Good Ole' England
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Mark
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Todd
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Todd: OK, Mark, we've been talking about places that you've traveled, things that you have done. What about people that go to your country, England? Can you recommend three or four good places to go to in England?
Mark: Right. Well, obviously, most people should visit London. Personally, I don't like London. It's too busy and too expensive.
Todd: But, wait a minute, you're saying that people should visit it but you don't like it. Why?
Mark: They should visit it because you have to go once to see all the famous places such a Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, just to say you've been, but if you arrive in London, I'd say spend maybe one or two days there and then move and you can move to cheaper places. My favorite place in England is in the North of England. It's called the Lake District.
Todd: The Lake District.
Mark: Yeah, it is very, very beautiful.
Todd: So, I take it there's many lakes.
Mark: That's right. There's got to be about twenty or thirty lakes up there and the scenery's beautiful. Famous for Peter Rabbit. Do you know Peter Rabbit?
Todd: Yeah, the fairy tale.
Mark: That's right. The children's character. Yeah. The writer, Beatrice Potter, she was born in the Lake District, so that's how she got her inspiration.
Todd: So if you go the Lake District, now are you talking about camping or do you stay in a like a bed-and-breakfast, or?
Mark: Yeah, you can stay in a bed-and-breakfast. You can camp. You can stay in pubs or inns, or there are many hotels. It's very organized for the tourists in the Lake District. Yeah, and it's not such a big area, so you can travel around there by bus, or by car pretty easy. Yeah.
Todd: OK, so that's two. Anymore?
Mark: Actually, I've never been but I'd probably recommend Scotland, but I've never been. But Edinburgh Castle is very famous. Also, York. The city of York, in Yorkshire is very beautiful as well. That was famous for the Vikings in the olden days, so it has a beautiful big cathedral and all the old viking walls, so if you like history then England is a beautiful place to visit. There are many places. You have Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare, Oxford which is a famous university city, so if you like history then England is great.
Todd: OK, well, sounds good. Thanks, Mark.
obviously
Obviously, most people should visit London.
When something is 'obvious,' it means that it is never in
question. It is something that most people should know or
understand.
Notice the following:
- It is obvious that I should have won the race.
- Obviously she dyes her hair. Her hair cannot be naturally pink.
wait a minute
Wait a minute, you're saying that people should visit it but you don't like it.
Used like this, 'wait a minute' is used to pause a
conversation after someone has made a comment that you don't
understand or are surprised about.
Notice the following:
- If you wait a minute then we can all go together.
- I asked her to wait an minute, and she sat in the car until I was ready.
just to say you've been
They should visit it because you have to go once to see all the famous places such as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, just to say you've been.
'Just to say you've been' refers, in this instance, to being able to tell other people that you have visited somewhere.
Notice the following:
- You have to go to the main tourist attractions, just to say you've been there.
- I would like to have a look at the palace and get a postcard, just to say I've been.
inspiration
The writer, Beatrice Potter, she was born in the Lake District, so that's how she got her inspiration.
When something or someone is an 'inspiration,' it means that it/they have motivated and made you enthusiastic about doing something.
Notice the following:
- I find that a lot of sports stars can be an inspiration to young people.
- I was very flattered, as she said that I was an inspiration to her.
a bed-and-breakfast
So if you go to the Lake District, now are you talking about camping or do you stay in a bed-and-breakfast?
A 'bed-and-breakfast' is a type of informal hotel that is often run by a family. They offer their guests a room and breakfast when the stay overnight.
Notice the following:
- I have always wanted to go to a traditional bed-and-breakfast.
- Her parents run a bed-and-breakfast in the Lake District in England.
Vocabulary Quiz
inspiration • bed-and-breakfasts
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