Dear Gini

My heart was warmed to read of your friend's experiences in Australia. There has been an outpouring of support & sympathy here.

Apart from church services, flowers outside the embassies & silent remembrance, many people have been trying to do something more practical such as donate to the various relief funds. Australians also offered to take in to their homes American visitors who were stranded by the closure of US airports.

Australia is a beautiful country and welcomes visitors from all over the world. I have had the priviledge of visiting the USA only once, for a 2-week period in New York city in April 2000. It was a breathtaking experience to witness such a mighty metropolis. I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the World Trade Centre towers and took many photos of them lying on my back in the plaza!

During my short visit to your country I was struck by how polite and helpful everyone was, even in a busy city like New York. I was also struck by the obvious patriotism and the number of flags flying everywhere, even then. I'm so sorry that such wonderful people have been put through such awful suffering.

Best wishes
Tebaldi