Letters: Consider train travel en route to Gila Wilderness, N.M.

Try making tracks to Gila

Thank you for the wonderful article about the unbound nature found in the Southwest’s Gila Wilderness [“Sheer Frontier,” Sept. 14]. I was again disappointed that you informed your readers only of airline options as the best way to get there.

You failed to mention that you can go either to Albuquerque on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief or to a variety of other locations on the Sunset Limited.

--Nicholas Simon, Studio City

The next time you visit the area, take the shortcut through El Paso, rent a car and drive about 140 miles to Silver City, N.M.

Spending a day or two in Silver City can be most interesting.

--R.L. Gibney, Palm Desert

A lens on plane security

Although I completely agree that it is an overreaction to detain people for taking photos on a passenger jet [“Say ‘Geez,’ ” On the Spot, Sept. 14], there are plenty of nervous fliers.

I can’t imagine that there is much useful intelligence to be gained by a terrorist from photos of airliner interiors, but plenty of people are still in a tizzy about the potential for airline terrorism.

--Art Friedman, Santa Monica

A feet-first point of view

Over the years, you have featured many fine photos under the “Your Scene” heading. That’s why I am astounded at the photo you ran Sept. 14 [“Shades of Blue in Bora-Bora,” Your Scene].

How in the world did you choose to show a picture of some guy waving his arms in a swimming pool -- for good measure framed by the photographer’s ill-pedicured toes?

--Patrick Curren, Santa Monica

Faithful reader gains travel tip

I’ve read and enjoyed Susan Spano’s work for at least a few years and was finally prompted to drop a note of appreciation after the story on Lourdes, France [“Slice of Heaven,” Sept. 7].

My wife and I are planning our fifth trip to France next year, and we were debating whether to include Lourdes on our itinerary.

Then Spano’s article leaps off the front page of the Travel section. Case closed.

--John J. Flynn, Irvine

OK to sing another tune

Paul Grein takes Catharine Hamm to task for denigrating Motown sounds [“Motown -- How Sweet It Is,” Letters, Sept. 14]. As great as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the other musicians mentioned by Grein may be, a case can certainly be made that Mozart and Beethoven were even greater artists.

Hamm was a bit snide in her comment, but Grein needs to avoid thinking that the music he happens to prefer should be appreciated by everyone.

--Ed Schoch, Westchester