Down the Blue Danube (sometimes)
Many Americans are in denial about climate change, particularly those of us in the Northeast, because they have yet to feel the effects of the extreme weather patterns taking place in other parts of the country, and all over the world. Here in NY we had a summer that alternated between extreme heat and heavy rain. It was unpleasant, but it wasn't dangerous. The west coast wasn't so lucky as droughts brought the right conditions for wildfires. The south suffered the effects of warming oceans causing hurricanes. My complaint is small potatoes compared to what other parts of the world have suffered, but for my vacation, I had a direct experience with the effects of global warming. Nobody was harmed, but many were inconvenienced. We had the warnings. Two or three weeks before our trip Kevin and I both saw notices online about the summer droughts causing low water levels in the Danube. If the water levels are too low, ships can't pass. River cruise companies have to