Letters: Kenya safari — on a budget

Kenya safari — on a budget

I read Amanda Jones’ article about Kenya with joy [“Africa, Through a New Prism,” March 21]. I went to Kenya in 2006 and saw many of the same things she did.

However, when I looked at the box titled “If you go,” I was disappointed. She chose Micato Safaris, a wonderful company but very, very expensive. I feel people who read the article may be put off by the tour’s extremely high price and feel they could never afford a trip to Kenya.

My four friends and I booked a tour through a Kenyan safari company and stayed at the same places as Micato tourists and saw many of the same things, but for one-sixth of the price. ($1,100 for eight days versus the $6,900 we were quoted by American and British companies). The company was Africa Point, and it delivered on everything that the high-end companies such as Micato offer.

Maybe the Travel section could do a report on budget safaris to Kenya, instead of just the high-end ones. Either way, I enjoyed the article.

-- Aaron Rothkopf, Arcadia

A subway whisk around Barcelona

Rosemary McClure did a wonderful job of exploring “Barcelona’s Artistic Side” [March 14]. It makes me eager for more about Barcelona, the tapas bars, the human “statue” performers on La Rambla pedestrian street and the foodie paradise, La Boqueria, a huge covered market with fish arranged on ice like some canvas, the best of local produce and sit-down and stand-up bars.

Barcelona has been building subways too. Angelenos can see the future underground in their 152-station network that has been built under the city during the last dozen years.

-- Richard Mason, Redondo Beach

A heartfelt thanks after a tragedy

I was traveling recently in Australia with my longtime friend when her heart stopped on the plane as we were flying between Cairns and Ayers Rock. The airline crew sprang into action immediately with oxygen, CPR, asking whether there was a doctor onboard, etc. They did CPR on my friend for more than half an hour, and then the captain decided to divert the plane to a small mining town in the outback called Mount Isa. An ambulance was waiting for us, our luggage was off the plane in less than five minutes, the trip to the hospital took about seven minutes.

Unfortunately, my friend died in the hospital. I felt very alone, but the director of Qantas in that town, Alan Mathieson, went above and beyond to make arrangements and paid for my hotel, meals and phone calls to my friend’s family in the U.S. The Mount Isa Police Department, specifically Sgt. Kelly Harvey, took care of final arrangements to ship her body back to her family in the U.S., and the hospital staff was there also to comfort me. The outstanding treatment from Qantas did not stop there: On my flight to Sydney, they upgraded me to first class and notified the flight attendants, who spent time visiting with me and comforting me. My return flight to the U.S. from Sydney was dealt with in the same manner. I cannot say enough about the care and professionalism displayed by Qantas Airlines staff and crew. Thank you, Qantas; I shall never forget your people.

-- Priscilla Lerma, Pomona

In a tight spot, a roomy solution

Several years ago, I was on a nonstop flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles. The flight was full. I had a window seat. A woman sat in the middle seat beside me who would have been considered a “big traveler.” I offered to lift the arm rest so she would have more room. She was grateful. I turned to the window most of the time to accommodate her, and the aisle-seat passenger turned to the aisle most of the time, probably for the same reason(s). In spite of these inconveniences, I did not make a big deal about it, as she was aware of the situation and did not once use the back rest of the seat, as that would have displaced myself and the aisle passenger considerably. Imagine sitting upright for five hours!

-- Y. Nielsen, Los Angeles