Dear Rolf, Travel To The Middle East: Great Concept?

I’m just finishing up Rolf Potts’ “Marco Polo Didn’t Go There,” a assortment of Rolf’s self-described postmodern tales from the street — postmodern, I believe, in the sense that his stories lean far more towards self-awareness than romanticism. Of course that phrase itself has such a blurry definition that I’m not actually positive what it usually means when utilized to travel creating, but the stage is that it’s a great book, and you really should go through it.

In this week’s “Dear Rolf,” (everytime I see that identify I assume of “The Sound of Music“) Rolf is asked irrespective of whether travel to the Middle East is secure. His reply is “yes,” as long as you don’t do a little something stupid, like wander close to alone drunk in the middle of the night, or spend your time hanging out in tourist meccas that appeal to dodgy characters. He also suggests checking for travel advisories by way of the State Division, which he understatedly notes “tends to err on the conservative side.” You imagine? The final time I did that their internet web page advised me to abandon all travel plans and commit my holiday in my closet.