Airports have to raise their game

This week: Birmingham blues; Arabian Peninsula attractions; an offer not to be refused in Italy; and street views in Japan

would painstakingly use her flippers to cover the eggladen hole with sand? Sadly, once hatched, few green turtles survive the mad dash to the sea as they are easy victims of hungry predators.

Just one of many attractions in Oman (“Set the controls for the heart of the sun”, September 17).

Sail past Telegraph Island on a dhow. Raise glamping to another level at Wahiba Sands, enjoy magnificent sunsets, dune bashing and camel racing. Finally add Salalah to recommended beach destinations. JULIA MITCHELL

Sicilian encounters

Like Anthony Peregrine (“A waltz around the jewel of the Mediterranean”, September 17), we too enjoyed a week in Sicily – its history, food, Godfather characters and locations.

It was encouraging that the taxi driver from the airport to Palermo was taciturn with slicked-back hair, his black BMW propelled at nonchalantly illegal speed. He accepted my tip with a dignified nod.

Later, driving ourselves to Agrigento, a sign indicated Corleone. We hesitated but drove on. Did we imagine an abundance of cement works and body-sized mounds by bridges? From Taormina we visited Forza d’Agrò to view the church where Michael Corleone married the doomed Apollonia. The town was ominously quiet.

And so to Bar Vitelli

Corfu in the Sixties

My memories of Corfu stretch back even further than those of Tizzie Coleman (“Travel views”, July 23) and Jeremy Burton (“Travel views”, August 13).

After our wedding in September 1962, my husband and I flew to Athens and then carried on in a DC3 to Corfu, landing on a grassy airstrip. Our taxi driver proudly insisted on a tour whose shaded tranquillity contrasted with its film role as a Cosa Nostra hang-out and where a wooden rifle in the entrance was the only wink to the bar’s history.

The waitress appraised us silently, then said: “Have the meatballs on pasta. They’re to die for.” Finally, Godfather gold; it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. MICHAEL APPLE of beauty spots before we eventually arrived in Paleokastritsa. He would not accept payment, saying he would collect us on our return.

A rustic taverna on the fringe of an unspoilt sandy beach in a picturesque bay provided our accommodation. We soon became accustomed to lazy days with minimum electricity, (at times candles only), donkeys braying and local women sedately bearing

When in Tokyo

Further to Danielle Demetriou’s excellent suggestions (“Tokyo top 10: an insider’s guide to a city that dazzles”, September 17), I would suggest a coffee in Starbucks close to the firstfloor window from which you can enjoy a clear view of the frenetic pedestrian crossing at Shibuya. It battered water-cans on their heads.

Amazingly, a week later the taxi driver returned, insisting on another scenic tour. Would we arrive in time for our flight? Would we have enough money for the fare? All was well.

Belated thanks to Althams Travel, Burnley, for everlasting memories of an idyllic honeymoon in Paleokastritsa. JUDITH HYDE WINS A £250 RAILBOOKERS VOUCHER would be more difficult to be in Tokyo for sumo, but if you time your visit for the cherry blossom, you can still attend a sumo tournament in Osaka. Or visit a sumo stable in Tokyo. Take in a festival or event. We saw the spring festival at Yasukuni Shrine and yabusame, a form of archery competition on horseback, in Asakusa. GWEN KINGHORN