FRENCH FARCE
The proposed French work law reforms are playing havoc with transportation and other services. Trains are cancelled on a seemingly random basis, city local transport systems are switched off without warning and squares suddenly fill with police CRS riot squad vehicles.
Experienced travellers in France might ask, "so what's new?", but it is worse than before. If you are planning to go, then go I say! Just have a plan B.
Ian Robertson, Bowral, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Like Ricardo Goncalves' parents (Traveller, May 28-29), my great-great-grandfather migrated to Australia from Madeira (albeit in 1839). It is a "top European secret".
When we visited there we had an apartment on the side of an incredible natural amphitheatre from where had fantastic views of Funchal and enjoyed spectacular sunsets each day. Paths run alongside the levadas and walking the levadas is one of the activities you must do, but our highlight was hiring a local taxi driver and his car for a day and letting him show us his island.
Each day from our apartment we watched cruise ships disgorge tourists who then ticked Madeira off their wish list but all they saw was Funchal and Madeira is much, much more.
Robert Alves, Wattle Glen, VIC
SHELF LIFE
I absolutely love your regular Big Picture feature. It's the first page I turn to in Traveller. And Hugh Maclean's spectacular staircase-high photo of the Livraria Lello & Irmao bookshop is already decorating my study. The Livraria Lello & Irmao is an architectural triumph that makes the soul soar.
No wonder J.K. Rowling was inspired after a visit. The picture is particularly poignant as we lament the demise of so many bookshops around the world. Let's hope that Portugal preserves this treasure.
I have enjoyed many impromptu chats in bookshops with fellow travellers. A chat in The Notting Hill Bookshop has led to a long-term pen pal (yes pen pals still exist).
Stella Lombard, Lane Cove, NSW
UNDER PRESSURE
In respect Marilyn Christianson's letter about the snow dome in her hand luggage (Traveller Letters, May 28-29) I am given to understand that these articles will be confiscated because there is a slight chance that they can explode under cabin pressure.
While I sympathise with her being treated in such an offhand manner, it was only being done in the interests of safety. It would have been much worse for her had the inevitable happened.
Paula Watson, Holgate, NSW
BUZZ FACTOR
What terrible bad luck, Greg and Elizabeth Adelt (Traveller Letters, May 28-29). Perhaps if the pilot had been slapped with a dead fish rather than stung by a bee, your insurance company may have paid up.
John Byrne, Randwick, NSW
OWN GOAL
I appreciated Belinda Jackson (Traveller 28-29 May) sharing experiences from her trip to discover the football religion of Barcelona.
However, the buying of counterfeit football merchandise is surely not something to celebrate nor promote. Also, official replica shirts are not "sweaty", they are scientifically well designed for player and fan comfort.
As for goals in the 3-1 victory over Eibar at the Camp Nou, they are scored and not "kicked" or "placed". The motto of Barca, owned by thousands of socios who are members with voting rights, is "Més que un club" (More than a club)
Visca el Barca i visca Catalunya!
Pablo Bateson, Katoomba NSW
YEARNING THE ALPHABET
Each week the first section I read is Traveller and thought you may be interested to know that last year I completed a bucket list of visiting at least one country for every letter of the alphabet. My last three letters were "O" for Oman, "Q" or Qatar (there is only one "Q" and "O" country) and "K" for Kuwait.
I started my travels as a 16-year-old saving my 50 cent an hour babysitting money and now, at 58, I always have a holiday booked and ready to go when I return. I'm adding two more "C" countries this month – Canada and Cuba. Life is short, pack as much travel into your life as you can.
Di van der Zypp, Moama, NSW
TO BE FRANKFURT
I wonder on which basis Sabine Schwarz condemned Frankfurt in such a casual manner (Traveller, May 28-29)? I agree that Berlin is the most exciting and vibrant city to visit in Germany but Frankfurt has come a long way since my student days there.
It's been undergoing creative gentrification of hitherto no-go suburbs, such as the Bahnhofsviertel (the red light district around the central station) with lovely small boutique hotels and excellent restaurants, within walking distance of the Main river.
For those interested in history, the Paulskirche (the cradle of German democracy) offers abundant exhibitions on Germany's political history.
What I love about this city is that it is relatively small and manageable on foot – perfect for a few days' rest after a long flight. Cultural offerings are abundant and the comprehensive public transport system comparable to no other city that size.
Uschi Felix, South Melbourne, VIC
REMOTE CHANCE
"No calls of the wild" (Traveller, May 21-22) lists Patagonia to "take you off the grid". I have recently returned from a tour of South America. The unquestionable highlight of the trip was the isolated, magnificent Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia.
We spent three nights at Las Torres lodge on an all inclusive package – accommodation, fabulous food and wines, and park excursions with a guide and driver. Horse riding and trekking options were also available.
The scenery was the most spectacular I have ever seen – snow-capped peaks, soaring pink granite towers, stunning lakes, raging waterfalls, a cruise through icebergs to the pristine Grey Glacier, prolific wildlife and birds (guanaco, fox, puma, skunk, condor), and so much more.
I would go back in a heartbeat.
Glynis Wattus, Adamstown, 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. See lonelyplanet.com.
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