Little big man
Vincent Crump, your account of your Guyanan trip had me in stitches (“The little country with the big bite”, last week). You mention that you were in the presence of “supermen”, but if I ever got the chance to tackle the country, I would want you along as well... and the rum.
Hazel Brook, via thesundaytimes.co.uk
There is nothing “little” about Guyana — it’s 83,000 square miles.
Steve White, via thesundaytimes.co.uk
Have some Madeira, m’dear
I agree that there are many great places to stay on Madeira (The Big Weekend, last week), but my wife and I bought a timeshare apartment on the island 15 years ago. It’s the best holiday investment we have ever made. At the moment we are sitting on the veranda in glorious sunshine, looking out over the garden to the sea. Heaven!
James Mein, via thesundaytimes.co.uk
My wife and I spent a week in Madeira last October and it was the best holiday we’ve ever had. The scenery, both coastal and inland, is simply amazing, and it’s just a four-hour flight from the UK. We intend to return in May for the annual flower festival.
Alan Simpson, via thesundaytimes.co.uk
TSA’s internal affairs
Further to David Angulo’s letter last week about America’s overzealous Transportation Security Administration, earlier this year I flew from Chicago to Albany, in New York state. On arrival, I found that my case’s lock had been cut off, so I purchased the special padlock that US customs claims it can open. I then flew back to Chicago — and found that this new lock, too, had been cut off. I’ve no idea what was so interesting about my case, but I’m afraid I didn’t have the patience to complain.
Harry Kesler, via email
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I back up David Angulo’s comments. Flying to Anchorage via Seattle, we found that the TSA-approved lock had been broken open, spilling face cream onto our clothing. Efforts to achieve compensation from the TSA were resisted and, finally, only a poor sum was offered. I have resolved never to enter the US again.
Freddie Marshall, Wakefield
Air rage
I was interested to see that 52% of Britons have not been abroad in 2016, and 30% in the past five years (Do the Maths, last week). Has anyone wondered why? Is it because air travel has become so stressful, what with the business of online check-in (many older people do not have a computer at home) and the hassle of going through security, with airline staff shouting instructions at you? Then there is the experience of most passengers taking a large bag onto the plane and struggling to find a space in the overhead compartments.
I am not surprised that more than half the population prefer to avoid travelling abroad.
Norma Postin, Rugby
Singapore’s dry season
Last week’s letter relating to drinking water on an aircraft struck a chord. The recommendation for long-haul flying is to stay hydrated, but at Singapore airport, the security scan is at the gate, so the unopened bottles of water we had purchased in the terminal were taken off us, and after this there was nowhere to buy a drink for the 13-hour flight. I, too, now always travel with an empty bottle and look out for drinking fountains.
Lynda Hoar, Sutton Coldfield
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