Letters: Copenhagen on two wheels

Copenhagen on two wheels

Kudos to Susan Spano for her articles on bike riding in Denmark [“On Bicycle, See the Sights at a Sane Pace,” Aug. 2]. Ten years ago, on a Scandinavian tour, we found ourselves in Copenhagen with a free day. Seeing bicycles everywhere, we decided to rent one and tour the city on our own. What fun. The city is so geared to bicyclists that we felt safe rubbing shoulders with the traffic. They even had small signal lights for cyclists at the intersections!

-- John Putman, Sun City, Calif.

On Isle of Man, what a trip, man

Thanks to Susan Carpenter for her article on the Isle of Man [“On Motorcycle, the Thrill Is Definitely On,” Aug. 2]. I am so impressed that she rented a [motorcycle] as part of her experience. I grew up there but have not been back for a while. Her writing was a great trip down memory lane for me as I continue life in Los Angeles. I’ll be forwarding it to my Manx friends.

-- Tony Bowling, Los Angeles

More woe with credit card fees

I had a very similar experience to Iqbal Mahmood’s that Catharine Hamm wrote about in “On the Spot” [“Sucker Punch,” Aug. 2 ] with my MBNA credit card.

In October 2005, I was charged an extra $60.58 for two Singapore Airline tickets and $30 for a deposit on two bookings on an Oceania Cruise -- a U.S.-owned cruise line headquartered in Miami.

MBNA eventually sent a polite letter saying that if foreign banks were used to process those purchases, MBNA was free to charge the 3% foreign transaction fee.

I immediately applied for a Capitol One credit card on the basis of its ads that say it never charges a foreign transaction fee. People ought to be advised that such companies exist, and they should abandon any credit card company that charges meaningless and unjustified fees.

-- Daniel A. Daly, Northridge

This cow has come home

Regarding Hugo Martín’s “Till the Cows Come Home” [Aug. 2]. It’s true! But I think there is only one black cow left now, and I’ve seen it three times in the last three years on the hill between Cheeseboro Canyon and Ahmanson Ranch. I exercise my horses on Ahmanson Ranch several times a week. I see it only in the spring when the grass is green. It’s always on the same hills between the two parks.

-- Chris Whittaker, Calabasas

A favorite spot in Buellton

My husband and I are very familiar with the wineries and places Susan Denley wrote about in her article “Mixing It Up in Wine Country” [July 26]. One of our favorite places to eat is Ellen’s, just across the street from the Best Western Pea Soup Andersen’s. Ellen’s is where you find the locals, and we think the food, service and prices for a pancake house are much better than Paula’s.

-- Jo Trust, Los Angeles