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Interpreting the Balkans
Sunday, April 2, 2006; Page P10
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Interpreting the Balkans
DAVID FARLEY'S article on Montenegro ["Coming Soon: The Next Small Thing?," March 26] crosses the line between travel writing and political news. It also misleads with respect to Montenegro's varied tourism attractions.
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Farley spent a week in Montenegro, which should have been sufficient time to explore widely the tourism delights of this small republic and to assess the politics of independence and the significance of organized crime in a way that is relevant to tourism (if at all, and if so why?). But no.
Polls show that a majority of expected voters in Montenegro's independence referendum favor independence. But what has that got to do with tourism by Americans? Likewise, the gratuitous observations on the Mafia make no point for visitors.
James Osborn, Podgorica, Montenegro
Author David Farley responds:
My story did indeed point out some unfortunate aspects of the political situation in Montenegro. Travel writers are not obligated to stick to "sunny" subjects; we do want to tell readers about where to go and why, but we also have a responsibility to alert them to other issues going on in the destination, and to give them a deeper understanding that transcends trends. I appreciate your concern for Montenegro. It's a beautiful country filled with warm people and I look forward to returning soon.
Lost Luggage
I TOO WAS surprised that the airlines are unable to track lost bags [Coming and Going, March 26].
Last month I flew American from Reagan National to La Romana, Domincan Republic, changing planes in Miami. We sat on the tarmac in Miami due to American having another plane at our gate. By the time we were able to deplane we had less than 15 minutes before our connecting flight was scheduled to depart. Every employee we encountered said no problem, our bags would make it on the connecting flight.
We landed in La Romana without bags. The local office was unable to tell us if the bags were in D.C., Miami or heading somewhere else. Didn't find out until 5 p.m. the next day that the luggage was scheduled to be delivered that evening.
I contacted American upon my return and received a letter apologizing. A week later I received a $50 travel voucher in the mail. The kicker: When I went to redeem it, I was informed that there was a $10 service fee to use the voucher!
Jeffrey M. Nelson, Columbia