Stolen Moments

I could relate to Beth Goodno’s experience (“Hard Lesson in France,” Letters Annex, June 11).

We were in Aix-en-Provence in June 1986, and our rented VW camper van was broken into. We had the same experience with the police: The station was locked, and they wouldn’t answer their phone.

While I remained to guard what was left of our things, my husband tried to contact the police and met another couple whose rental car had been broken into, ransacked and their luggage stolen. Apparently this scam continues.

Our entire experience (not just this crime) in France was so unpleasant that we kept our tourist dollars out of that country on our three subsequent trips to Europe. We found the opposite to be true in Italy, where everyone went out of their way to be friendly and helpful.

GERRI REAM

Simi Valley