TRAVEL/ DUBLIN (Ireland) VIAJE / DUBLÍN (Irlanda)

Hi my dear friends, do you like travelling?  What about Dublin? A four or five days travel to know everything about the Irish capital!  Here we go!

Hola mis queridos amigos, ¿os gusta viajar?  ¿Qué tal Dublín?  Un viaje de cuatro o cinco días para conocer la capital irlandesa! ¡Vamos allá!

DUBLIN
**If you are in Spain or in an European country, you can take a low cost flight with Ryanair or Easy Jet Airlines and it will be cheaper !  Regular flights are flying to Dublin too and you can choose the one you like most.

Si estáis en España o en un país europeo, podéis coger un vuelo de bajo coste con Ryanair o Easy Jet y será más barato.  Vuelos regulares vuelan a Dublín también y podéis escoger el que os guste más.

**The Irish capital is famous for its hospitality.  Visitors soon discover that the local people are happy to talk about their city and its great history.

 La capital irlandesa es famosa por su hospitalidad.  Los visitantes descubren pronto que la gente local es feliz hablando de su ciudad y su gran historia.

**Dublin has got its origins back over 1,000 years.  From a small viking village, it has evolved into one of the most vibrant capitals in the world.

Dublín tiene sus orígenes 1.000 años atrás.  De un pueblecito vikingo, ha evolucionado hasta una de las capitales más vibrantes del mundo.

**Dublin is a city with a great cultural heritage.  You have to walk the streets and so, you'll see its Georgian architecture,  art, nightlife...



**The most important things to see are:  Dublin Castle, Christ Church, the Liffey River, Saint-Anne Church, St. Patrick's Cathedral , The Trinity College , The Temple Bar (the most famous Irish Pub in Dublin) , The National Gallery, the Town Hall, the National Library of Ireland and the Guinness Factory, of course in which you will see the fascinating story of Guinness beer.
**Phoenix Park (one of the Europe's largest parks).
**National Botanic Gardens, founded by The Royal Dublin Society in 1795.
Glasnevin, Dublin 9
**The Grand Canal.
**National Leprechaun Museum, located in the heart of Dublin, on Jervis Street.  Leprechauns (duendes) are an Irish national symbol. Full-price tickets €10,
**St. Audoen's Church, in the heart of Dublin, it is the only medieval church in the city.



**DUBLIN LITERARY PUBS.  DAVY BYRNE's pub (the James Joyce favourite pub), THE DUKE, MULLIGHANS'S, McDAID'S and THE PALACE.
http://www.visitdublin.com/


**MARKETS
-GEORGE STREET ARCADE
South Great George Street.
It's a much loved landmarket for Dubliners and visitors.

-BLACKROCK MARKET
19 Main Street, Blackrock, South Dublin.
A unique mixture in new and second-hand and antique goods.

-DUBLIN FLEA MARKET
The Co-op, Newmarket, Dublin 8.
A live music, food and interesting things.

**SHOPS
In High Street, you will find unique boutiques, shopping centres and more markets.

INTERESTING INFO
**DUBLIN BUS TOURS
www.viator.com/dublin-bus-tours

**Bed and Breakfast  Dublin
rooms from €48
http://www.townhouseofdublin.com/

**The Inn On First Bed and Breakfast
http://www.theinnonfirst.com/

**Bed and Breakfast (B&B) near the Airport
http://www.pebblemilkinsalcy.com/

**Taxi at Dublin Airport
http://www.ecotaxisdublin.com/

**Airport Car Rental
http://www.autoeurope.com/

**Dublin by bike
http://www.dublinbikes.ie/
You can rent a bike to get around the city.  The three-day card is €2.
http://www.dublinbybike.ie/
3-hour Dublin by bike "City Tours" (€28)  daily at 10.30 from Merrion Square.

**FOR MORE INFO:  the following websites contain information on travelling to and from Dublin and offer advice on accommodation and sightseeing:
http://www.irlanda-travel.com/
http://www.visitdublin.com/
http://www.ryanair.com/
http://www.aerlingus.com/ (low cost flights)

If you have more days and you want to visit some more places the following wesites can help you:
http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/  Step up to the Atlantic Edge and explore a unique landscape.
http://www.cullinansdoolin.com/  Enjoy a peaceful stay at Cullinans guesthouse  in Doolin. B&B from €32.50.
www.discoverireland.com/it
http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/
http://www.connemara.ie/
http://www.aranisland.ie/


ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!!

HOLIDAYS / HOLIDAY ENGLISH / VACACIONES /Inglés para las vacaciones

Good morning my dear followers, today we're going to know more about Holiday English.  If you visit an Anglo-Saxon country this summer, this could be very interesting!  Don't miss it!

