Anyone traveling to Greece has to be thinking about the ill-fated TWA Flight 800 that blew up July 17 off the coast of Long Island. The plane was flying from New York to Paris, but its previous port of call was Athens. While investigators have yet to determine what caused the plane to explode, the leading theory is that it was a terrorist bomb. How or where such a bomb could have been placed aboard the aircraft is conjecture at this point, and it may have nothing at all to do with security at Hellenikon International Airport in Athens, but the airport has a suspect security record and only recently was given a clean bill of health by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The airport had been cited in March for insufficient security standards for airlines flying between Greece and countries other than the U.S. At the time, these security shortcomings had been offset by additional measures implemented by the airlines that fly to the U.S., including TWA. On May 15 the airport was found to be in full compliance with security regulations and the citation was lifted.
For countless reasons both ancient and modern, Greece deserves attention. It’s the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, the home of classic thought. Likewise, anyone with an interest in classic mythology will find a spiritual home here.
The Acropolis, topped by the Parthenon in the center of modern Athens, is one of the world’s great archeological sites, but archeological sites in Greece are everywhere. The amphitheater at Delphi, the Minoan site at Knossos in Crete, the Asklepieion in Kos, dozens more throughout the country–travelers can take their pick.
Greece’s ferry system is thorough and reliable, and is a great way to get around. Travel by car should be undertaken with caution because Greece has a high accident rate.
Worldwide updates
Airline security: The explosion of TWA Flight 800 has created a marked increase in security checks at airports across the U.S. Whether the added precautions will significantly increase check-in times remains to be seen, but air travelers should expect longer lines and should arrive at the airport earlier than usual. Be sure to carry photo I.D. and be patient.
Algeria: Conditions had been improving over the last few months as rebel attacks on civilians had diminished, but a recent spate of killings on a bus and on two beaches near Algiers has rekindled fears that the cycle of violence is far from over. Avoid travel here.
Burundi: The Tutsi-led army staged a coup and installed a new president July 25, ending a brief attempt at democratic coalition government and placing the fate of the majority Hutus in question. A 7 p.m. curfew is in force in Bujumbura and the streets have been quiet since the coup, but tensions have been high here for months amid regular rounds of violence. Avoid unnecessary travel here.
China: Massive floods occurred in central and southern China in July, killing some 1,500 people in the provinces of Hubei, Guangxi and Hunan and stranding more than three million. Many thousands of people have become sick and the threat of water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysetery is high. Travel to these regions should be postponed until conditions improve.
England: A labor dispute produced strikes by train drivers and paralyzed the London Underground five times in July, stranding commuters and wreaking havoc with transit of all sorts. The unions have planned six more one-day strikes before Sept. 9, so follow local press reports for current conditions and avoid traveling around London when strikes occur.
India: Six Indian tourists were killed in Kashmir July 15, a further reminder that travel in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not safe and should be avoided.
Indonesia: The worst anti-government rioting in decades occurred in the capital city of Jakarta July 27 when police raided the headquarters of the opposition party. Be cautious around large gatherings or avoid rallies or demonstrations altogether.
Israel: Three Israelis were killed in a drive-by shooting 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem July 26. The attack was believed to be the work of the same faction of the PLO opposing peace with Israel that launched two similar attacks in June. Officials sealed off the West Bank in retaliation only days after ending a five-month-long closure of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip imposed because of a string of suicide bombings in Israel, but agreed to reopen the border after Palestinian authorities pledged to find the culprits and bring them to justice. Tensions are high and travel to the West Bank should be deferred.
Japan: Nine people have died and some 8,400 have been afflicted with food poisoning caused by E. coli O157 bacteria, the same bacteria that sickened some 500 people in the U.S. state of Washington in 1993 after they ate under-cooked hamburgers. Authorities are uncertain which foods are spreading the bacteria, but suspect raw meat, pork, tuna paste and cold noodles. The outbreak has been linked to tainted school lunches, but the disease is highly contagious and can be spread by water. Until more is known, avoid the suspect foods and drink bottled water. The most recent deaths occurred in and near Osaka.
Northern Ireland: July is “marching season” in Northern Ireland and typically a time of tension, but this year was worse than usual not just because of the riots that occurred when Protestants marched through Catholic areas, but because of the fragile state of the peace process and all of the hopes for the future it carries. Riots spread across Northern Ireland in mid-July; a hotel was blown up by a car bomb in Enniskillen July 14; British troops are back on the streets. Travel here with caution.
Russia: Security in Moscow’s transit system has deteriorated in recent months with a subway bombing in June and two trolley bus bombings in July that injured dozens of passengers. Little can be done to stop a determined bomber, so consider using public transit as little as possible.
Sri Lanka: Tamil Tiger guerrillas, who recently lost control of their stronghold of Jaffna and seemed to be on the wane after 13 years of conflict with the government, launched a fierce offensive July 23 on a military garrison on the northern coast and dealt the army its worst defeat of the war. The next day a bomb exploded aboard a rush hour commuter train in Colombo, killing more than 70 people and injuring 350, the worst attack since a Tamil Tiger suicide bombing in January. Travel to Sri Lanka should be undertaken with caution. If possible, avoid large crowds in urban areas and remain alert for suspicious vehicles or abandoned packages, especially in Colombo. Avoid travel to the north and northeastern parts of the island.
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Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you leave home. In the United States, contact a Passport Agency office or the State Department in Washington; abroad, check in with the nearest American embassy or consulate.
