8 Podróżowanie i turystyka

Podróżowanie i turystyka

Środki transportu, wycieczki

Ćwiczenie 1.

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Walking is the most sustainable means of transport

according to the Ramblers' Association*

Walking is the most natural mode of transport and the one that has the least impact on the environment. Walking need not require any special equipment, does not produce any additional polluting waste and the only fuel you'll need is a healthy meal.

Walking is safe. Unless you walk in very difficult conditions, you don't need any special training. Walkers also pose less of a danger to other people than users of heavier modes of transport.

According to the Environmental Transport Association, people in cars regularly suffer three times as much pollution as pedestrians because they are sitting in the line of the exhaust fumes from the car in front.

Walking is available to almost everyone for free: only 4% of people in Britain either need help when walking outside the home or are unable to walk on their own at all.

Walker-friendly places are people-friendly places. Putting walkers' needs first results in a more attractive, 'liveable' environment for everyone, where people not only walk but also linger, meet, interact and play. More people out and about on foot makes everyone feel safer and discourages crime and anti-social behaviour.

People will walk more if they're given good information and attractive facilities.

TravelSmart, an approach which uses personalised expert advice to help people switch to sustainable* transport options, was first piloted in Perth, Western Australia, where it resulted in a 14% reduction in car trips. The single biggest increase, 35%, was in walking. TravelSmart is now being introduced in parts of Britain.

When people who have reduced their car use on short journeys are asked why they have done so, the most popular reason given is to get more exercise (34%). The least popular reason is to reduce congestion (3%).

Two thirds of people say that pedestrians and cyclists should be given priority in towns and cities even if this makes things difficult for other road users.

*the Ramblers' Association -a British organization which encourages walking in the countryside as a way of spending free time

sustainable — one that uses natural energy and resources and doesn't harm the environment (odnawialny, przyjazny dla środowiska)

Pytania do dyskusji

Strange as it may seem, walking does have some advantages as a means of transport. What are they?
What drawbacks of walking can you give? What can be the reasons why the Ramblers' Association does not present any of them in the text above?

It is sometimes said that a genuine tourist prefers walking to other means of transport, regardless of the destination (including visits to big cities). Explain reasons for this view. Do you agree with it or not? Why?

Some advice to Air Travelers in the US

Call in advance to reconfirm any domestic or international flight anywhere in the world. Verify that you have a confirmed reservation. Flight numbers, times, and routings are subject to change at any time without warning.
Don't plan to have anyone accompany you to the gate, wait with you, or meet you at the gate on arrival. Only ticketed passengers will be allowed in departure or arrival gate areas or beyond security checkpoints.
If you have an e-ticket, bring a printout of your e-ticket receipt or confirmation with you. If you can't produce printed evidence that you have a ticket, you will not be allowed through the security checkpoint. A confirmation number will not be sufficient: you'll need a printed receipt or official confirmation notice.
Be prepared to pay additional security surcharges when you check in. Airlines, airports, and governments worldwide continue to increase ticket taxes, security fees, and surcharges. Some of these are included in ticket prices, but others are payable at check-in.
Get to the airport early. Standard check-in time is at least two hours prior to scheduled departure for most international flights. If you don't allow lots of extra time, you risk missing your flight. You have to go through the metal detectors and sometimes have your carry-on baggage examined. This is taking much longer than it used to, making the lines at these checkpoints much longer.
You will be allowed no more than one carry-on bag. If you have anything that might be used as a weapon, or might conceal a weapon, you will have to put it in your checked luggage or discard it (without compensation), rather than carry it on. This includes knives, scissors, metal nail files, corkscrews, large or sharp metal objects, aerosol cans of any size, etc.
Under orders from the US Department of Transportation, all checked baggage must now either be put through explosives detectors or be matched to passengers. Almost all airlines in the USA are using 'positive passenger bag matching'. If a passenger checks a bag, but doesn't actually board the plane, either they have to be located and put on the plane, or their baggage has to be located and removed from the plane, before it is allowed to depart.
Airlines are not responsible for providing alternate transportation or accommodation when flight cancellations or delays are caused by circumstances beyond their control, including government orders or acts of war or terrorism. Airlines may, as a customer service gesture, help you locate accommodation or alternate transportation, but they have no legal obligation to provide any assistance or pay for alternate transportation or other costs occasioned by delays or cancellations. Airlines must either refund the amount you actually paid for your tickets, or allow you to use them on alternate flights. This is their only legal obligation.

