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Pirates vs cruise ship: Travel fibs I've told my mother and a poll
I don't plan to tell my mother lies when I travel. I actually think what I'm saying is accurate information, but I have one of those mothers who sees disaster looming at many corners so I try to sideswipe her fears with a "That won't happen." The latest fib has to do with the pirates that attacked the MSC Melody cruise ship on Saturday.
See, just last month I insisted that pirates would not attack an MSC Cruise Line because I wanted her to agree to go with me and my son on a Greek cruise on the MSC Musica. My mother balked at first. She wondered about pirates. "Oh, Mom," I said. "Don't be ridiculous."
Then there was the fire.
Two summers ago, I told her there wasn't any chance that we were going to be in the midst of the fires that were blazing in Montana the same time that we were heading there. Never mind that the fires were making the national news.
Do the fires that were blazing right next to the highway count? They weren't dangerous. All they were doing were burning up sections of hillside a few feet from the road when we passed. We did follow the warning sign that flashed "Don't stop." My daughter was able to snap this picture, however. Neat, huh?
Then there was the earthquake. I told my mom that Taiwan was perfectly safe and sound when my husband and I decided to move there with our then 6-year-old daughter. Three weeks after we moved to Hsinchu, I woke up in the middle of the night with the bed shaking like the tornado scene in the Wizard of Oz.. It wasn't like we were at the epicenter, just close enough that objects spilled off shelves, we lost electricity for four days and most of the TVs at the swank Hsinchu Royal Hotel down the street took a tumble and broke. You might remember that earthquake. It made national news and there was a girl on the cover of Time Magazine with her head bandaged up and building rubble in the background.
It's not that I plan to fib. It's just that when one goes out in the world things happen. I'm thinking that since one MSC cruise had a run-in with pirates, our cruise should be excitement free. The pirates aren't near Greece anyway. Right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Craig Apr 27th 2009 11:02AM
I've gotten tons of flack from my family about my upcoming trip to Turkey -- they're expecting terrorist bombings and war -- but it's almost entirely based on ignorance. Then again, these same people thought Greece was unsafe (again, terrorist bombings and war) just because "it's over there, near *those* countries".
People who never leave their hometown are the more afraid of the world than anyone else.
Malaycobra Apr 27th 2009 11:31AM
Tell me about it!
When I people here in the US find out I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for 5 years, they start looking for stitch marks around my neck from where I had my head re-attached.
It was easily the safest, most fun place I have ever lived (Not that the country is exciting per se, but the ex-pats know how to have a good time) but you will never convince some people. They have seen the news and "know all about that place"
Nancy Mallia May 8th 2009 12:06AM
I love to travel, and am working my way thru my Bucket List. I am now 67, and Antarctica is calling me. What will be the best way to go? Can you recommend a tour company? Or cruise line? What should I expect to pay? And where do I go for first hand information? I usually go to the internet, but haven't gotten much info on travel plans. Can you help me?