Travel letters: Add Albania to list of must-sees

Having just returned from 10 days attending the Tirana International Film Festival, I was delighted to see Albania as No. 1 on Mary Forigione’s list of 14 somewhat-less-traveled destinations [“Taking Roads Less Traveled,” Jan. 19].

Albania is, indeed, all that she described and more: Add California — mild weather, super-friendly folks and interesting and inexpensive food, thanks to Greece being on one side and Italy on the other. A double serving of amazing gelato for less than a dollar, anyone?

Yoram Kahana

Hollywood

Two views on visiting Cuba

Regarding “Good Timing,” Jan. 19: Chris Reynolds’ recommendation to visit St. Petersburg, Russia, comes with a caveat about boycotting Russia (due to its anti-gay laws), but no such caveat accompanies his recommendation of Cuba, one of the few Communist dictatorships left in the world. How about this as a minimal standard for deciding which nations to boycott: No one should voluntarily enter a country whose citizens are imprisoned for trying to leave that country. As bad as Russia is politically, it doesn’t meet that standard, but Cuba does.

Mike Berliner

Los Angeles

I couldn’t agree more about Reynolds’ endorsement of Cuba as a place to visit. I just returned from there, and having visited close to 50 countries, I can say that it was the most intriguing — surrealistic, in some aspects — and with fabulous music and dance. Buena Vista Social Club members are still performing, and they are great. Friendly Planet (www.friendlyplanet.com) offers trips that are less expensive (and I think a better value) than those Reynolds listed.

Linda J. Vogel

Pomona

About those airline facilities

It was obvious in Catharine Hamm’s article “Just One Toilet? It’s Discomfiting” [On the Spot, Jan. 12] that the “experts” she consulted were all men. I can understand a bladder or bowel not exploding, but what about an “accident”? Sometimes you just can’t stand in line forever. I am hoping it wasn’t one of her medical professionals who suggested modifying medication schedules. Every airline needs to be prepared for this type of situation, even though it may not occur very often.

Marcy Boswell

Menifee, Calif.