21 Places to Visit
I summarised this Guardian article
Summary with vocab in bold
Travel within Europe is becoming easier now and although the British government doesn’t recommend going to countries on the ‘amber' list, many people are stilljetting offandwillingto self-isolate when they return. In this Guardian article, twenty-one writers across Europe have written about places that they’reitchingto go to.
Many of the writers told us about calm, spacious places that are in the middle of nature and have plenty of fresh air. We’re told aboutrolling hillsin Belgium and longsweepingbeaches in Ireland. Rural areas of the Czeck Republic that still focus on agriculture are also on the list. Kroměříž, apparentlyoozestranquility andboastsa warm-hearted Czeck charm.
Watercomes upseveral times and Rachel Howardyearnsto go to Greece, saying that there’s nothing likeplunging intothe Aegean torinse offcity life. Uriage-les-Bains in France is said to be a refuge of calm with it’srestorativebaths. The'swirlingmineral-water pools' do sound very inviting with theircurativewater.
Some of the contributorsfancygoing up into the mountains, like Renon in Italy where there areotherworldlyviews of the Dolomites. Or to the highest mountains in Austria where there’s 'a mix ofglacier-topped, ruggedpeaks and softer, green alpineridges.’There’s also a hiking trail that looks ontopiercingblue lakes and ‘a panorama of mountain summits’.
However not everyoneis afterbeing immersed in nature. Sorrel Downer spent lockdown up a mountain and iscravingthe scruffyedginessof Madrid’s Lavapiés district. She wants torummage aroundantique shops and experiencevisceralcity life again. Will Mallard wants to feel thebuzzaround pubs when the Rugby’s on and hear the Welsh National Anthem being beltedinto the sky.
I’ve just mentioned ahandfulof the places that are written about so I really recommend reading the whole article (you can also see the pics then too.) What about you? Are youlongingfor the serenityof nature, thebustleof city life or the feeling of jumping into salty water? Or perhaps you’re dreaming of another kind of place that I haven’t mentioned. Let me know.
Summary without vocab in bold
Travel within Europe is becoming easier now and although the British government doesn’t recommend going to countries on the ‘amber' list, many people are still jetting off and willing to self-isolate when they return. In this Guardian article, twenty-one writers across Europe have written about places that they’re itching to go to.
Many of the writers told us about calm, spacious places that are in the middle of nature and have plenty of fresh air. We’re told about rolling hills in Belgium and long sweeping beaches in Ireland. Rural areas of the Czeck Republic that still focus on agriculture are also on the list. Kroměříž, apparently oozes tranquility and boasts a warm-hearted Czeck charm.
Water comes up several times and Rachel Howard yearns to go to Greece, saying that there’s nothing like plunging into the Aegean to rinse off city life. Uriage-les-Bains in France is said to be a refuge of calm with it’s restorative baths. The 'swirling mineral-water pools' do sound very inviting with their curative water.
Some of the contributors fancy going up into the mountains, like Renon in Italy where there are otherworldly views of the Dolomites. Or to the highest mountains in Austria where there’s 'a mix of glacier-topped, rugged peaks and softer, green alpine ridges.’ There’s also a hiking trail that looks onto piercing blue lakes and ‘a panorama of mountain summits’.
However not everyone is after being immersed in nature. Sorrel Downer spent lockdown up a mountain and is craving the scruffy edginess of Madrid’s Lavapiés district. She wants to rummage around antique shops and experience visceral city life again. Will Mallard wants to feel the buzz around pubs when the Rugby’s on and hear the Welsh National Anthem being belted into the sky.
I’ve just mentioned a handful of the places that are written about so I really recommend reading the whole article (you can also see the pics then too.) What about you? Are you longing for the serenity of nature, the bustle of city life or the feeling of jumping into salty water? Or perhaps you’re dreaming of another kind of place that I haven’t mentioned. Let me know.
Glossary
amber
The UK has currently categorised countries into ‘red', ‘ mber' or ‘green' depending on their level of covid infections.
jetting off
To fly somewhere in a plane
willing
To do something that someone asks you to do
itching
To be very keen/eager to do something
rolling hills
Land that has parts that are higher than the land around it (but not very high, like a mountain). The word ‘rolling’ means that the hills so on for a long distance.
sweeping
Something that has a curved shape and is wide and impressive.
oozes
When a person or place obviously shows a particular quality
boasts
If a place boasts a quality it means it has an attractive feature that people enjoy.
yearns
To want something a lot, especially something that you can not have.
plunging into
To jump or dive into water
rinse off
To completely wash the dirt from someone/something
restorative
Making you feel strong and healthy again
swirling
Something that moves around quickly in a circle
curative
Something that is used for curing an illness
fancy
To feel like doing something
otherworldly
Something that seems to belong to a spiritual or imaginary world
glacier
A huge mass of ice
rugged
Somewhere that has rocks, rather than being level or smooth
ridges
A narrow area of land along the top of a line of mountains
piercing
Very bright/intense
summits
The top of a mountain
To be after
To want something
craving
To really want something in a way that is hard to control
scruffy
Untidy or dirty
edginess
Exciting but in a way that might make you feel uncomfortable
rummage around
To look for something among lots of other things
visceral
Related to basic emotions that you feel strongly
buzz
An strong feeling of excitement
belted
When someone sings, shouts or plays music very loudly
handful
The amount of something that can be held in one hand
longing
A strong feeling of wanting someone or something
serenity
Calm and peaceful
bustle
Activity that is noisy and busy
Questions
When did you last travel abroad? Where did you go?
Is there a particular type of landscape, town or city that you are craving to go to?
Is there a particular place or activity that you have been longing to go to?
Has your country restricted foreign travel? Do you have to quarantine when you return?
Think back to the best holiday you ever had? Where did you go? What did you do? Why was it so special?