Letters: Another Barcelona architectural wonder

Another great Barcelona site

In “Barcelona’s Artistic Side” [March 14], Rosemary McClure recalls touring “the city’s architectural wonders.” She writes winningly about Antoni Gaudí’s church, La Sagrada Familia, and Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s concert hall, Palau de la Música Catalana. Missing from her list, however, is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s German pavilion built for the Barcelona International Exposition of 1929, later demolished but elegantly reconstructed in 1986. The world’s historians have long regarded the pavilion as one of the most brilliant architectural accomplishments of the 20th century.

-- Franz Schulze, Lake Forest, Ill.

Big travelers should pay extra

I noticed that Sharon Lerman didn’t list the height and weight of her mother [Letters, March 14]. And what does “fit in a seat” mean? Some airlines charge extra for excess baggage; that’s all it was attempting to do. It obviously costs more to ship a heavier “package.”

-- Tom Wilson, La Crescenta

Several years ago, I was in the middle seat of the plane on a flight from LAX to Raleigh-Durham, N.C. On my right was an obese man who took up his seat and part of mine. This man’s left leg brushed up against my right leg throughout the flight. In addition, he had a horrible stench. I’ve tried to forget about this unpleasant experience, but the recent controversies have stirred my memory. After all, I was deprived of fresh air and legroom.

-- David Tulanian, Los Angeles

Snake was a photo op

The photo of the Cambodian family in Your Scene/Editor’s Choice [March 7] is interesting, but the snake is not a pet or a meal. It is an attraction for visitors. The families pull close enough to the boats for tourists who take photos in exchange for tips.

-- Richard Martin, Irvine

Touting car desk a bad idea

I am appalled at the item and photo depicting the Steering-Wheel Desktop [“A Desk on the Go,” by Judi Dash, March 7]. It’s one thing for a company to produce and pay for advertising for a reprehensible product. It’s another for the Los Angeles Times to promote such a bad idea for free. Maybe they also make one for airline cockpits and Metrolink engineer stations. We pass laws because people are stupid enough to text, read, brush their teeth, apply makeup, all while driving. Why do you feel it’s appropriate to encourage such an inane product? And your parenthetical comment (“No, of course not while you are driving”) does not absolve your decision to run this article.

-- James Medina, Long Beach

Amtrak offers awards program

In response to the writer who suggested that credit card companies award rail miles [“Plane Problem? Try the Train,” Feb. 28]: Amtrak does have a guest rewards program with Chase MasterCard. Unlike many airline programs, Amtrak allows one-way trips, with few blackout periods. Points earned can be used for coach and first-class accommodations. Points redeemed for sleeping cars are good for two people, and all meals are included. For details, go to https://www.amtrakguestrewards.com/index.cfm?

-- Dennis Arntz, Laguna Niguel

Bag fees more costly than seat

Regarding “Bag Fees Are Here to Stay,” by Jane Engle, Feb. 14: I recently flew from L.A. to Baltimore on United. I checked three bags because I was doing a trade show and had to take that much with me. They charged me $170. But two of the bags were 56 pounds. Because the limit was 50 pounds, they charged me an extra $125 each for those two bags. I paid $420 to check three bags one way. I still can’t believe it. Coming back, I checked only two bags, not overweight, and the charge was $45. I shipped the extra bag FedEx. I paid more for bags than the flight.

-- Suzi Click, Los Angeles