Message Center

Sunday, October 1, 2006

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Rounding Cape Horn

I ENJOYED reading Joanne Omang's article on her experience visiting the tip of South America ["The Uttermost Part of the Earth," Sept. 24]. My wife and I visited in a similar manner and we were struck with how well the story is written. But I have to take issue with Omang's statement that her husband "wanted to round Cape Horn, as Magellan did." I did a considerable amount of research about the Strait of Magellan (note that it is "Strait" and not "Straits") and found that while the old explorer was indeed first to traverse the strait from the Atlantic to the Pacific, taking 38 days to go through, he never rounded the Horn.

While others subsequently did "round" Cape Horn, there is one famous explorer who tried for about a month without success. He finally gave up, reversed course and set sail past the Cape of Good Hope to reach the South Pacific. His name: Captain Bligh of the HMS Bounty.

Ralph Sheaffer, Rockville

Who Banned What?

A DETAIL in your Sept. 17 Travel Q&A column is not technically correct. In the answer to the question, "Since we can't carry liquids aboard planes anymore, can we ship wine from France?", you replied, "With the airlines' ban of liquids, compounded by byzantine international shipping rules, you have only a few options . . ."

This delivers the impression that it is the airlines that have imposed the ban on liquids. This is not the case: It is the government, not the airlines, that has imposed the restrictions on gels, liquids and other items.

Elizabeth Machalek

Manager, Communications

Air Transport Association, Washington

Portland, Cont'd

HOW TIMELY to see your article after we had already made plans to vacation in Portland ["Portland, Maine: It's to Dine For," Aug. 27]. With your article in hand, we visited that vibrant city two weeks ago and dined at two of your recommended restaurants, Caiola's and Vignola's, where we had two of the most memorable meals ever. Our only regret was that we did not have the time to eat at the rest of the restaurants you mentioned. Thank you.

Donna and Carl Montoya, Falls Church

Road Treep, Cont'd

REGARDING JOEL Achenbach's article ["Road Treep!," Aug. 27]:

In June, my wife and I spent three weeks driving in both big-city and rural France. This was our third driving visit to the country in eight years. We speak minimal French.

Despite the higher gas and rental costs, a car allows you to get off the beaten track. Without exception, we have been accorded the utmost courtesy and friendliness. In many cases, our French hosts -- whether someone selling us gas or groceries, a tourism office person, a hotel clerk -- would go out of the way to assist us.

Although there are a growing number of moderately priced highway motel chains such as Ibis and Campanile, these tend to fill up with Europeans traveling south and elsewhere.

We can only hope that French visitors receive the same treatment in the United States as we do in France.

Kitt Rodkey, Sterling

Moroccan Insider

AMERICAN TOURISTS are not a rarity in Morocco -- totally the opposite ["Your Vacation in Lights," Aug. 27]. Even though Morocco is officially Muslim, bars and alcohol stores are widely present, so providing drinks is not unusual in hotels and restaurants.

At the hammams (public baths), the attendants have very hard, low-paying jobs. But nobody leaves the hammam without the sensation of being totally clean; scrubbing really works, and this is why Moroccans and people in most Arab countries take weekly trips to the hammam. A tip for the attendants is highly recommended, as it represents 50 percent of their income -- just like waiters in the United States.

Nadia Serhani, Alexandria

TSA Locks, Cont'd

I HAVE USED TSA locks on two recent foreign trips and haven't had any problems [Coming and Going, Sept. 10, and Message Center, Sept. 17]. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I will continue to use them. I like having my checked suitcase locked when I travel.

Brenda Flam, Silver Spring

I ALSO HAD my suitcase cut at the zipper and not the lock. I submitted a claim and waited patiently for six months, but received a denial. The TSA spent $500,000 to throw a birthday party for its first year. The taxpayers can foot the bill for that, but my $200 suitcase, damaged by them, got a denial. Their arrogance surpasses their ignorance.

Scott Aijo, Lewes, Del.

Credit Card Tip

LAST CHRISTMAS, my wife and I took a Caribbean cruise and were shocked on our third port of call when a merchant told us his attempts to process several minor credit card purchases were refused and told us to call credit card security. We knew we weren't close to our card limits and called security, then customer service, for each card. We were told our accounts had been flagged due to "unusual" spending patterns. After we identified ourselves to the agents and provided our cruise itinerary, our cards were annotated to allow further purchases. The agents recommended we contact them in advance whenever we would be making "unusual" purchases in the future.

We thought this tip might help other travelers avoid similar embarrassing situations in the future.

Bill Swan, Alexandria

Write us: Washington Post Travel section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. E-mail: travel@washpost.com. Provide your full name and town. Letters are subject to editing.