PAY TO PEE?

Okay, it was one thing for Ryanair to attack "idiot" and "lunatic" bloggers. But a top Ryanair official has taken things a step further - and lower - by suggesting they've considered the idea of pay toilets on board their airplanes.

And you thought some North American airlines were ridiculous by charging for pillows?

This is a complete joke. But they appear serious about at least examining a deal that would require passengers to slip a pound (about $1.80 Canadian) into Ryanair's pockets before using the loo.

In today's USA Today travel blog, Ben Mutzabaugh has a go at the issue:

Said Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."

My God, where do you start? More important, where do you finish? And how much would it cost you?

It sounds illegal but a British Aviation official said - and this is remarkable in itself - that aircraft AREN'T REQUIRED TO HAVE TOILETS ON BOARD so they, therefore, might be able to charge for them.

Incredible, ain't it?

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

Warming up nicely here in Toronto, if only for a while. But a sure sign of spring comes at noon today when the Toronto Star Golf and Travel show opens at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street - travel and golf booths from far and wide, a huge retail outlet, tips from pros and lots more to choose from.

I missed the British Columbia media soiree yesterday but managed to get to the Prince Edward Island  function at Labatt House, where Toronto golf course architect Tom McBroom was explaining how he's redone the old Stanley Thompson design at the Anne of Green Gables course. Sounds like it's worth checking out.

MEXICO HUBBUB

Seems some U.S. schools are warning their students not to travel to Mexico for spring break due to recent problems with drug dealers taking their disputes into public. To hear some tell it, the streets of some cities are like war zones and even seasoned journalists are reluctant to travel to some spots.

High-ranking Mexico authorities, of course, insist everything's under control and that it's perfectly safe to spend a week at Cancun or Acapulco.