives.” One man said, “Americans are scaredy cats.” True that. I was, but not anymore.
My suggestion to Americans?
Travel to London or Paris or wherever you want. It’s the only way we win. Terrorists want to destroy our way of life. When we change our plans because we’re afraid, they win.
Have you changed your vacation plans because of recent events? Would you?
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
Susie, I’m so heartened by your and the Londoners’ attitude about going on with living our lives! On our Great Divide Mountain Bike Route adventure, we experienced the 5.8 earthquake in Montana, and were inspired by how resilient the people in Lincoln, MT, at the epicenter, went on with good cheer and humor.
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Wow! That’s a big earthquake!
I just had a tremor here, a small heart attack since I accidentally published this post. Ha!
Yes, I don’t think anyone cancelled their Bloggers Bash plans because of safety issues. It was probably the safest place to be after the recent events.
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I would still travel to places I wanted to go, but my destinations would not include some countries that I might have visited 30 years ago. Most African countries are off my travel list, as are middle east countries, but I think most other places are still okay.
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There are hot zones I wouldn’t venture to either. Western Europe is a place we need to support through tourism. They really appreciate ti. People have never been more friendly!
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Like always.
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Good words, so correct. Don’t let these malcontents win.
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I never travel.. but I never would.. it is letting them win
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It is such a simple solution! We win in two ways by enjoying a vacation.
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I’ll never let terrorism change my life or plans, Susie.
I’m glad you feel the same.
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I do! It’s the only way. We had a most excellent time!
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I went to Africa to teach information technology and got caught in the war in Rwanda. My Mom & I had prayed for my protection before I left and I reminded Mom of what Harriet Tubman told Frederick Douglass. He warned her about traveling and talking about abolition ing slavery. She asked him, ” is God dead?” I believe, so I travel.
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Pretty powerful stuff. You gave me goosebumps. And you lived to tell the tale. Thanks for weighing in!
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I’ve never changed my plans because of terrorism but my company once did. Since the largest terrorism attack happened in America, I can’t imagine someplace more dangerous than where I am now.
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I’m with you. We just keep on keeping on until it’s our time. We are all more likely to die of a car wreck.
We had a wonderful vacation. I hope this message touches those who consider canceling their trips.
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I was planning a trip to Nice when the terror attack happened there. I didn’t change my plans and am so glad I didn’t! Totally agree that we have to live our lives.
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I’m so glad to hear that! The violence is so random. I would guess that a lot of destinations are safer now because the terrorist threat. We had a fantastic trip!
I LOVE the Nice area. Did you go to Antibes?
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Not Antibes… Nice, Villefranche, Beaulieu, Entrevaux, Cap D’Ail. It was all wonderful!
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Sounds fabulous!
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So glad you did what you did (i.e., didn’t change your plans) and blogged about it. We need to hear more of these stories. Besides, with the amount of violence within our borders in the U.S. perpetrated by our own citizens, the better question might be why more of us don’t travel to get away from the dangers here.
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So true! There are crazy people everywhere.
We do need to get the word out. Right now, politicians use fear in all kinds of manipulative ways. I’m so over it. Gotta book those flights! BTW, they have never been cheaper!
Thanks so much, Audrey!
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I am so glad you had an amazing time!! Good on you for acting like a Londoner. 🙂
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Thank you! We had great role models.
We loved our trip to London. People were so friendly everywhere we went, including Paris!
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Nope, not a chance….but I have to tell you getting through security in Chicago Sunday was awful….it was if they were searching for something or someone. Almost missed my flight. I don’t have plans to go to Europe at least until next summer, or beyond. You are right, when we change what we do because something MIGHT happen, we give in and give over control of our lives to something smaller than myself – fear. we must live life and trust that all is well. Peace.
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Well said, Clay! Might is a powerful word in a lot of ways.
Flights are cheap and the dollar is much stronger. I hope you get the chance to go. The people were fantastic everywhere we went.
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I wouldn’t change my plans – as so many people here have said, if stuff happens, it happens, and we have to live our lives. True for a lot of the risks we have to face, terrorism or otherwise. (Here in NZ it’s mostly to do with earthquakes, unless the Taupo Volcano decides to ‘blow’ again).
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Oh, wow! Terrorized by Mother Nature is tough too. I’m glad to hear you would go.
I’m glad we didn’t change our plans. It really was a blast!
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I agree with you! I am moving to London soon, and some people have told me that it’s unsafe. But the risk of getting run over by a car is still much larger than that of a terrorist attack, and you’re right – if we change our plans, they win.