Buenos días mis queridos seguidores, hoy vamos a saber más sobre el Inglés para las vacaciones.  Si visitáis un país Anglosajón este verano, ¡esto podría ser muy interesante! ¡No os lo perdáis!

HOLIDAY ENGLISH
So you are off on holiday to an Anglophone country and have packed a separate case full of phrasebooks and survival kits!  My advice is:  leave that suitecase in your house and take it with you instead!  It's here everything you need to say!  It's to guarantee a fun holiday in either the UK, USA or no matter the country!

A GUIDE TO THE BEST GUIDE BOOKS (una guía de las mejores guías)
If you plan to stay in a big city, it is a good idea to book ahead (reservar).  However, there are plenty of travel guides that give you the prices, adresses of hotels and hostels that they have personally inspected and assessed.  If you are going to London or New York, THE EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES are really useful.  If you are going to the country (campo) THE ROUGH GUIDE or THE LET'S GO series is perfect.

Most hotels want a deposit of 10 to 20% of the total when you book (reservas). 

Nowadays, the low cost flights and the Internet can help you  find the best option!!

WHERE TO STAY
**England has a large number of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets, divided into five categories, from the luxury five-star hotels to the basic one-star variety.
Bed & Breakfast establishments are often cheap and friendly.
Guest houses, inns and pubs offer less amenities (servicios) than a hotel but the price is lower and includes breakfast.

**In the USA there are thousands of motels just off the interstate roads which are a cheaper alternative to the downtown hotels as well as a good reason to travel across the States by car.
Bed and Breakfast here are an option too. At the theaper end of the scale YOUTH HOSTELS (hostales para jóvenes)  can provide dormitory beds for around $15/20 a night although if you are travelling in a group of three it might be cheaper to share a triple-bedded room in a two-star hotel.

IN TOWN / Where?  What?  When?
If you want to discover the town, first  you can go to the local information centre or tourist office.  Most hotels have information too. 

IN THE HOTEL
**Is there a conducted tour ...?  ¿Hay una visita guiada para...?
**Where do we leave from?  ¿De dónde salimos?
**Will the bus pick us at the hotel? ¿Nos recogerá el autobús en el hotel?
**How much does the tour cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta la visita?
**Do we have free time? ¿Tenemos tiempo libre?

IN THE STREET
**Excuse me, could you tell me where the tourist office is, please? Perdone, ¿podría decirme dónde está la oficina de turismo?
**Is there a currency exchange office in this part of the town? ¿Hay alguna oficina de cambio de moneda en esta parte de la ciudad?

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
**Is the museum open on Sundays? ¿Está abierto el museo el domingo?
**What are the opening hours? ¿A qué hora abre?
**What is the entrance fee? ¿Cuál es el precio de la entrada?
**Is there a reduction for children? ¿Los niños tienen descuento?
**Is it all right to take pictures?  ¿Se pueden hacer fotos?

MEALS /  TIMES  (comidas y horarios)
**BREAKFAST is usually served between 7.00 and 10.00 and most hotels offer either full English breakfast (tea, coffee, cereal, milk, fried or grilled sausages, bacon, fried eggs, bread, butter and jam or a Continental breakfast with orange juice, coffee, rolls, bread, butter and jam.
**LUNCH is served from 12.00 to 14.00.
**TEATIME is served from 16.00 to 17.00.
**DINNER is served between 18.30 to 22.00 (the very latest).

RESTAURANT  AND BARS LANGUAGE.
**Waiter! ¡Camarero!
**Do you have a set menu? :¿Tienen menú?

A Typical Scottish Pub
 (a photo of my own)

**Are there any vegetarian dishes? ¿Tienen platos para vegetarianos?
**What do you recommend? ¿Qué me recomienda?
**Is there anything already prepared? ¿Hay algo ya preparado?
**Where are the toilets, please? ¿Dónde están los servicios, por favor?
**May I change this? ¿Puedo cambiar esto?
**Our food is cold, I'm afraid. Me temo que la comida está fría.
**The bill, please! ¡La cuenta por favor!
**This is really delicious! ¡Esto está realmente delicioso!

DIRECTIONS
**Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the town hall? Perdone, ¿podría indicarme el camino al ayuntamiento?
**Which way to the Cathedral, please? ¿Cuál es el camino hacia la Catedral por favor?
**Excuse me, where is the nearest underground/subway station? Perdone, ¿dónde esta la estación de metro más cercana?

