Changing Course

In the months leading up to our departure for Malta, we had several people remark to us about our "bravery" in going to Europe. The Paris attacks last fall put everyone on edge, and the March attack in Brussels has increased those concerns.

The U.S. State Department has a world-wide travel caution in place, as well as an alert for all of Europe. On March 29 they issued a Travel Warning for Turkey. While the primary concerns are in the capital city of Ankara and near the Iraqi and Syrian borders, tourist areas in Istanbul were also mentioned. It's true there have been recent bombings there, though none in the area of the old city. None of the cautions, alerts, or warnings tell people not to travel, only to be careful.

We were scheduled to take our students to Istanbul next week. We were there four years ago, and it's an absolutely perfect place for these students to see. The history of Byzantium, interplay between Christian and Muslim influences, the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, and modern politics of the European Union -- all things they've heard about in their class lectures -- can be seen in Istanbul.

Security, however, is a primary concern. So this week, powers that be back in Iowa canceled our plans for Istanbul. I respect the decision. There are factors involved for the institution that go beyond historical interest or the study of current events.

The last 48 hours have been hectic. I've had to cancel everything we'd planned in Istanbul -- flights, hotels, ground transportation, guides. Flights were non-refundable, so thousands of dollars are forfeit. We've also had to make alternative plans -- our students are promised a number of trips as part of this program. So new flights had to be booked, a new hotel reserved, new guides discovered, etc., etc. At the last minute, there are few bargains.

Our "Plan B" destination is Athens -- also a great city that we visited four years ago. There's not quite as much to see (more ancient and Byzantine, less of the rest), and flight schedules mean we'll have a trip one day shorter. But it should still be a valuable experience and a good time. Stay tuned for details.