LETTER OF THE WEEK
On a recent otherwise lovely family holiday to Cairns, my husband, Alan, who has dilated cardio myopathy, fell ill, collapsing on the tarmac as we were walking to the aircraft. His defibrillator delivered a shock and he came to.
The people at the airport were wonderful. An ambulance was called and everyone went out of their way to help us. Our son saw the Qantas staff and informed them that Alan and I would not be flying that night. The Qantas people said we could fly out the next day or whenever he was able. We simply had to show up at the service desk and identify ourselves.
After receiving the required medical clearance, we arrived at the service desk the next day and everything went according to plan. We had missed the earlier flight so we had to wait some time for the evening flight.
Despite the fact that we were flying economy, the Qantas staff invited us to spend the time in the Qantas Club where we had comfortable seating, free food and drink. They also provided a wheelchair for Alan and someone to push him to the plane.
We would like to publicly thank Qantas or their co-operation. We would also like to thank the staff at Cairns Airport and at the hospital. Everyone we met could not have been more accommodating. In particular I would like to thank the lovely people at the Floriana Guest House in Cairns who did so much to help me.
Barbara and Alan Crawford, Petersham, NSW
NAPLES WITH THE LOT
We concur with your writer Lesley Holden (Traveller, October 3-4) that there's a lot more to Naples than dire warnings about pickpockets and praise for the city's pizza.
The warnings contributed to our decision to spend only two days there before going to Sorrento and Amalfi coast, which we later decided was best viewed from a boat, not a bus, and could've been covered in a day from Naples. We also enjoyed the Palazzo Decumani hotel in the Centro Storico and wished we'd stayed in Naples another two or three days as there was so much more to see and do.
Nevertheless, we still saw what's thought to be Caravaggio's last painting at the Gallerie Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano on Via Toledo, visited the archaeological museum and sat in the Royal box at the Opera House during a rehearsal. All were well worthwhile (as was the pizza).
And, sure, it pays to use hotel safes and be careful with handbag. But that's not unique to Naples though and street crime is not the biggest potential threat to travellers in Italy anyway – it's scooter riders.
Take the man who sped past a stationary bus at a pedestrian crossing in rush hour Roman traffic a split second before I stepped out from in front of the bus onto the other half of the narrow street.
However, we'd also been warned about "mad Italian drivers" but during a six-day cycle trip through Tuscany and Umbria we seldom encountered anything other than courtesy and careful overtaking, even on the busier roads.
Murray Williams, East Melbourne, VIC
PERCENTAGE GAME
Brenda Gibson is right when she calls the "Great Australian Credit Card Rip-off" (Traveller letters, October 3-4). It seems everybody's doing it, even my local service station charges me for the privilege of self-service petrol pumping.
I wish I had the chutzpah of my well-travelled flight attendant sister-in-law who refused, in a loud and firm Boston accent, to pay the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent credit card surcharges she encountered during her last visit to us in Sydney.
She held her ground whether at a five-star hotel or a George Street souvenir shop and, while other customers queued behind her short slight frame as I watched with a mixture of embarrassment and admiration while every single "service provider" capitulated.
What would happen if we all did that?
Janelle DunLany, Hunters Hill, NSW
OUCH! WHAT GROUCH!
Whoa! What an unholy grump is Peter Caughley (Traveller letters, October 3-4). I hope you never need anyone's help or advice. Poor privileged westerner having your time interrupted by pesky tourists. Boo hoo. So unfair. Oh no, hang on a minute: "unfair" is being denied an education because your family requires you to work from the age of eight.
Unfair is being sold into child labour or prostitution. Unfair is the workers who never have any leisure time. Many instances of these things exist right where you're living Peter. Open your eyes and get some perspective on what "unfair" really is.
I spent many years as an expat in Indochina primarily working in the tourism industry. If anyone had reason to be protective of our down time it was me and my colleagues. When on duty we had our passengers 24/7 for weeks at a time. Rather than be grumpy, judgmental, or ungracious we gladly helped when approached by fellow foreigners. It's all too easy to assume a position of superiority just because you're in the know.
Anthea White, Eaglemont, VIC
GOD SPOT
I am wondering if anyone else has been bemused by the sight of two reserved car parks at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart? Both are occupied by very expensive, very upmarket cars. One is reserved for "God" and the other one is reserved for "God's Mistress".
How enlightened.
Stelvio Vido, Kew East, Victoria
FREE! FREE AT LAST!
I am now at the tail end of a six-week visit to Spain. I came here to ride my cycle from Pamplona to Santiago, following the Camino or Way of St James. Across the whole north and northwest of Spain I found free wifi even in the smallest, remote villages.
Admittedly in some cases it was not fast, but it was free. When are Australian hotels etc going to join the rest of the world in providing this now, almost essential service?
Michael Hayden, Kiama Downs, NSW
WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES
The writer of the letter judged the best of the week will receive a Lonely Planet prize pack valued at almost $90, it includes The World's Best Brunches, The World's Best Spicy Food and The World's Best Street Food. See www.lonelyplanet.com.
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