I’m midway through an exciting six-cities-in-seven days road trip (Aurora, Chicago, Houston, Fort Lauderdale, Washington DC, and San Francisco) and having a great time. But tonight I’m really sad.
For the first time in my life I’ve had a lecture cancelled by a bomb threat. I was all set up at Broward College. The people sponsoring the talk had lovingly arranged a VIP reception with wonderful food and wine all ready. I had cracked open all my newsletters and Rick Steves Europe Tours catalogs. We had the lighting and sound all set. The first hundred people had gathered…sipping wine and telling travel stories. I met the school’s dean and the president of the local NPR station. Then the organizer whispers to me “there’s been a bomb threat and we must all leave the building.”
Thinking we’d be out just a few minutes, like a high school fire drill, we all tumbled out into the parking lot. Piles of police cars arrived and yellow tape was stretched out. It looked like it would be awhile so I gathered everyone together under the muggy and balmy Florida night sky and we had an extended Q&A session – it was actually lots of fun and there were great questions – for about half an hour. Then the police came and told me I needed to stop and everyone needed to get out of the parking lot.
Five hundred people drove from all over this part of Florida for my Travel as a Political Act talk. Just last night I gave the talk to a packed house in Houston and was really excited to do it again here. And there was no way. Finally the police let us into the building to gather up our stuff. I repacked my laptop, ate a few delicious hors d’oeuvres, and that was the end of it. I’m so sad for the hard working gang at Broward College who organized this and all the travelers who assembled but got no talk. I’ll never forget my first visit to Fort Lauderdale. It’s amazing the disappointment that a crackpot can cause with a stupid bomb scare.
Thanks for telling us about this Rick. I think it’s even more sad that with all your travels to so many countries it is our country that has the bomb scare.
I agree that it’s a travesty to have something like that happen in our own country! Any idea what motivated the threat? Was there a political message involved?
I was one of the folks eagerly awaiting your talk. You’re so right – the word to use here is “sad” in regard to this senseless bomb threat. BUT – I have to salute you for hanging with us in the parking lot and for being so gracious and engaging with the questions and answers. Irrespective of the insanity of all this, it was great to be able to meet you. I’m a huge fan. Thanks,
Tony
Cliff,
According to local news reports (see http://www.sun-sentinel.com) the bomb threat was issued to all of the Broward College campuses (there are several). I really don’t think it had anything specifically to do with Rick’s scheduled talk last evening as much as it was just a matter of unfortunate timing. And unfortunate it was, for a number of reasons…
Thanks, Tony! I hope it had nothing to do with political views. That would be especially sad. — Cliff
How true! Sad this happened in our country. But, schools and colleges seemed to be favorite targets for bomb scares. Rick handled it with much grace. How lucky he is “ours” (Edmonds).
………….it will be interesting to hear the incidentals regarding this. The title of Mr. Steve’s book, Travels As A Political Act, by an American might raise the hackles of some……at this time in our history and around the world in certain areas, with certain religions, etc……
. I have not read this book but found the title unusual for this time around the world. Again, I have not read this book, just the title………..speculating that maybe this is why we have seen so many Federal agents recently here……….A published cartoon in another area of the world had become life threatening and then lethal just recently at a European publishers office…..Very, very sad.
Tere,
It wouldn’t surprise me if Rick’s book title provoked Federal agents (sad though it is.) But where have you seen them recently in Edmonds, and how do you recognize them? I thought they try to be inconspicuous by wearing civilian clothes and driving unmarked vehicles.