English for Travel

Golden Celebration A. CONVERSATION

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, an elderly couple, come to a travel agency in Mexico. Ms Gomez, the travel agent, cordially welcomes them.
Agent: Good morning. How are you this morning? Is there anything I can do for you? I hope so. I certainly hope so. Ill tell you our problem. We want to spend our Golden Anniversary in San Francisco. We were married there fifty years ago, you know. How nice! Whats your name, please? Jackson is the name, Henry Jackson, and this is my wife, Mary. Shes trying to get me to drive up. She doesnt drive any more. If we take our car, Ill be at the wheel all day. It will be a weeks drive by car, wont it? Yes, its a long way for one. If you go by jet, youll be up there in a few hours. Not I. I wont fly. Im afraid of those big birds. Jack, I will not go by plane! Then how about a comfortable cruise? Heres a picture of the popular Riena Lina, sailing from Acapulco, with stops at Zihuatenejo, a beautiful bay, Manzanilla, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan, where the ship stops for a few hours. Passengers usually go ashore to shop for Mexican handicrafts. Then you sail north to California. (Looking at the brochure) Shes a beauty. I mean the ship. However, those girls on board arent bad, either. Mary, look at the passengers lounging on deck chairs! We call this our Siesta and Fiesta cruise because all you do is relax and have fun. After a couple of days, youll forget about the rest of the world. Or you may enter into the fun of deck sports or card games. This ship is like a big luxury hotel. Its a one-class ship, fifteen thousand tons, not too large. Oh, dear! Jack, dont you remember, I always get sick on a boat? I even got sick on the ferry going from San Francisco to Oakland. This ship is stabilised and takes rough weather without rolling. Mary, look at the pictures of sunrises and sunsets. The scenery is beautiful. It looks so peaceful! All I see are pretty girls in bikinis and cocktail parties. Jack, this cruise is for young people. Its too expensive for us. Id rather spend the time and money in San Francisco. May I suggest going by rail and motor coach? Theres a good train as far as Mexicalli. You can take the motor coach from there up the coastal route. Oh, Jack, Id really like to go on a train again. Are the pullmans comfortable and clean? Is there a dinner? Yes, indeed. The trains are modern and air-conditioned. We can get you a stateroom or a roomette for more privacy. Food on the diner is good, and you can carry along a basket of fruit or extras. How long will it take to the border? Straight through it takes three days and two nights. If you give me your departure date, Ill figure out a schedule for you. Shall I make a hotel reservation? Young lady, you go ahead and fix up a nice journey for us with a few stopovers at hotels so we can rest overnight. Could you let us know tomorrow, please? Certainly, by tomorrow morning Ill have a schedule mapped out for you.

Mr. Jackson: Mrs. Jackson: Agent: Mr. Jackson:

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Golden Celebration

Mrs. Jackson: Mr. Jackson: Agent:

English for Travel Thank you very much. Thank you, young lady. Until then! Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. Ill see you tomorrow morning. Bye!

B. NARRATION The second half of the twentieth century has seen a great increase in travel. Road improvements, increased popularity of motor cars, available air transportation with low-cost fares, and special tours - all of these factors have made tourism a big business. Statistics show that the majority of tourists travel by plane. However, many prefer other means of transportation - car (automobile), motor coach (bus), railway (train), or ship (boat). Some young people like to go places by motorcycle or bicycle. Great changes have taken place in transportation. Years ago people travelled on horseback, by horse and buggy, or by stagecoach. Today, men have gone to the moon in spaceships. Other have gone to distant lands in submarines. How will people travel in the future?

C. DISCUSSION
1. How do most people travel nowadays? What is the most popular mode of travel in your country? 2. Which way do you prefer to travel? Why? 3. What has helped to make tourism a big business? 4. Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, tell the class about it!

Golden Celebration