Letters: Adventures in Delhi, India

I enjoyed reading the adventurous eating in Delhi, India, by Peter Mandel [“Where Street Cred Helps,” May 20]. I have just finished a 21/2-year contract there and wanted to add a few more words of advice. First, do not let anything scare you away from a visit to India. There will be inconveniences, poverty and dirt, but there will also be amazing colors, vibrant street life and, with luck, your own Mr. Gupta. For those who want to enjoy street food without much risk, I suggest going to Dilli Haut (a stop on the new metro). It is primarily a place to showcase and sell souvenirs, but there is an outdoor food court offering authentic street food from all over India.

Kathryn L. Hunter

Whittier

British hospitality

Regarding “Service Jobs? Not Brits’ Cup of Tea,” by Catharine Hamm [On the Spot, May 20]: I want to endorse British hospitality workers. My wife and I were staying in a boutique hotel in London when we blacked out the room when we tried to use an electrical converter. We notified the front desk, assuring the clerk that it was entirely our fault. We hoped it would be a simple matter of resetting a circuit breaker. It turned out to be far more involved, requiring phone calls to the electrician at home (it was a Sunday night) and some dismantling of the wall panels. We told the two young Brits tackling the problem that the problem was our fault, it was not an emergency, it could wait until morning, etc. They would have none of it and kept at it until the power was back. Hail, Brittania.

Dave Middleton

Rancho Mirage

Mission town

I enjoyed the short article about San Juan Capistrano [“Old California and Good Grub,” by Chris Erskine, May 13]. A month ago I took the train from Glendale and stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn for one night. I had a beautiful suite on the third floor. They offered a social hour in the evening, which was really a complete meal, with wine. I walked around the mission and the cathedral, which reminded me of Spain. The adjacent library has a unique architecture and a small art gallery inside it. The next day I used the hotel’s free shuttle ride to Dana Point Harbor and then to the train station. It was a wonderful “escape to Europe.”

Karine Armen

Glendale

I chose to move to San Juan Capistrano in 1977, mostly because it was a town with a “real” downtown. Erskine mentioned some local restaurants, and I would add two more: L’Hirondelle and Café Mozart. These two have been part of the community for years and are great; seating is indoors or out. The mission becomes more beautiful each year, so for flower lovers, come and see.

C.B. Elkins

San Juan Capistrano

Regarding the Golden Gate Bridge [“After 75 years, Time to Toast Golden Gate,” by Jay Jones, May 20]: Legendary San Francisco columnist Herb Caen once called the bridge “The Car-Tangled Spanner.”

Bob Tucker

Solvang, Calif.