Summer holidays in england
Dear Mario,
I was very glad to have a letter from you, and to know that you and your wife are both coming to England again this summer. My wife and I look forward to seeing you and Rosa.
You say, you want a different kind of holiday this year. Perhaps, when you were here last year, I took you to see too many historic buildings and places. So this year, you want a rest from sight-seeing. You want to meet English people who are on holiday and to have plenty of chances to make friends with them.
I don't like crowds when I'm on holiday. I remember that when I was a small boy we—my brothers and sisters and I—always tried to get away from other people. We always had our holidays on the coast. Sea and sunshine, that's what we looked forward to every summer. Today people seem to like crowds. You say you wish to meet and make friends with as many people as possible.
Hotels at the large seaside towns on the south coast are expensive. It would cost you, probably, for the two of you, at least £ 25 a week. I don't know whether that's more than you want to pay; you gave no figures in your letter. You say, you want to come here in July or August. Those are the two months when hotel rates are highest.
If you want to meet lots of English people, you might like to go to a holiday camp. That doesn't mean sleeping and eating in tents. Holiday camps are permanent buildings with every modern convenience and comfort. There are wooden cabins, with good beds, electric light, running hot and cold water. There are large buildings—a dining-hall, a large hall for dancing, a cinema, a theatre, a bar, a cafe, rooms for games such as billiards. The camp usually has its own swimming-pool and tennis courts.
I myself dislike the idea of spending a holiday with hundreds of other people. If I were as young as you are, I'd have a walking holiday. Walking holidays are much cheaper than the kind of holidays I've been telling you about. You know something about the Youth Hostels Association, I'm sure. It's international. There are hostels all over England now and thousands of young people use them. Members of the Association get beds and meals there or can take their own food to the hostels and cook it in the kitchen. They have to help by sweeping and cleaning the rooms, or washing up after meals. But that's not a hardship, is it? Youth hostels are for people with not much money to spend. You wouldn't have — to worry about clothes if you decided to use youth hostels. Any clothes would do. You'd meet young people of all classes—factory workers, office workers, shop girls, college students and many young people from European countries. A walking holiday depends for enjoyment upon the weather, of course. I can't promise you good weather!
Thank you for your very kind invitation to visit you and stay with you. I'm sorry I can't accept it this year; we've already made our plans. But next year, perhaps, if it's convenient to you then.
Please write and let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know. I'm always glad to help you.
My wife joins me in best wishes to you both.
Yours sincerely, John Grant
AT THE THEATRE (CINEMA)
Good evening, John!
Good evening, Peter! This is a small world! How are you?
Fine, thanks. Ноw are you?
Life is going its usual way. Thanks.
Pleased to hear it. Incidentally, where do you have a seat?
In the stalls, row C. And where is your seat?
In the box, close to the stage.
So you don't have to use opera glasses.
That's right. What do you think of the play?
The action develops slowly. Some scenes are dull. The cast is not very good. Do you share my opinion?
Frankly speaking I do. That happens to be a rather poor performance. Have you been to this theatre before?
Haven't had a chance, you know. I am here for the first time. I like the hall. It is beautifully decorated. The chairs are comfortable and the chandelier is wonderful. To put it in a nutshell everything here is magnificent but the performance.
I advise you to see "Othello" by Shakespeare at this theatre. You will be impressed.
- I have been dreaming of seeing any play by Shakespeare in this country. I'll do my best to see "Othello".
I want to inform you that the best actors are engaged in the performance. The leading man is the' famous actor. His name is well-known both in this country and abroad.
I hope I'll enjoy the performance. The lights are going down.
We must hurry to the- hall. In a minute the curtain will be up,
Be seeing you later.
Shall we seе a film this evening?
That, would be delightful. I haven't seen any films for many weeks.
There are several movies in my neighborhood which show the latest pictures.
Let's consult the newspaper to see what movies are being shown in town.
A splendid idea.
At the nearest cinema house they show a film which is considered the best film of the year.
My wife and I have already seen it. We enjoyed it immensely.
Here is a good programme. They show two main pictures: a French film and an American, I don't think you have seen them.
I have seen neither of them. Shall we be able to obtain seats? That movie house is always full.
Seats are not reserved at that movie house, but I am sure we shall be able to get in. Most likely we'll have to wait for stall seats. Shall we buy balcony seats, if stall seats are not available?
Please don't. I have seen a film from the balcony. It is too far from the screen. You know my eyesight is rather poor. I wear glasses.
The movie starts in ten minutes. There are many comfortable seats in the foyer. We can wait there and enjoy a cigarette In the meantime. After the picture ends there will be many vacant seats.
Well, what do you think of the films?
I enjoyed both of them. In the French film the actors spoke English with a slight French accent. The acting was faultless. The plot of the English film was extremely interesting.
You have said it - I was carried away by the plot, so I didn't see any faults.
I liked the newsreel. Actually I had a lovely evening.
Thank you for a pleasant evening. I am planning to go to the opera house with you in the near future.
I am all for it.