There's no doubt in my mind that the thing I like most in my life is to travel. I do not intend to bore you with cliches about the million reasons why traveling is the best thing a man can do in his life span. I only want to note that I learned many more things from the places I've visited as a traveler, than I have in the University classrooms I've been as a student for decades. This is not like a comparative evaluation of the two spheres of knowledge acquisition - that wouldn't be possible given that their inherent qualities are so different. In fact I believe that both are very useful and worth going into.

One of the worst global effects of the 11th September terrorist attacks in USA is the fear that has been instilled in us all: fear for the Different, fear for the Other, fear to live in "open" Societies. And - among other things - fear to meet new places and people. Fear to travel. And this emotion I think is the greatest victory of whoever planed and executed this act. So, don't let them win, don't let them make us prisoners in our own houses. Let's continue to travel around the world and meet each other. Let's continue to think globally and not locally.

We will meet somewhere out there!!