If your ticketed flight doesn't operate and the airline is unwilling or unable to accommodate you on acceptable alternate flights, you are entitled to refund of the amount you paid for your tickets. Note that the face value of your tickets is typically the official 'published fare'. If you bought a discounted ticket, the amount you paid, and thus your refund, may be substantially less than the official fare printed on your tickets.

Travel insurance policies vary in whether they cover expenses from flight schedule changes, cancellations, or delays caused by government orders or acts of war or terrorism. Contact the claims department of your travel insurance company for advice on coverage* and claims procedures.

Pytania do dyskusji

What are the risks and responsibilities involved in air travel that people have to take?
What can travellers themselves do to ensure a safe and stress-free journey by plane?

coverage - the amount of protection provided by an insurance company (pokrycie, ochrona ubezpieczeniowa)

Getting around NYC by subway

Subways are a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to get around the city. Trains run 24 hours a day, with waiting time between trains normally just a few minutes, depending on the time of day. The 714-mile New York City subway system has 468 stations serving 24 routes more than any other system in the world. It operates 24 hours a day, is safe, and is used daily by more than 3.5 million people.

Subway entrances in New York are usually found on street corners, marked with a staircase descending to the station. The stop will have a large green ball outside (indicating a booth inside where you can buy tokens or MetroCards) or red ball (no token booth inside; you must have fare available to enter).

Directions will usually be to take either an uptown or downtown train; there are also several crosstown shuttles. Many subway entrances specify Uptown Only or Downtown Only, meaning trains on the platform accessed by that specific entrance will be going in only one direction. A platform with trains running in the opposite direction will most

likely be across the street behind you, an entrance across the street to your left or right will most likely have trains running in the same direction.

'*The cost is $2 per ride, no matter how far or how many times you transfer (as long as you don't pass through the turnstile* gate; if you do, another fare must be paid). Purchase either tokens (coins for each ride) or a MetroCard, which can save you money on multiple rides.

You may transfer free from bus to subway, subway to bus, or bus to bus within two hours of the time you paid your fare. Unlimited Ride MetroCard includes all transfers, at no charge.

* turnstile - a gate that turns in a circle and lets one person at a time to go through an entrance (bramka, kołowrót)

London Underground was formed in 1985, but its history dates back to 1863 when the world's first underground railway opened in London. Today, London Underground is a major business with three million passenger journeys made a day, serving 275 stations over 408 km (253 miles) of railway.

The London Underground, or 'the tube' as it is universally known to Londoners, is normally the quickest and easiest way of getting round London. Greater London is served by 12 tube lines, along with the independent (though linked) and privately owned Docklands Light Railway and an interconnected rail network.

Remember that any train heading from left to right on the map is designated as eastbound, and any train heading from top to bottom is southbound no matter how many squiggles and turns it makes. If your two stations are not on the same line, you need to note the nearest station where the two lines intersect, and it is here that you must change trains.

The Underground divides London into six concentric zones. If you're caught on the Underground without a valid ticket (and that includes crossing into a zone that your ticket doesn't cover)you're liable for an on-the-spot fine of £10.

If you're travelling several times in one day or through a couple of zones, you should consider a Travelpass or some other discounted fare. Valid all day, aTravelcard offers the cheapest way of getting about London.

Pytania do dyskusji

What are the benefits and drawbacks of an underground train system in a big city?
Describe the public (and private) transport network in the area where you live. What is your opinion about it? Why are you satisfied or dissatisfied with it? Is there anything that could be done to make it better? Justify your opinion

wiczenie 2. Przeczytaj tekst. Wykorzystując zawarte w nim słownictwo, odpowiedz na pytania.

Cheap accommodation for backpackers

Hostels are traditional backpacker accommodation, providing cheap beds in a communal atmosphere. Most have rooms with four to ten bunks each, kitchen facilities for individual use, showers, a common room with television, and clothes washers. Some have swimming pools, gardens, camping areas, game rooms, and other amenities.

Hostels belonging to Hostelling International usually enforce certain rules and standards. These include a midnight curfew and a mid-morning until late-afternoon lockout when all guests are required to leave the premises, although you can leave your stuff there. (Many urban HI hostels now offer 24-hour access.) Simple chores such as emptying wastebaskets maybe assigned. Non-HI hostels generally do not have a lockout period, and curfews are non-existent or flexible. Most hostels segregate guests by sex, but not all all the time.

Backpacker hotels are such a force in Australia and New Zealand that they are simply referred to as 'backpackers'. There are about thirty in Sydney, a dozen in Auckland, and every other city and town of size has at least one or two. While similar to hostels, they have no or looser lockout and curfew* rules. Some guests really enjoy the atmosphere and stay for months while working, or looking for work. Some are large, older homes, while others are former regular hotels adapted to meet the new backpacker market.

Traditional bed-and-breakfast accommodation is common in Britain and Ireland. In Scarborough, England I recall walking several streets where almost every house had a sign proclaiming vacancy. In seaside and other vacation towns bed-and-breakfast hotels are often clustered like this, so it can be relatively easy to find an available room.

Pensions are the rough equivalent to bed-and-breakfast hotels on the European continent. These small hotels have two to ten rooms, with usually shared bath facilities. Breakfast is provided, which is something of a social event as guests chat away. Many English patrons go to the same bed and breakfast at the same time every year, creating a family atmosphere.

Accommodation in private homes is also common in Eastern Europe and developing countries, where enterprising families trying to make ends meet take in guests on an informal basis. You maybe met at train stations by groups of older women holding signs declaring 'room' or 'zimmer' ( German for room ).

For every hostel in Europe there are four or five legal places to erect a tent, ranging from delightful municipal campgrounds in city parks, to gigantic caravan (RV) parks. Many small towns and villages, and nearly all medium-sized and larger towns, have a campground, usually within the city limits.

Norway, Sweden, and Finland have an 'Everyman's Right' law. This means campers are allowed one or two nights on private lands outside city limits as long as they stay out of sight and leave without a trace. Ireland, with its long tradition of tinkers (traveling menders), has many accommodating farmers if you ask permission. Many hostels have a lawn area where campers are allowed to set up at half-price, but with full use of all facilities.

* curfew - a time wh one has to be back at home, the hotel, etc. cisza nocna)

If you had a choice of cheaper accommodation, which place would you select and why?
What factors determine the price of accommodation? What do you gain (and/or lose) when you decide to stay in a cheap establishment (or an expensive five-star hotel)?

What activities are involved in running a hotel? Does the range of activities depend on the number of stars it bears or rather not? Why?

wiczenie 3.

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ravel is like falling in love. There's a bit of fear of the unknown, the tingle of anticipation, the thrill of connecting with the new, the bliss of learning and the satisfaction of accomplishment. Travel is learning that difference in cultures can still provide sameness. We may worship as a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or Baha'i, yet there is acknowledgment of a Supreme Being. Travel is experiencing what diverse cultures have to offer. Eating with your right hand or chopsticks still gets the food to your mouth. If sheep brains are not your idea of a gourmet meal, how interesting to find out that for some in Greece it is. If you love to walk around without a shirt or in sandals and shorts, it is educational to find out you're thought of as disgusting in Oman. (Barbara Malley, New York, NY)

ravel is one of the best things to happen in my life. It is tastes, sounds, smells, textures; a time and place unlike home. It's meeting new people, forging* new friendships, experiencing new ways of seeing and learning. Travel takes us farther than our private corner of the world and opens up our lives and senses. Without travel we tend to relive sameness every day.

