In praise of France -- or perhaps not

I can’t adequately thank you for Barbara Noe’s article “Artful Montmartre” (March 9). The piece transported me back to a memorable day during a vacation from which I hope I shall never recover.

While reading Noe’s article I was able to relive the experience of sipping a glass of wine in Place du Tertre while helping my nephew negotiate a deal on a true treasure, his first oil painting. The photographs reminded me of the cobblestone streets we roamed, not knowing or caring where we were headed.

I was once again in the tiny antique shop in the shadow of Sacre-Coeur where I found my own treasured memento of Paris, a 200-year-old faience vase.

Thank you for re-creating the excitement and joy of our discovery of Paris and Montmartre.

Michael Menchaca

Santa Clarita

*

I could not believe my eyes when I opened up the March 9 Travel section and, lo and behold, there was another travel story (“Artful Montmartre”) featuring France. On March 2 you had a feature on Lyon (“Tasting the Good Life in Lyon.”)

Is there a subtle message here? Perhaps you just want us to get a broad overview of the country.

If that is the case, why not feature France again next Sunday? This time how about a story featuring Normandy, where many Americans lost their lives liberating the French on D-day, June 6, 1944.

J.I. Cardin

Seal Beach

*

Suzanne Mendez’s comment about travel in France (Letters, March 9) accurately stated that “negativity flourishes through ignorance.” How true this is with the stance that the French government is taking with the U.S. and the United Nations with respect to Iraq.

Thanks for reinforcing the main reason my tourist dollars will be spent elsewhere.

Keith Olson

Pacific Palisades