30 Songs that capture the spirit of travel

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS INTERESTING WEBSITE.

 

Do you know some of the songs? 

Choose one and present it to the class as best as you know.

TOP 10 TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS IN LONDON

TRAVELLER CHALLENGE

Let's see how much you know about travels and places located around the world!  

Take a chance! 

Pick a challenge, there are many of them!

OPEN HERE and start the game

HOME EXCHANGE by Begoña

Hello classmates,

In this page we can obtain information about the exchange of homes. This is another possibility to make more interesting our holidays, because when we go to a house, later the people living in there will come to ours.

Have a look at these pages for more information and watch some of the videos.

http://www.homeexchange.com/

http://en.homeforhome.com/

Do you like the idea? 

Have you found and interesting accommodation to stay in?  Let's us know where is it.

Would you join this community?  Why?

Bye.

Surfing with your couch?

Have you ever heard anything about CouchSurfing?

Yes, you’re right.  It’s very odd that these two words are linked in one: a sport like surf and a piece of furniture, a sofa. If it seems to you strange I’ve to tell you that this word it’s about travelling.

It’s a way to know places and meet new friends that a lot people choose every day to travel all around the world.

It’s more than travelling since it involves a culture and customs exchange between people who didn't meet before.

Do you want to know more? Are you perhaps interested in it?

Get access to the website and get more information. Watch the video located on the website.  Click below on one of the newspapers and magazines to get some couch surfing news and to know many things about this kind of travelling.

Then answer me, please.

Would you dare to take part of this community?

Would you prefer to receive someone in your house or to be received in any place?

Do you think it’s an interesting way to know a country life?

Which one would you choose to go in your first time?

Belén

DIFFERENT TRAVELLING LISTENINGS AND ACTIVITIES

 Try some of these listenings related to travels 

and 

learn a lot of vocabulary:

http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-airplane-travel.htm

http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-train-ticket.htm

http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-hotel.htm

http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-travel.htm

 And now do these two activities to work with travel vocabulary:

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/vocabulary/esl-travel-tourism1.html

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/vocabulary/esl-travel-tourism2.html

DO YOU FANCY TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD?

Which would be your favourite destinations?

 

Let's speak a bit!

And if you don't know how to start or follow a travel conversations, have a look at this.  

OPEN HERE

SCOTTISH HOTELS by Merche & Elena

Do you fancy travelling to Scotland?

 

Do you feel like staying in a haunted hotel?

Just open HERE to find more information.

South Africa (by Vicent and Begoña)

 Food in Southern Africa

The cuisine of South Africa is sometimes called "rainbow cuisine", as it has had a variety of multicultural sources and stages. The cuisine can be generalized as:

• Cookery practiced by indigenous people of Africa such as the Sotho and Nquni-speaking people.
• Cookery that emerged from several waves of colonialism and immigration introduced during the colonial period by people of Dutch, German, French and Indonesian descent (since 1652) Afrikaner, British descent (since 1805 and 1820 Settlers) and their slaves or servants - this includes the cuisine of the so-called Cape Malay people, which has many characteristics of Indonesia and cooking styles from neighboring colonial cultures such as Portuguese Mozambique.

In the pre-colonial period, indigenous cuisine was characterized by the use of a very wide range of foods including fruits, nuts, bulbs, leaves and other products gathered from wild plants and by the hunting of wild game. The introduction of domestic cattle and grain crops by Bantu speakers who arrived in the southern regions from central Africa since 10,000 BC and the spread of cattle keeping to Khoi and San groups enabled products and the availability of fresh meat on demand. The pre-colonial diet consisted primarily of cooked grains, especially sorghum, fermented milk (somewhat like yogurt) and roasted or stewed meat.

A typical meal in a Black South African family household that is Bantu-speaking is a stiff, fluffy porridge of maize meal (called "pap," and very similar to American grits) with a flavorful stewed meat gravy.

Rice and beans are also very popular even though they are not indigenous.

For many Black South Africans, the center of any meal is the meat.

On weekends, many Black South African families, like white South Africans, have a "braai," and the meal usually consists of "pap and veils," which is maize porridge and grilled meat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_cuisine

Traditional foods of South Africa

There is a wide variety of African wildlife such: ostrich, buffalo, kudu, impala and crocodile.

Potjiekos (small pot food)                    

Biltong (jerky)                                      

Bobotie (baked meatloaf topped with eggs) 

Bunny Chow (bread filled with curry and different types of meats) India

Koeksisters (fried pastry with syrup)     

Boerewors (sausage for braai)               

Umqombothi (light beer made with maize malt and sorghum malt, rich in vitamin B and contains little alcohol)

Maqeu (drink made from fermented mealy pap) 

 

Wine in South Africa

The first vines were planted in South Africa around 1655 and it has been established as a wine growing country since the late 17th century. Most of the vineyards are located around the Cape area, the South-western tip of the country, and a very much has rained on them since their history started; the wine in South Africa story deserves to be told in a page apart, beginning with the South Africa's wine regions.

There have been changes since the end of Apartheid in 1994.

There is a talk about the wonderful diversity of terroir in South Africa and the consequent ability to produce wines that were more a reflection of that terroir. "Variety is in our nature" is the current theme of South African wine.

http://world-food-and-wine.com/wine-in-africa

 

Would you dare to eat some ostrich, buffalo or cocodrile?

What is the most strange food you have ever eaten?

Do you eat some food using your fingers?

National Parks

 In this part of our presentation we are going to speak about South  Africa National Parks, but there are nineteen National Parks, therefore I'm just going to explain about Kruger National Park.

First of all  it we have to arrive at the country, we can find flights  from 710€ per person from Madrid to Johanesburg, or from 935€ from Madrid to Cabe town. 

Once we are in Johanesburg,  we can choose how to arrive at Kruger National Park, we have two options: by car, driving for five hours, or by plane.

When visiting the park, we can choose different types of accommodation and activities, prices fluctuate between for example three days for 645€ and four days for 1154€, always with tourist guide in Spanish language.

You can find more information in www.rhythmafricatours.com

The Kruguer park has nearly two million hectares and has the wildest fauna protected area in Afrique. We can see among others, the five biggest  species (lyons, elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalos and leopards).

Would you like to know this park? 

Do you think it is expensive traveling to South Africa?

Why do you think most people visit mainly Kenya?

Abu Dhabi (Alberto, Bea y Cristina)

Welcome to your most luxury holiday ever enjoyed!

Welcome to a paradise in the earth, welcome to Abu Dhabi.

The land of sun, sand and oil.  A place where all your dreams have a price.

You can start sellecting your confortable room to rest  and enjoy your stay.

- JUMEIRAH AT ETIHAD TOWERS HOTEL

This hotel is in the middle of the city. It has a private beach, thirty luxury boutiques, with 382 rooms and suites, and 66 floors. The hotel is made up of five towers (three are residential towers, one office tower and the hotel). The hotel price is from 370€ to 2000 €  per night.

- THE YAS HOTEL

This is the world most desirable destination for business and leisure.  Its location is half on land and half on water. It has 499 rooms and suites, 143 berths and a yacht club nearby. The guests can enjoy boating, sailing, playing golf...  It has a modern and contemporary design. The hotel price is from 160 € to 4300€  per night.

 - KEMPINSKI EMIRATES PALACE

This is an enchanting landmark, that's a wonder to behold. You can breathe the air of luxury that fills every corner of this paradise. You can feel like a king and you can be deserving of it. The Palace boasts of 302 superior rooms and 92 suites combining the luxury with technology. The hotel price is from 540€ to 2100€  a night.

Do you want to make an excursion?

There are several places that are worth knowing in Abu Dhabi:

 SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE:

Commonly known as the great mosque.The Sheikh Zayed mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and without a doubt, one of the most impressive. It´s open to the public from 9:00 hours to 12:00 hours every day less on Wednesdays.  Every day at 10:00 there is a free guided tour.

MERITAGE VILLAGE:

Open air museum where you can see the way of life of the inhabitants of the Emirates before the discovery of oil.

MARINA MALL:

One of the best known city malls . If you go, don´t miss its  fountain.

PROMENADE:

It´s known as “Corniche”. The promenade of Abu Dhabi is a nice place to stroll.

And if you are looking for  stronger sensations, just go following the rich way of life and the entertainment can’t be lower since from 2009 the F1 came to the city.

FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX.

“An experience like no other” It’s written in the official tourism page.

Built in Yas island, the Yas Marina Circuit, has got the ultimate and most advanced technologies which will be a referent in next race’s circuits constructions. Of course it has got special buildings such as private tower  for the sheik, a hotel with a view to the circuit or the passage through the port where you can watch the race comfortably from your yacht. Don’t forget that the circuit has got illumination and the races will be developed at the end of the day, from evening to night because the weather is too much hot before.

And talking about F1, we can’t forget all the world around it where maybe the most important thing are the F1 racing teams. And talking about team, we can’t forget maybe the most fashionable team: Ferrari.

And Ferrari has a place in the island, too called:

FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI

The world’s first Ferrari theme park. Opened on 4th November 2010 there is a whole world around a rampant horse’s mark. A place where the attractions, shops and expositions turn around Ferrari and you can watch and enjoy cars, pictures, fashionable clothes, movies and even more.

