hey guys i am extremely sad right now. I have been planning a trip to Madrid for 2 months now for my spring break. 4 friends and I booked our flight for thursday with Air France and booked a hostel. Everything was going fine and then Bush had to go and F#@k everything up. Now my friends are all having doubts and plan to cancel their tix and i will probably do the same. Dissapointment does not describe how I feel. Aw well maybe next time.
vale? venga.<br />Payam
Posts: 14 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: 17 February 2003
Oh ! I am so sorry! That is horrible! I totally understand, my second semester abroad was about the entire Mediterranean, but based in Spain. We were supposed to go all over Greece and Turkey and have a cruise around the isles. But then Sept. 11th happened and no cruise or any of that for us! I totally understand! I'm so sorry! Good luck, Joy
Posts: 541 | Location: Madrid (but from Boston) | Registered: 16 December 2002
Please don't let this war stop you from making plans in the future. My trip is still on for June and NO ONE BUT GOD will stop me from going. We can't remain prisoners in the US and give in to fear tactics. That's one thing that I refuse to do.
I've already told my mom and dad that if anything should happen to me while I am gone, please know that I love you and my time spent on this earth was a good one.
Life must be lived to the fullest. Even in these troubled times, we must still focus on the beauty and joy that life offers us every single day. Hold on to that joy for a lifetime and never, never let it go.
We must cherish family and friends, enjoy a good stroll in the park, sit down to a good meal, have a sip of wine once in a while. We have to make sure that we treat ourselves to a little somethin' somethin' every now and then.
Listen as your day unfolds Challenge what the future holds Try to keep your head up to the sky
You gotta be bad You gottta be bold Your gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard You gotta be tough You gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool You gotta be calm You gotta stay together
All I know is love will save the day
"You gotta be" Des'ree
"Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" - SONG OF SOLOMON, Toni Morrison
Posts: 1264 | Location: Richmond, VA but in MADRID now | Registered: 10 February 2002
I totally agree with Shawn here, come to Spain anyway.
Besides, in the event of a war you will be safer here than in the U.S.A.
I am one of those people who think we all have a preset "expiration date" and nothing will change that so you are set to "expire" on your date, no matter what you do.
All things happen for a reason.
Do not let this war crap ruin your trip.
I am off to NY with Ena on March 26th for a friends wedding, to see my mom, dad and grandma (not to mention to have some god pizza and bagels for a change ) and as with Shawn, nothing will deter me from making the trip.
They are right, You should go to Spain anyway. If you don't, maybe you will regret it later. I live in NYC and was living here back when Sep.11 happened too. I was planning on going to Madrid on Nov '01, and even though everyone was freaked out (I was a bit too, I admit) and my family strongly recommended me not to come, I came anyway and don't regret it a bit. Maybe is the best time to come as you could in a way disconnect for a bit from all this war nonsense. I know in Spain war will be these days the main subject, but i cannot imagine how much the media here in the US are going to bombard us from day zero. It hasn't started and I'm already fed up of it.
kike
I'll make you an offer you won't refuse
Posts: 52 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 10 March 2003
You need to come to Madrid anyway. Like everyone said, you are probably safer here than in the US. So you might get your wallet stolen in Sol, but all worth it!
I flew to London after Sept. 11 and everyone was so scared for me. I was not, but hearing everyone else's fear, made me nervous too. Obviously I am OK, and I loved every minute in London.
I say go for it. You never know when the next opportunity will be. Plus the weather is getting a lot better!
Posts: 331 | Location: San Diego | Registered: 14 December 2002
I believe that the most important thing to do is to continue living your life and your dreams. War is a constant factor, happening someplace at any time all over the world. You can choose to live in fear and produce fear or you can move ahead and continue on with your life. Choose Peace of Mind.....
thanks for all the support. Seriously, it helps A LOT. I think that letting the war mess this trip up would be giving in as Redwood has said. (by the way that was a great post Redwood ). If even one of the five people that were originally going to come with me still want to go, then i'm gonna do it. I just hope that Spain is normal and not worried about the war. What's the general sentiment over there? Are people still going still as outgoing as ever? Thank you all very much for your replies and if I go I will fill everyone in on what it was like.
vale? venga.<br />Payam
Posts: 14 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: 17 February 2003
Suck it up and get on that plane. Last time I looked there were several countries and one Hell of a lot of kilometers between Spain & Iraq. And watch out for petty thieves around the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor. And watch out for Madrid's discos, where there are swarms of horny young people out to boogie til they puke. On second, thought, maybe you should stay home.
Gerry Dawes
Posts: 97 | Location: Suffern, NY USA | Registered: 23 March 2002
Payamadrid, I hope you do go to Spain. Unless there are any specific warnings about travelling abroad you'll be as safe in Spain as you would be in your own country. Good Luck
Posts: 25 | Location: Cambridge, United Kingdon | Registered: 13 October 2002
After reading your posts, I get the impression that you're not really that worried about the "war-related-safety-issues", you're just extremely disillusioned because your friends aren't coming, and certainly, the trip without them wouldn't be the same, not what you had been planning and anticipating anyway; it's all very understandable, so do WHAT YOU TRULY FEEL LIKE, however, I just wanted to let you know that if you do come "solo", that'll give US an excuse to organize some serious partying "in your honour", right Jer :cheers: ? So you wouldn't be so unaccompanied. :ks:
Posts: 627 | Location: Brussels | Registered: 16 December 2001
Don't give in - go! I'm making my first-ever trip to Madrid this Friday, 21 March, and no bloody war is going to stop me (although the increased check-in times at Heathrow might)! Think about it logically - the war's in Iraq, and Spain's a long way from there. Tell your friends to be big and brave, and enjoy!
Fekete, London, England
Posts: 6 | Location: London, England | Registered: 14 March 2003
I am in the exact position you are in payamadrid. I am scheduled to fly this Thrusday also!!! My friends and I are waffling on whether or not we want to go now, even though we've planned this trip since early July. Do any of you feel at all unsafe in madrid being an American?
Posts: 6 | Location: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: 17 February 2003
) and as with Shawn, nothing will deter me from making the trip.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
). If even one of the five people that were originally going to come with me still want to go, then i'm gonna do it. I just hope that Spain is normal and not worried about the war. What's the general sentiment over there? Are people still going still as outgoing as ever?
? So you wouldn't be so unaccompanied. :ks:
