Traveller letters: British Airways' 24 hour turnaround on compensation for stolen items

Having been born in Glasgow, and steeped in the culture of Mackintosh's design, I have also visited Barcelona and marvelled at the beauty of Antoni Gaudi's contributions to that city.

At no time in looking at the creations of one was I moved to think of the other. Talk about each in their own right and value them as the two greatest ever visionaries of architecture and design.

Eric Scott, Bondi Junction, NSW

GO WEST

Reading Noel McPherson's comment on why people are signing up for making a 17-hour flight (Traveller, November 11) made me laugh. I fly to London at least once a year (my husband more frequently) and we are glad that we can have a stopover in our own country.

We are flying to Perth from Sydney in May and having a one-night stopover in the West Australian capital and then flying to London the next day. No more chaotic and short transits at Dubai. Singapore, hot and steamy, although very well organised.

Happy to spend my money in Australia.

Kimerley Brown, Pennant Hills, NSW

POWER PLAY

Your cover story, "A new long haul of fame" (Traveller, November 11) touted biofuels as the future of aviation. The problem is, biofuels still produce CO₂ when burnt and their production consumes valuable arable land and water resources.

The future of flying is in fact no fuels at all – electric aircraft. At the Paris air show in June, Eviation Aircraft unveiled a futuristic looking all-electric prototype that can carry 10 people over 950 kilometres. They are but one of many players developing electric flight technology and things will only get better from here.

Apart from producing no CO₂ or toxic pollution in flight, electric airplanes have a very long list of advantages over their jet or combustion engine counterparts. Vibration is non-existent, eliminating one of the major sources of airframe fatigue. They have far fewer moving parts and fewer points of mechanical failure.

Electric motors don't need oxygen to function, so deliver their full torque even at high altitudes. Simpler to operate. Lower operating cost. Whisper quiet. The list goes on.

The first targets will be small short-haul regional routes. It may be a while before we see a 400-seat long-range commercial electric aircraft, but don't think it won't happen.

Brendan Jones, Annandale, NSW

NO SPAIN, NO GAIN

Seven references in your Hot (Food) List (Traveller, November 4) on Portugal, Portuguese-style tapas and only one mention of Spain (a cooking school in San Sebastian) where tapas originated?

In an effort to balance the books, I suggest the following Pintxos bars in San Sebastian – the city with more Michelin stars per square metre than any other city in the world. Senra (for chiperones), La Viña (for cheesecake – add a dash of jerez or sherry if you want to be more decadent) and Borda Berri (risotto – made with orzo not rice – and beef cheeks).

Joanne Karcz, Dangar Island, NSW

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Thank you for your article on Seville (Traveller, November 11). It brought back many lovely memories of my trip a few years ago, the highlight being one Saturday night in Seville where I witnessed a Romany wedding in Spanish Square.

The bride was like someone out of a fairy tale and her bridesmaids' gowns unbelievably beautiful. As for the groom and his entourage of the most handsome men, all dressed in white suits with their flowing black hair, well, it was the most magical night of my trip.

I was told later that it was a sign of good luck to witness such an occasion. And Seville is the most beautiful city too, well worth a long visit.

Llieda Wild, Eastwood, NSW

NAKED TRUTH

I enjoyed your recent article on Bol (Traveller, November 11) which I visited in late May as part of a superb Bunnik tour of Northern Italy and Croatia, including a seven-day cruise of the Dalmatian Coast.

As a keen ocean swimmer, the Dalmatian coast is just ideal – deserted islands, clear, clean and very buoyant water (higher than usual salt content) and no lurking big "fish".

The Golden Horn pebble beach at Bol offers clear and bracing water with many food and drink stands in close proximity. I managed to do a few uninterrupted "laps" parallel to the beach to get my daily swim in and then swam out to our cruiser to rejoin the tour (with my clothes in a plastic bag).

The beach is an easy and flat two kilometres walk from the port of Bol along a paved and shady path with stalls selling local produce and souvenirs and coffee. By the number of bars and resorts, Bol must be a real party town in the height of summer. Even though it was only early summer, there were quite a number of boats anchored safely around the Golden Horn beach.

It also offers a not-so secluded nudist beach close to the tourist beach. I cannot disclose whether I took advantage of this opportunity as "what happens on a holiday stays on a holiday".

Alex Gosman, Lyneham ACT

LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE

Colin Dunn is right that Noosa Heads is no longer the idyllic holiday destination that it once was (Traveller, November 11), but don't write off the Sunshine Coast as a whole.

Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and, especially, Coolum Beach still offer the kind of holiday that once was the Noosa experience, and at any time of the year.

Alternatively, one could try Noosaville, along the river, which is still relatively unspoilt compared with Noosa Heads. Whatever your taste, the Coast is still a top destination for the holiday-maker.

Mike Phillips, Yaroomba, QLD