Rocha reminded me of the precious opportunity I'd had to experience a culture that for so many years has been inaccessible to Americans. My husband and I spent two weeks in Prague and Budapest in May. Maroukian is nonetheless correct in writing that we did not suffer from the “customary outsider mentality.—JUDY GROSS, MILFORD, N. Letters chosen forpublication may be edited for clarity and space. I never thought I'd stay at an American hotel in Europe, but I'm very glad we did. Some eventually started their own businesses or returned to college.H. Sicilian cooking BCuP-2 is defined by local seasonal ingredients, and I will never forget the quality of the butter, oregano, sun-dried tomatoes, pistachios, and ricotta cheese that we watched being prepared and that we cooked with later that night.travelfrancewithcarol. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. What a wonderful experience: both hotels had a welcoming, English-speaking staff, and we enjoyed having a familiar place to come home to each night. As a 10-year resident of Milford, I'd like to add a local treasure to the list: Creative Genius at Home Day Trips [603/673-6715; www.April 30, 2009 My father was stationed at Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli from 1955 to 1957, and my younger brother was born there.com, fax them to 800/926-1748 or mail them to Letters, Travel + Leisure, 1120 Ave.. Ms. READER'S FIND New Hampshire I was all smiles reading Peter Jon Lindberg's “20 Reasons to Love New Hampshire” [August].

We lived in the city itself, where a local herdsman, with his gaggle of bell-clanging goats, would go door-to-door selling fresh milk.—WILLIAM SPENCER, TALLAHASSEE, FLA. Because I was concerned about the language barrier, I booked a room at the Hilton in each city. For the equivalent of a quarter a week, a man named Mohammed would guard my parents' car at night—my earliest ambition, as a six-year-old, was to grow up to be just like him.” In fact, we are used to thinking we are the center of the universe—and that this positive attitude will take you places! —JOSEFINA RAIMUNDEZ, MIAMI, FLA. Many had no choice but to work in factories, as maids or busboys, or even on farms picking tomatoes. It is an intimate glimpse into New Hampshire's artisanal culture. Sicilian Flavor After reading Shane Mitchell's feature in May [“The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Schools”], I spent three days with Anna Tasca Lanza at Regaleali, a breathtaking country estate and vineyard in rural Sicily. Doing all of this with Anna and her husband was a joy. Cubans Libre Highlighting the cubano sandwich at Miami's Latin American Cafeteria [“Summer of Sandwiches”, August], Francine Maroukian asserts that Cuban professionals fleeing Castro's rule 50 years ago “brought their money with them. Tour director Carol Bonow organizes visits to area businesses and artists' studios.” The vast majority of immigrants had very little income; instead, they brought their education, their culture, and their will to overcome adversity.com]. WRITE TO US! E-mail letters to the editor and Readers' Finds to TLeditor@aexp. Touring with Bonow last fall, I stopped at a mill where wooden Shaker boxes are hand-crafted for the Smithsonian, enjoyed a gourmet lunch at a nearby B&B, and was led by a sculptor through the woods where he played as a child and where he now gets inspiration for his works—which include the furniture in his own home. —GLENN ADILMAN, LOS ANGELES, CALIF. World Reception I loved Gini Alhadeff's article on chain hotels in the June issue [“Chain Reaction”]. The experience was a dream come true: the ultimate combination of travel, culture, and history, all amplified by delicious food and wine. —JUDY SERIE NAGY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF