Unit XIII Checking In at a Hotel

• Wow! I’ve never stayed in a place this fancy before!

• Welcome to the Hula Hula Hotel, how can I help you?

• We’d like to check in. Our names are Lisa and Mary Lee. We have a reservation for double room.

• Let’s see. Yes, we have a suite for you on the third floor. Room 321 for five nights.

• Great! Oh, and my sister’s luggage was lost. Please, tell us if it’s delivered to the hotel.

• Of course, I’ll need your passport and please sign this guest card.

• OK, here you are. Oh, and what is the check-out time?

• 11 am, and if you need any assistance, please here’s a concierge or call the front desk. Here are your keys.

Getting Information

• Hello, what can I do for you?

• We’ve just arrived at the hotel. Can you tell us what restaurants you have?

• The Hula Hula Restaurant is open now. There is also a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning.

• Great! Can we get a wake-up call at eight tomorrow?

• No problem. What’s your room number?

• We’re in room 321.

• OK. Be sure to try our gym on the second floor, there’s also a business lounge on the third floor with computers, copiers and fax machines.

• How about a nice place to relax here?

• The beach is just down the street and out in back we have a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna.

• Great! Now we have an excuse to shop to buy swimming suits.

Checking Out

• Hello, what can I do for you?

• We’d like to check out of our room. Here’re the keys. It’s room number 321.

• Did you take anything from the refrigerator?

• Yes, we had two colas. We also ordered room service once.

• OK, your final total comes to $310. Are you paying by cash or credit card?

• Credit card. Here you are. Oh, and can you call an airport taxi for us?

• I’ll do that right away. Please sign on the dotted line.

• You bought so much. We can barely carry it all. I’m glad they’ve lost my suitcases.

• Oh, and I almost forgot. Miss Lee, someone dropped this off for you this morning.

• What? Hey, that’s my luggage.

Unit XIV Welcome to Ukraine

The world hardly knows anything about a unique and picturesque land full of contrasts and mysteries – Ukraine. Once upon a time somewhere among the mountain torrents and boundless planes where all the roads cross the first colourful fragments were desolated in the mosaics of this land. And over hundreds of centuries every people added a story to fill up this manifold image. Ancient Trypillian settlers enriched it with deep traditions. Nomadic tribes let it feel the universe move, the Slaves turned it into a great cultural center and Ukrainian Cossacks instilled in it the spirit of freedom. A world-wide center of Orthodoxy Ukraine greets and respects every religion of the planet. A noble point of science and education it is surrounded with amazing stories and legends. Here are the cities where architecture is in dialogue with nature, where different styles blend in the capricious combinations of the Middle Ages and Art Nouveau, the Soviet classicism and Cossack baroque. And finally all the tiny creeks and deep rivers rush to the spiritual stronghold of Ukraine to eternal Kiev – the city of parks and golden domes. On the banks of the river Dnipro still remembers pagan idols and first Christians of Kievan Rus. The inimitable fusion of cultures, the inevitable coexistence of Eastern and Western mentalities – this is all about Ukraine, an exclusive and exotic land in the very heart of Europe.