- Would you like to travel there?

- What do you think about this kind of luxurious lifestyle?

- Would you be able to live in the dessert? 

Now click on here!    

Are you thinking is it all a marvellous? 

Before travelling there local laws and customs must be considered.

We´ve wached amazing places where we can enjoy a lot, but if you decide to travel there, maybe you must have a look to some special laws quite different than ours.

 Alcohol is prohibited under 21 (age), in public places and if you haven´t got a special licence. This licence is only aviable to foreigners.

It´s illegal to take photos to military airports and governmental places. It´s illegal, too to take pictures to women without their permision.

Dancing in public is considered provocative and indecent.

Kissing or hugging is against the law. If you are married, you maybe just can have a walk/ go for a walk with your hands together.

Homosexuality, illegal.

About sexual relationships, it is totally prohibited under 15 years old and out of marriage, specially for young women.  In fact, they have several problems about this law.  For instance, In rape incidents, victims have been considered guilty to provoke it.

Is it gold if it glitters?

Pilar, Rosa and Maria José. Table manners in USA.

If you want to do it very well in a dinner jacket in the US, you will have to follow these recommendations and you can also have a watch at this Youtube video about etiquette.

OPEN HERE

  

Do you think the film "Pretty woman" is a good example to learn table manners and other etiquette habits in the US?

Table manners in different countries can be very conflicting, according to your culture and religion...... For example in Muslim countries it is a good manner  to burp after dinner,.. What do you think about this?

 And how do you think table manners were in the Antiquity?

If you want to know it,  watch this video and tell us if it is the same now.

Ireland: Pablo, Luis, Sonia

Our group has prepared some trips, journeys, landscapes and sightseeing we can see, visit and go in Ireland when we spend  a few days there. Some of these landmarks I highlight in Dublin are the Trinity College and the National Museum of Ireland. The first one is a masterpiece in art of the world and it has an important library; the second one is a museum about the history and archaeology of Ireland. Therefore these places will let us close to Ireland and  its past.

The Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Most of the impressive buildings were built during the renovation of 1759. The campanile, built by Charles Lanyon, is the view of a thousand postcards. Trinity College Library is home to more than an million books and priceless manuscripts. The most famous  is the "Book of Kells": a 9th-century gospel manuscript.  I would recommend this attraction in spite of high entrance fee and of usually long wait and queues, over all in summer.

The Trinity College is located in the heart of Dublin City, in Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2. The Open hours are from Monday to Saturday 09:30 - 17:00 . The price for Adults is € 9 and Children (under 12): free ( all year round). 

 The National Museum

On the other hand, I recommend you to visit the National Museum of Ireland, at Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

It hosts an archaeological and historical Irish collection from prehistory to the middle ages.  There is an interesting exhibition "Kingship & Sacrifice" showcases four Irish bog bodies, prehistoric noblemen’s mummies, from the Bronze Age. The entrance to the museum is free and Opening Hours are : Tuesday - Saturday: 10- 17 and Sunday: 14 - 17 h. 

Apart from these two landmarks, another “must see” is  the National Gallery at Merrion Square West and near the National Museum . Collection of renowned masterpieces, (of) a variety of paintings and sculptures among them Hogarth, Gainsborough, Poussin, Monet, Degas, El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, Picasso, Titian, Caravaggio, Brueghel, Vermeer and Rubens. The entry is free. The Gallery is open from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 to 17.30.

If you’re thinking of visiting not only Dublin, I enclose this video useful for that.  In addition, I also rate useful the below video to close Ireland.:  This video has lyrics.

 Finally to summarize my part of this article, apart from these sightseeing which  is a “must see” in Dublin; I rate we must know the feast of Saint Patrick, on March 17. I enclose this video: History of St. Patrick’s day: 

http://www.history.com/videos/history-of-st-patricks-day  . 

Questions about the video History of St. Patrick’s day

1- What century is the history of St. Patrick’s day?

2- What season is given the welcome in this feast?

3- What was happened to Saint Patrick as a boy?

4- Why is celebrated the feast on march 17?

5- What city of America celebrated for first time St. Patrick’s day? And which year in?

I put this link in case you’d like to learn of it further about Ireland. It speaks about traditions and symbols, such as the Shamrock, Irish music, the Snake, corned beef and cabbage and the Leprechaun.

 Places to sleep

 Dublin, depending on where you look for accomodation, seems an expensive city but it is not a real true.
There are a lot of possibilities to spend some nice days, only you need look for the best option for you. We propose you 3 of them, and after you just decide which one is the best, because it´s different to travel alone, with your couple or your family.

If you travel with your couple, you can go to a hotel. There are hotels near the city center with low prices,  they cost around 50 €, and even  four-star hotels  from 60 € to ……… Probably this not the best option for a cheap “sleep”, but yes,  for a romantic trip.

Another possibility, especially if you travel alone or with your friends and your dream is to live an adventure, we recommend you a good option: go to a hostel.   In a hostel you can book a bed and sharing a bed room, in  other words, you will sleep in a bedroom with  other persons just unknown for you.

Prices are around  10 €/bed, if you want, have a look this video on youtube...

If you go there alone, maybe you find new friends or your new lover,  who knows?

And lastly, we think  that for a family travel the best option can be to rent an apartment. The advantage  when renting a flat or an apartment is that you can choose your times,  (if you have  children, you will understand us), and you will only depend on the timetable of the museums or on the trip you would like to do.

 A different day in Dublin

We are going to visit the St. Jame's Gate Brewery. And what is this? Well, it's the place  where Guinness beer is made,  which is considered by many people as the best beer in the world.

Here we will learn all about making the drink and something about the history of the brand.

St. James Gate Street is located next to the centre of Dublin and we can go on foot.

The history began in 1759 when Arthur Guinness signed a contract of renting a deserted brewery for 9,000 years. Ten years later, he exported the first six barrels to England.

The price of entrance ticket is 15 € for adults and 13 € for students over 18.

In the first floor, they show us how the beer is made. The beer is made of water, barley, malt, hops and yeast brewery. It’s necessary to put into the proccess CO₂ and N₂ .

In the second floor they show to the visitors how the advertising of the Guinness beer has been along the history. In 1916, thousands of bottles of beer were thrown to the sea with some message. Dozens of years later some of them appeared in other part of the world.

In the third floor, we can play interactive games about our knowledge of alcohol.

In the fourth floor you have to learn how to put the beer into a glass, but properly.  How to pour a pint of beer.

In the fifth floor, the life in the factory.

The sixth floor is an intermediate way to Gravity Bar and at the end, on the 7^th floor it's the Gravity Bar. It's a viewpoint of Dublin of 360º. A place from where you can see all the city of Dublin 

New Zealand (Espe and Belen)

This is a dialogue between a tour-guide and a tourist near Matamata, a town from New Zealand.

 -Hello, good morning everybody and welcome to The Lord of the Rings' tour.

This morning we're going to visit Alexander's farm. It's the place where "Hobbiton" was built.

 -Excuse me. What's "Hobbiton"? I'm sorry but I've never heard this name before.

 -Do you know nothing about this film or the book? Is that possible?

 -Yes, of course. I'm the proof. I won a prize to come here but I hadn't seen the film yet.

 -Well, don't worry. I'll tell you everything you want to know. To begin, think of a fantastic world with odd creatures living in there. One of them are the hobbits: short and big feet, hairy and big eaters. They live in very comfortable caves and this one you can see behind me was built together with thirty-six more caves for a nine-month period.

 -Well, looks like an interesting story; and the landscape acompanies to a fantasy that I would like to know. What else about these so magical surroundings?

 -Sure, magical and wonderful landscapes. Near here you can visit a nice beach, a volcano, marvellous caves, a high mountain, a glacier or just see how awesome the whales are. Then would you prefer to visit another place this evening? Because the plan is going to the territory of Mordor but you don't know what's that, do you?

-No, you’re right. So, what about the virgin places?

-What’s your preference? A thermal bath or playing with dolphins at the beach?

-The first one, please. It’ll be better to my health.

-Ok. don’t worry. I’ll phone in a minute to my maori workmate. Look, this is a photo of him. He’s is very kind and friendly. I'm sure that you'll  agree with me.

-Sure. How long do I have to wait to see that wonderful landscape?...

If you want, you can learn more about the maori culture clicking on here.

Would you like to travel to New Zealand?

Do you think that the filming of "The Lord of the Rings" has made possible that New Zealand  was better well-known now?

OUR FIRST TOPIC: TRAVELLING

Hi everbody,

We are going to start our first topic this year:  TRAVELLING.

Proposals can be: 

Travelling:  specific vocabulary and expressions to manage in another country (restaurants, public transports, hotels, hospitals...)  Preferences when travelling.  English customs, daily life.

So, in couples, think a bit about how to focus it, which destinations, countries, places around the world would you like to talk about.  Find real websites and information about them and for example one group could look for information to manage in a real restaurant in one place, another in real public transport in another destination, another in a real hotel wherever you want.... and then share everything, know different customs and travel around many different places and countries.

But, sure your imagination will be further and you will do really interesting things.

Time to work!

Loli