Some people live their entire lives in one place, not only physically but emotionally. Their block becomes their world. Travel offers choices and opens doors to history, culture and understanding. (Daniel T. Brooking, Washington, D.C)

e a traveler, not a tourist. Travel to see, not to have seen. There is a difference."^, When abroad, go as often as you can where curiosity beckons*, not where the tourism industry decrees you should go. Serendipity is a valuable travel companion. Unanticipated experiences are often the most memorable. Trips that go exactly as planned aren't necessarily good trips. Invite adventure.

Gain the full value of travel with intellectual curiosity and inquiry for its own sake. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Sharpen your sense of humility as you come to realize your country does not necessarily set the standard for the rest of the world. You'll observe, as Flaubert did, 'Traveling makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.'

Abroad, you'll come in contact with national pasts much deeper than your own. Make a concerted effort to bond and exchange information with fellow travelers and locals. Tourists often fail to capture the foreign moment because they are busy with dials on a camera, worrying about tipping, being shy of a foreign tongue or, perhaps, insulated by tour guides.

Travel can be anything you want it to be as it broadens your life's horizon. It keeps your world from narrowing, as you grow older. (Louis R. Bechtel, Ranch PabsVerdes,CA)

Travel is... Complete the sentence with your own words and explain the meaning of it.
What is the value of travel in your opinion?

To travel hopefully is better than to arrive. Explain the meaning of this saying. Do you agree or disagree with it? Why?

The truth about guidebooks

Seven days after graduating from college, I boarded a plane and landed in the middle of Greece, with little knowledge of the language, the culture or the geography. I had two months from that moment to become an expert on the country for the now-defunct Berkeley Guides; to travel to, research and write about 15 islands and nine cities and towns. In 60 days, and in each location - and one of the islands I had to cover was Crete, with five of its own destinations – I had to find the best hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, museums, archaeological sites, beaches and bars, as well as the prices and schedules of the ferries, trains and buses. Plus I had to write them all up - and find some time to eat and sleep.

What I did was akin to party-hopping, touching down on each island just long enough to get a sense of it, and then moving on to the next, with all of them quickly merging into one blue Aegean blur. There was no way to research everything readers and publishers could want. So I started to just glance at the places I was supposed to be reviewing. Is this hotel OK? Glance - yeah, looks that way Is this a good restaurant? Glance - yes, looks like one. But I struggled with never being able to give readers the 'best' information possible; I was simply doing the best I could under the circumstances.

Unfortunately, the circumstances I worked under - the tight deadlines, the superficial method of information gathering, the financial restrictions - are almost a guidebook industry standard (or I should say, sub-standard). And yet guidebooks are thought of, and promoted as, the definitive key to a place -comprehensive in scope and discriminating in judgement. The glossy covers almost scream at you with their inflated* claims: 'Everything you need for a perfect trip'; 'The perfect companion for independent travelers', saturated with 'expert advice' and 'travel bargains'. Guidebooks have become almost biblical in their authority, filled with words to travel by, passed down from someone who knows to someone who doesn't-required reading before any trip.

But there's a huge disparity between what readers think they're getting in a bookshop and what they actually get. I've known people who have read their guidebook so many times they can recite it almost word for word. They have traveled from one end of town to another just because of a restaurant recommendation. Yet they could probably have gotten just as good advice by asking a local where there's good calamari - which is most likely what the guidebook writer did, without ever taking a single bite.

"If readers assume I've tested every hotel in, for example, the Lonely Planet Thailand guide, they must be idiots!" says Joe Cummings, author of more than 30 guidebooks, travel atlases and phrase books. "It's physically and economically unfeasible to sleep in every hotel and guesthouse in Bangkok alone, not to mention the rest of the country. In one district of Bangkok there are over 200 guesthouses I’d ever get around to writing a guidebook if I had to sleep in every hotel."

'inflated - appearing more important than it really is (wygórowany)

People tend to complain about guidebooks, because, in their view, they are frequently filled with stereotypical, inadequate or outdated information which bears no resemblance to reality. Give reasons why this is so.
What qualities should a good guidebook have? Explain why you consider them important.

Wypadki i awarie

Ćwiczenie 4.

