Safe travels after bin Laden

A couple days before I sat up watching the news waiting for President Obama to announce that Osama bin Laden was dead, a friend forwarded me a story with this headline: “Bomb blast hits popular cafe in Morocco, kills 15.”

It was in that cafe a few years ago that she and I sat together with our scoops of ice cream on the verandah overlooking the poetic mayhem taking place below in the famous Marrakesh square, Djemaa el-Fna, which was filled with snake charmers, tattoo artists, storytellers, acrobats and food vendors. It was our first day in Morocco and the sights, sounds and smells were magical. I can still remember how good that creamy dark chocolate ice cream tasted after a long, hot day of wandering the souks around the square. I can recall feeling the frost forming on the metal bowl in which it was served.

A simple pleasure like this make traveling worthwhile, but I shiver at the thought of dying over it, and my heart goes out to the families of those who perished in the April 28th attack: a young Jewish couple, a Briton, a Swiss, two Canadians, a Dutchman, two Moroccans, and eight French nationals, including a 10-year-old girl.

Al Qaeda denies any involvement in the bombing, which took place before bin Laden’s death. This underscores the importance of remaining vigilant no matter where or when we go. Terrorism wasn’t invented by bin Laden, nor will it end with him. The U.S. State Department has issued a world-wide travel alert, warning Americans about the “enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan.” But it stopped short of telling people not to travel.

In reality, the chances of dying in a terrorist attack are slim — a one in 9.3 million chance, according to one source. And there are things you can do to improve your chances of returning home safely:

• Read as much as you can about the destination, especially the spots that are noted for high crime.

• Avoid large crowds and skip public transportation during rush hour.

• Leave the ugly American attitude and his/her fashion sense at home. That means keep a low profile, no loud talking or loud clothing. Don’t even bother packing the white tennis shoes and shorts.

• While some would recommend traveling in groups, I draw the line at large groups on gigantic tour buses. In my opinion, nothing is more obvious than a bunch of Americans traveling together. Instead, opt for small tour groups with no more than 10 people.

• If you’re lost, don’t act like it. Walk with purpose and direction. If you do need to look at a map, duck into a store or restaurant instead of pulling it out on the street.

• Leave expensive jewelry at home. I swap my wedding ring for the $10 band I bought at Walmart.

• Don’t rent a car. Hire a local driver or take public transportation. Use caution when choosing where to take an overnight buses. China, yes. Mexico, no.

I laugh when I read travel advice that says “try to blend in,” but essentially that’s the goal. In reality, I stick out like a sore thumb and attract stares in most places I go, no matter the precautions I take. Fortunately, curiosity is totally natural.

Animosity is not.