Travel letters

A beautiful Italian getaway

It’s not often an article can transport me from my Tarzana kitchen to the seaside hills of Taormina, Italy, but “Oh, Go Ahead, Indulge Yourself” [July 3], by Janis Cooke Newman, did just that. What a beautifully written piece.

For a moment I was able to escape and breathe in all the beauty that is Italy. Thank you for painting such a scrumptious picture … and for my mini-getaway.

Janine Sharell

Tarzana

In your excellent survey report “Foreign Tourists’ Favorite Places to Visit in the U.S.,” [July 3], you left out Washington, D.C. Foreign tourists watch news on their local TV, of course, and Washington seems to be always covered, especially Capitol Hill, the White House, Lincoln Memorial. While the visitors are in U.S, many want to connect with our action-filled capital!

Akhtar H. Emon

Rancho Palos Verdes

Regarding “Travelers Aid Society Is Grounded at LAX” by Chris Erskine [July 3].: It boggles my mind that on the same day I read that the Board of Airport Commissioners decided to cut the $400,000 stipend to Travelers Aid Society, I learn in “Upscaling Their Flight Plans,” by Dan Weikel [California section, July 3] that LAX is spending “at least $4 billion” to upgrade its facilities. It’s nice to keep up to date, but it’s also nice to have that human touch, something that is sure to disappear fast as the city takes over the duties of Travelers Aid.

David Tulanian

Los Angeles

Regarding “Pay Up, but DIY [“On the Spot,” June 26], by Catharine Hamm: In my letter to “Spot,” I chose to write in about the airlines because their dishonesty is particularly jarring: They hide their price hikes behind unspecified “fees,” implying in their ads falsely that all those “fees” are government-related.

Americans do not get value for purchase price. The “new” corporate model is to produce less, hike the price to maximum and cut the cost of employee salaries and benefits. The maximized profits are used for the benefit of the smallest group: the chief executive officers.

The majority of the cost or loss that we pay as customers-taxpayers goes to speculators hidden by corporate titles.

It affects life everywhere, including healthcare, education, transportation and food.

We can correct this. President Franklin Roosevelt did so through tax on speculations and profiteering. President Richard Nixon froze the price of fuel. Published wages and salary schedules will do the same for public servants.

Linda Bolard

Brea

We were thrilled to read “99 places to see,” by Laura Randall [June 26] on sights along California 99. We had recently returned from a San Francisco trip. On our way up we took the 99 route to Sacramento and stopped at Bravo Farms for the cheese.

Lo and behold, there was a picture with the story, and the memory it evoked was priceless.

Bill and Sylvia Blush

Downey