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Don’t forego your Europe itinerary

By Staff | Apr 6, 2016

On March 22, hours after three bombs shattered the early morning calm for travelers at Brussels Airport and commuters at the Maalbeek metro station, mourners gathered outside the city’s stock exchange in an expression of loss – but also resilience.

There, they hugged and wept, wondering how this could happen again. They placed tea light candles and flowers in honor of the victims. One woman even broke into song, as those around her applauded and wrote messages like "Spread love" in pastel chalk on the sidewalk.

Karien Fouwels, a 47-year-old account director, brought her daughter Chiraz, 13, to light a candle at the vigil.

"We can’t stop living just because of some monstrous idiots who are driven by ideology," Fouwels told The Associated Press. "That’s why we bring coffee to soldiers. Why we bring flowers to vigils. Again and again."

"It has to be a lesson for my little girl," she said. "That she learns … never to be scared."

Yet that very day, people around the world were putting their European travel plans on hold out of fear. Airbnb allowed people to opt out of their Brussels reservations without cancellation fees. And travel stocks dipped across the board, from airlines and hotels to booking websites and travel agencies.

To top it all off, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for the entirety of Europe, effective through June 20. It warned that "terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants, and transportation."

As dire as this all sounds, it is imperative that we don’t let fear-mongering groups like the Islamic State win by being terrorized, by being scared into never leaving our home. As Washington Post columnist Andrew Shaver wrote just after November’s Paris attacks, you’re more likely to be fatally crushed by furniture than killed by a terrorist.

For those still planning trips to Europe, USA Today put together a list of tips to stay safe. Among them:

n Make a plan: Know what you’ll do in the event of an attack. In addition to notifying the State Department, let a friend or relative know where you’ll be.

n Pack what’s important: Carry your emergency contact information, money, credit cards, signed passport and emergency information in your carry-on luggage and keep it with you at all times.

n Avoid targets and practice the art of blending: Wear muted colors. Don’t stand out and make yourself an easy target. And avoid large gatherings of people. Those include large public events and festivals where a terrorist could cause havoc.

European travel expert Rick Steves, who has written guidebooks about visiting the continent since 1979 and hosted "Rick Steves’ Europe" on PBS since 2000, chimed in on his Facebook page after the State Department’s alert.

"This is a travel ‘alert,’ not a ‘warning,’?" he wrote. "The State Department reserves ‘warnings’ for serious business: It means, essentially, ‘Don’t go there.’ But an ‘alert’ just means ‘Be careful.’

"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."

As Steves says at the close of each TV program, "Keep on traveling."

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