as she arrived in Bermuda last month because she was a woman travelling alone.

Ms Terry Trucco, writing for the New York Times, said a Customs officer took her into a back area and "systematically rifled through every item'' in her overnight case, handbag and wallet.

When she asked him if she looked suspicious, the officer replied that a lot of people used women travelling alone as drug couriers, but told her to "have a nice stay''.

"Feeling much grumpier than I had in New York, I climbed into a taxi ...'' she wrote.

However, the incident did not entirely sour Ms Trucco's report, and her piece on the Island filled two pages of the prestigious travel section and a colour photo of Front Street occupied the top half of its front page.

Department of Tourism spokesman Mr. Charles Webbe yesterday welcomed the article.

He said this the first time he recalled the New York Times featuring Bermuda on page one of its travel section during peak season.

Bermuda was normally featured between November and March, he said, adding the article was wonderful exposure for the Island as the Times' travel section was very well read.

Noting Ms Trucco's experience at the airport, Mr. Webbe said, "This goes to show that we have to be very careful how we treat our visitors.

"We should be constantly on our guard as to how we treat them,'' he added, "as anyone could be in a position where they could damage us.'' However, Mr. Webbe pointed out the majority of the article was very positive.

The Customs incident was "just one of those experiences'', he said.

Ms Trucco also noted how expensive the Island was.

But she did not ignore its finer points, such as its "sherbet-coloured houses'', "teal-blue waters'', and "white-stone roofs like whipped cream''.

Mr. Eldon Trimingham whose store, Trimingham Bros., received favourable attention in the article, said he believed "reasonable'' precautions must be taken by Customs due to the Island's "immense'' drug problem.

But he suggested the searches be carried out in a "friendly way''.

"Explain that there is a problem and hope that they will understand that we have to search arrivals to combat the drug problem,'' Mr. Trimingham said.

"Do it in the nicest possible way and try to leave the best possible taste in the person's mouth.'' Travel writer searched From Page 1 In the two-page article, Ms Trucco also described her stay at the Stonington Beach Hotel as "attractive'' and "comfortable'' despite its "rather thin white towels''.

Ms Trucco briefly mentioned the Island's history and informed her readers that, "It is still a British colony though an independence movement is afoot.'' She also pointed out that Bermuda is less than two hours from New York by air "which would make it just right for a long weekend''.

In case of inclement weather, as was the case when she was here, Ms Trucco noted there were also indoor places of interest such as the aquarium, zoo, botanical gardens and museums.

When the weather was good, she added, there were the "abundant nature reserves, walking trails, fine golf courses and tennis courts'', she added.

Ms Trucco also mentioned the West End's "excellent Maritime Museum and the splendid Naval Dockyard'', as well as the fact that it "is particularly scenic, with exotic plants, dense trees and a hint of jasmine in the air''.

In the East End it was the replica of The Deliverance and the "scenic'' walk from King's Square out to Fort St. Catherine that drew Ms Trucco's interest.

She was also captivated by "the dignified Bermuda National Gallery'' and the Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton.