Sunday, May 15, 2005
In Search of the Virgin
YOUR ARTICLE on the Virgin of Guadalupe ["Touched by the Virgin," May 8] is an interesting account of craftsmanship, but it recalls the Black Legend circulated for centuries by anti-Catholic northern Europeans, according to which Spain is responsible for destroying native American institutions.
In fact, the Virgin of Guadalupe has been venerated since the 8th century, when she was credited for having defended Christians against Muslim invaders in Caceres, Spain, near the town of Guadalupe, whose name (which means "Wolf River") was given by the Muslims not only to the town but also to the surrounding mountain range. When the virgin appeared in Mexico in 1531, she is believed to have uttered an Aztec word that sounded to the Spaniards like "Guadalupe," which is why she is associated with her predecessor. The word may have been "coatlaxopeuh," meaning "one who crushes the serpent." The serpent represents the major Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, in whose name human sacrifices were carried out. Can anyone envision this practice continuing in Mexico today?
So the missing link in this story goes back to Muslim Spain, and readers are left to wonder why the author's many wanderings did not include a visit to the real Guadalupe.
Ana Darder
Fairfax
Quirky Madison
I WAS delighted to read the article on Madison, Wis. ["In Madison, Wis., the King of Quirks," May 1], a city I love and have visited often over the past 25 years. However, I have never heard of any of the restaurants and only one of the hotels mentioned. I can't stress enough the beauty of a city surrounded by lakes and centered around the State Capitol square. The Edgewater Hotel, within walking distance of the Capitol, has beautiful suites, rooms and dining areas overlooking Lake Mendota. The Concourse is another excellent hotel on the square.
Visitors can enjoy the parks, museums and university campus, and can spend a Sunday morning browsing the market stalls surrounding the Capitol on four sides, brimming with fruits, meats, produce, baked goods, flowers and plants from the surrounding countryside.
I hope travelers will be sure to visit Madison and that they will take along this article, supplemented by other guides.
Ann McDonell
Chevy Chase
'Currency Units'
REGARDING YOUR item on the Marriott hotel in Moscow charging a different rate than the one quoted in the United States [Coming and Going, May 8]: Don't blame Marriott alone. I took a Royal Viking river cruise in Russia last summer (with a Smithsonian group). The bill for incidentals paid at the end of the cruise was expressed in "currency units" -- which I was told by other passengers were "euros." I don't remember if I had an official explanation from the cashier. However, I did not bother to check the euro exchange rate so I don't know whether I paid more than I should have, even in euros.
This is probably a practice authorized by the Russian government tourist office.
Donna H. Sandin
Reston
I HAD a similar experience with Hilton in Cancun. Made a reservation last fall, confirmed in dollars. The first night was paid (through a Hilton billing office in the United States) at that rate 30 days before I arrived.
When I left the hotel at the end of the stay in February, the remaining nights were charged at the then-current peso rate and converted to dollars (significantly higher), despite the fact that I had a printed confirmation of the reservation with the dollar rate. Hilton and the hotel refused to refund the difference.
Daniel Stein
Vienna
ONE EXPLANATION for the difference between the charged rate of $208.38 and the nightly rate of $175 might be the Value-Added Tax, which typically runs at 18 percent. Thus, $175 plus 18 percent = $206.50. The shortfall ($208.38 -- $206.50 = $1.88) might be attributed to the passport registration fee, fluctuation of the dollar-to-ruble conversion rate, etc.
The Marriott Web site and many other Western hotels quote room rates "excluding tax." Russian hotel Web sites tend to include the VAT whenever they choose to quote room rates.
Allan Schneider
Falls Church
Man Bites Dog
HAVING JUST read your update about Travelocity's efforts to better its customer service [Coming and Going, May 8], I thought I'd share my experience with Expedia.fr and US Airways. In January, I returned from France earlier than I'd anticipated and realized that I wouldn't be able to use the round-trip Philadelphia-Paris plane ticket I had bought months earlier on US Airways via Expedia.fr. The US Airways customer service agent told me I needed to obtain my refund through Expedia.fr, but also informed me of the exact phrasing I should use when contacting the online travel company.
Armed with this information, I e-mailed Expedia.fr, explained the situation and told them that US Airways had agreed to refund my ticket (except for a 100-euro fee). I was able to provide Expedia.fr with the US Airways computer file name that outlined the terms of the refund. Expedia charged me a 30-euro service fee, but promptly refunded the remaining ticket amount (about 250 euros). Despite the cancellation fees I had to pay, I was happy to receive a partial refund on what was termed a nonrefundable "special deal" fare purchased through an e-travel company.
I was so pleased with the assistance I received from both companies.
Margaret McKee
West Chester, Pa.
Lines at the Uffizi
OF COURSE you are correct about the advantages of reserving for the Uffizi and Accademia prior to arriving in Florence [Travel Q&A, May 1], but I think there is even an easier way for most visitors. If the traveler informs the hotel staff or apartment rental agent of their preferred dates and times, they will be happy to make the bookings for their guests. It is particularly important this year; the available reservations for the first half of May were already gone in the last part of April.
Jim Zurer
Zurer Travel
Washington
When Animals Fly
AIRLINE CUSTOMERS who fly with their pets should know that any problems regarding animal handling should initially be reported to the airline involved [Coming and Going, May 1].
Because of a new reporting rule that goes into effect June 15, the first priority for customers who have experienced incidents involving the mistreatment, injury, loss or death of their pet should be to file a complaint with the airline involved. The airline is then required to report these incidents and statistics to the Department of Transportation to be published online.
It is our hope that if the public knows to file their complaints with the airline first, then other fliers can make informed decisions about pet travel.
Kelly Connolly
Issues Specialist,
Companion Animals
Humane Society
of the United States
Washington
Easter Island, Cont'd
I SPENT a few days in February on Easter Island and was delighted to read your story ["A Heady Experience," April 24]. I highly recommend to my clients that they include a stop at the beautifully organized museum (only a $2 taxi ride from town). The moai figures will be more meaningful after viewing the excellent descriptions and labels recalling the oral history that has been handed down through generations. Visitors should also ask about the marvelous locally produced ice cream sold in some of the small restaurants and hotels.
Marjorie Turgel
Research Travel
Rockville
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