Travel Desk: When travel memories meet bad news

When I first got off the train in Brussels a few summers ago, I didn't know what to expect. The Belgian capital was mainly a convenient stopover between the Netherlands and France, and the bilingual city is perhaps not fully formed in the minds of most Americans.

When I stumbled upon the city's irreverent symbol — the Manneken Pis, a statue of a little boy urinating symbolically on authority — I was charmed. And as I discovered more of the quirks of "Bruxelles" — the Magritte Museum, the Parisian-style sidewalk cafes, the Grand Place square, the early Rodin sculptures, the comic-book murals everywhere, and best of all, the abundance of Belgium's world-class Trappist beer — I became smitten with the city and its people. "It's easy to love a country famous for chocolate and beer," President Obama once said of Belgium.

So it was jarring and surreal, after the terrorist attacks in Paris last November, to see news photos that mirrored my own Brussels pictures, but with police in riot gear replacing tourists. The story sadly culminated in Brussels' own bombings on March 22, in which 32 were killed and more than 300 injured.

If travel teaches us that the world is interconnected, current events remind us that the world can also be dangerous. And now Belgians are concerned that their small nation will become better known for terrorists than chocolates. The State Department issued a travel alert for all of Europe, stating that "U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation."

What does it all mean? If you are going to Europe soon, stay aware of the news, consider travel insurance and register with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (step.state.gov) for real-time updates and support.

In the short term, a return to Brussels seems unlikely. But my heart is with Belgium. I have a 2017 bicycle tour of Belgian breweries to start planning.