Kathrin — mycupofenglishtea.wordpress.com
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You are right! There are cities in America that are less safe, Chicago for one. It’s best to stick with plans and live our lives. How exciting to be moving to London!
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You’re right – but even in Chicago I never ran into any problems. Yes I hope it will be 🙂
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Right??? My daughter is going to Chicago next weekend. I’m not worried at all.
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I’m sure she feels that, and it makes her less worried, too.
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The terrorist threat, especially in Europe, does give me pause. Having said that, if an all-expense paid trip were dropped in my lap, I think I could overcome any fear.
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Think about how many people have died there in the last year. Then compare it to a year in Chicago. You would be safer there! Let me know when you win that trip! I would go back in a heartbeat.
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We Americans are afraid of all the wrong things – like terrorists, spiders, and Ebola, but think nothing about driving while texting or/and drunk.
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Or driving while texting with a drunk, Ebola-infected terrorist spider in the car. That keeps me up at night.
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You are so right, X! People have the silly notion they are safe in cars and yet the stats are like 34,000 deaths each year in the US and millions of injuries.
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Londoners and indeed all of GB have dealt with ‘terror’ in its various forms for centuries, and centuries, and centuries, and … 😀
One of my favourite photos to come out of the whole issue was a WWII picture of a woman sitting on top of a pile of rubble, debris from the blitz with a tin mug of tea in her hand. Everything was grey and broken, but there she was, calmly drinking her mug of tea. 🙂
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That is the quintessential English woman if one has ever been described. Love it! I read “All who are brave are forgiven,” and the women in that book were the same. A calm naivety on the outside concealing their inner brute strength.
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I read this during lunch today. A really excellent piece, Susie. Glad you posted it.
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Thanks Cayman! It posted before I was finished. First time! Maybe less is more…
I asked a lot of people and it really surprised me how they all responded with the same resolve. They truly are resilient people. We should ALL take their lead!
BTW, I would go back tomorrow with the whole family if I could! I’m hitting the beach this weekend instead! SURF”S UP!
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I know you would, that sense of adventure is built into your DNA! As far as the peeps on the other side of the pond, I love them!
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They are just as fantastic and enthusiastic in real life if. It more so!
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Living in fear isn’t really living. I’m glad you stuck to your plan and had an amazing trip.
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That is so well said!!! Exactly. The only way we would have cut back was if areas were blocked off, which they were earlier in the week.
Thank you! It really was a fantastic and unexpected vacation.
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Great piece on encouraging everyone to keep on keeping on. It is the way we win in the face of hate.
I flew not long after 9-11 and friends thought me crazy . But I wasn’t letting territorists change the way I live. And if it’s my time to go- then it’s my time to go. I’d rather go down living than hiding.
Great read !
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Thanks so much, C!
The amount of Londoners and tourists out for a Sunday stroll was a sign that terror won’t win. That’s great that you flew so soon. We traveled to Panama shortly after and went through crazy security for the first time. I’m so glad we went when we had the chance.
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Nothing like cute kids doing ordinary things to reset perspective. Life goes on.
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That is exactly what their presence tells the world. How cool is that? We have to keep on keepin’ on, Phil!
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Londoners have been through such a lot in recent years, but they still try to carry on with their lives as normal. They really are an inspiration 🙂
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They really are an inspiration. Seeing all those families out there enjoying their lives put me at ease. And we didn’t see tremendous police presence around as a constant reminder. I’m sure there were a lot undercover.
Thanks for stopping by, Judy!
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I think, it just makes you stop and think when you see others refusing to be cowed. 🙂
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Exactly. We joined right in and went straight to Buckingham Palace! 🙂
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Good for you, I bet you had a fabulous time, too! 🙂
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So glad to hear you didn’t change your plans. Hope you enjoyed your stay (especially the Charles Dickens bits)
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I’m so glad too! Loved Chuck’s place. I could just imagine him running those steps to his desk to write another chapter!
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Never change plans! I also travel to Turkey every year and I’ll never be put off by these cowards.
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There you go, Matt! The terrorist stats are similar to shark attacks. I think most people have absurd notion they’re in control of their lives and don’t want to give it up. Every time we drive, we take a risk.
I would love to go to Turkey!
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That’s true British bulldog spirit. Glad you had a fab time!
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Hey, Catherine! Great to “see” you!
Thank you! I wish we could’ve stayed longer. The people there were such an inspiration and it was only a week after the attack on London Bridge.
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Glad you stuck with your plans. The chances of anything bad happening are so tiny, and you’d regret missing your chance to visit some wonderful places later on.
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That’s how we felt. The only reason we would have skipped it is if areas were closed to the public.
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