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Accidents and violence

Travellers are more likely to be killed or injured in accidents or through violence than to be struck down by an exotic infectious disease. Traffic accidents are the most frequent cause of death among travellers. Traffic accidents and violence are significant risks in many countries, particularly developing countries, where skilled medical care may not be readily available. Travellers can reduce the possibility of incurring these risks through awareness of the dangers and by taking the appropriate precautions.

Traffic accidents

In many developing countries traffic laws are limited or are inadequately enforced. Often the traffic mix is more complex than that in developed countries and involves two- and four-wheeled vehicles, animal-drawn vehicles and other conveyances, plus pedestrians, all sharing the same road space. The roads may be poorly constructed and maintained, road signs and lighting inadequate and driving habits poor. Travellers, both drivers and pedestrians, should be extremely attentive and careful on the roads.

There are a number of practical precautions that travellers can take to reduce the risk of being involved in, or becoming the victim of, a traffic accident. Precautions

Have full insurance cover for medical treatment of both illness and injuries sustained in accidents.

Carry an international driving licence as well as your national driving licence.

Obtain information on the regulations governing traffic and vehicle maintenance, and on the state of the roads, in the countries to be visited.
Know the informal rules of the road; in some countries, for example, it is customary to sound the horn or flash the headlights before overtaking.
Drive within the speed limit at all times and always wear a safety belt where these are available.

Violence

Violence is a significant risk in many developing countries. Criminals often target tourists and business travellers, particularly in countries where crime levels are high. However, some sensible precautions may reduce this risk. Precautions

Be alert to muggings during the day as well as at night, particularly when waiting at traffic lights.
Keep jewellery, cameras and other items of value out of sight and do not carry large sums of money on your person.

Use taxis from authorized ranks only.
Avoid driving at night and never travel alone.

Travel insurance

There are many things to consider when travelling overseas including passport, tickets, exchange rates, accommodation, and what to pack. While overseas travel can be an exciting prospect, there can be situations where things may go wrong and travellers find themselves needing urgent medical assistance, help with replacing lost luggage and/or assistance with making an urgent trip home. This is where travel insurance can help along with providing peace of mind for travellers who may find themselves in any of these situations. Travellers should thoroughly read the policy before they purchase travel insurance to ensure it meets all their needs and provides the appropriate level of cover.

We've all heard the horror stories of people losing their money, passport, sometimes their entire luggage, leaving them stranded far from home. Or worse, being injured or just getting sick in the wrong part of the world. Ifyou can't afford the insurance, you can't afford the trip. Travel insurance isn't an option when you are travelling overseas.

There is a very wide variety of travel insurance policies available. They all have their good features, and they all apply various restrictions. It's important that you know what you want covered, and understand what your policy actually covers you against.

Travel is one of the most hotly contested classes of insurance when it comes to claims. The vast majority of disputed travel claims revolve around two areas: what the policy was intended to cover and how much goods claimed for really cost. Read through the available policies very carefully, taking into account where you are going, what you are likely to have with you and what the costs are likely to be if you are injured. Don't take out the first policy you're offered, without understanding what it contains. And don't leave your travel insurance to the last minute because the choices on offer are quite wide.

Pytania do dyskusji

What are the benefits and risks involved in taking out travel insurance?
In your opinion, what should be covered by a good travel insurance policy? What events should you be insured against?

Tourists are well advised to take a number of precautions when travelling abroad. Look at those given in Accidents and violence. Which ones seem the most important? Which ones should be taken everywhere, not only when travelling abroad? What other precautions can you add, for instance to be taken on the beach? On a package holiday? On a walking holiday?

Dodatkowe zagadnienia do dyskusji

What are the advantages and disadvantages of low-cost airlines (e.g. Ryanair, Easyjet and others)? How do they compare with ordinary airlines? If you were to travel by air, which type of airline would you choose and why?
What preparations must be made before going on a journey or a trip? Consider the length of the journey itself, destination, as well as the purpose and duration of the visit.

Talk about a journey or trip that you have made and remember well. What makes it memorable? The fact that it was rather enjoyable or that it turned out to be a failure? What makes a trip enjoyable? What makes a trip a failure?

What is your opinion of walking or hiking holidays, as an alternative to spending leisure time at popular tourist spots?