June 2, 2011Dear SirI recently returned from my annual five-night stay with Hazel Lowe at Salt Kettle House in Paget. Unfortunately the changes made to the ferry schedule, and the attitude of some of the bus drivers, affected the quality of my stay.One of the delights of Bermuda for me has been the ability to buy a transportation pass and hop on a ferry, which is a wonderful way to get around and see much of the Island from the water. Salt Kettle House is a short walk from the ferry stop, and it is so convenient to Hamilton and the ferries to other parts of the island.When I arrived in Bermuda on May 17 I discovered that the ferry schedule had changed, eliminating the service to Paget on the weekend, and reducing the evening schedule so that the last ferry from Hamilton to Paget is 8pm making it necessary to have an early dinner or plan to return by taxi or bus. While I understand that there are budget issues, I think the reduction of service is very short-sighted. I also have a budget, and being able to get around primarily by ferry frees up money for me to spend on meals.My experiences with the buses this year were mixed, but there were certainly a number of drivers with bad attitudes. I went by bus from Hamilton to the Railway Museum (not knowing that it had closed — to my great disappointment) and decided to take the bus back to Hamilton. The bus stop for Hamilton is on a very busy corner with no sidewalk. I was petrified and stood in a slight indentation in the wall about eight to ten feet from the pole. When the bus arrived, the bus driver looked at me and pointed to the pole, making me walk to the pole in order to board the bus.On another occasion I asked the bus driver if his bus stopped near the ferry terminal in Hamilton; his response was to advise me that he didn't stop automatically but that I would have to ring the bell. Since that still didn't tell me where the stop was, and the driver was so abrupt, I got off near Burnaby Street — only to see that the bus stop is right at the ferry terminal.Bermuda is such a beautiful place, and most of the people are friendly. But if you want to keep tourists coming back, I think the ferry schedule should be more tourist-friendly; and the bus drivers should be helpful to tourists, not drive them away.CAROLYN SMITHToms River, New Jersey