TAKING A TAXI
**Is there a taxi rank  near here? ¿Hay alguna parada de taxis cerca de aquí?
**Where can I get a taxi? ¿Dónde puedo coger un taxi?
**Could you help me carry my luggage? ¿Podría ayudarme a llevar el equipaje?
**To the airport, please. Al aeropuerto por favor.
**How much is that?  ¿Cuánto es?
**Keep the change!  ¡Quédese el cambio!

HAVE A NICE DAY MY FRIENDS!   NEXT POST MORE INFO!!

SEE YOU!

PARIS, La Place de l'Étoile / París, La Plaza de la Estrella.

DÉDIÉ À MA CHÉRE   Juana Benet



Salut mes chers amis, aujourd'hui on va lire à propos de la Place de l'Étoile de Paris, tellement ronde, tellement parfaite!  Et je vous donnerai plus d'autre information qui va vous plaire!

Hola mis queridos amigos, hoy vamos a leer sobre la Plaza de la Estrella de París, ¡tan redonda, tan perfecta! Y os daré más información que os va a gustar.

Photo: paris.es

LA PLACE DE L'ÉTOILE

**Cette place  à Paris est caractérisée par douze avenues qui rayonnent  (convergen)  autour d'un imposant Arc de Triomphe  construit pour évoquer l'épopée de Napoléon 1er.

**L'Arc, dont la construction a été ordonnée para l'empereur, présente des sculptures de sujets guerriers et ne fut terminé que sous le roi Louis-Philippe.

**Il abrite la Tombe du Soldat Inconnu (première guerre mondiale  1914-1918).

**C'est sur cette place que,  le 14 juillet  1919,  on a assisté au défilé des troupes de la victoire.

**Le 26 août 1944, ce fut le tour des troupes du Général de Gaulle après la libération de Paris de l'occupation allemande, d'où le nom de Place Charles de Gaulle.

**On peut accéder au sommet de l'Arc de Triomphe d'où on jouit  (se goza)  d'une vue superbe sur la place et les douze avenues.

                                 

PLUS D'INFORMATION À PROPOS DE LA VILLE DE PARIS

Paris comprend 20 arrondissements (distritos) numérotés de 1  à  20 et disposés selon la forme d'un escargot (caracol).

Les quartiers (barrios) du centre (du 1er  au 9ème arrondissements) comprennent:
*Les bords de la Seine, où se situent le Palais-Bourbon, siège de l'Assemblée Nationale, l'Institut de France, l'Hôtel de Ville (ayuntamiento),   des musées comme le Louvre, le Musée d'Orsay...

*La rive gauche qui comprend le Quartier Latin et la Sorbonne.
*La rive droite  où il y a des rues marchandes (comerciales) comme la rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré et des magasins (almacenes) comme les Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, etc.

Les quartiers de l'est sont les plus étendus et les plus peuplés (poblados).

Les quartiers de l'ouest sont des quartiers résidentiels, avec des immeubles et des jardins élégants.

                              ***********************************


LE MARAIS

**Le Marais, situé entre le 3ème et 4ème arrondissements, est né au XIIIème siècle quand les Templiers décident de défricher (desbrozar)  les marécages (terrenos pantanosos)  autour de la rue Saint-Antoine, sur l'ancien lit de la Seine.

**La rue Saint-Antoine, ancienne voie romaine, devient la rue des fifres  (pífanos)  et des tournois (torneos).  Aprés la mort accidentelle d'Henri II  blessé (herido) par une lance en 1559, sa femme Catherine de Médicis a fait démolir l'Hôtel des Tournelles, la résidence royale.  Sur les ruines, Sully  a construit la Place Royale, future Place des Vosges, achevée (acabada) en 1612, où résideront Richelieu, Corneille, la Marquise de Sévigné.

**Sous les Bourbons la rue Saint-Antoine est la plus belle de Paris et le quartier devient le centre de la vie élégante.

**Aujourd'hui le Marais compte toujours ses vieilles demeures (moradas) du XVII et XVIII siècles, ses hôtels particuliers.  Parmi (entre)  eux (ellos), l'Hôtel Salé qui abrite le Musée Picasso  et l'Hôtel Carnavalet qui abrite le Musée de la Ville de Paris  avec une importante collection de l'époque de la Révolution francaise.


BONNE JOURNÉE À TOUS!

À BIENTÔT!!

LANGUAGES AND SCIENCE :THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING LANGUAGES /IDIOMAS Y CIENCIA: La importancia de hablar idiomas.

Good morning my dear friends, today I want to share with you a very interesting article from a Spanish magazine called YO Dona  because I think people don't know  how important  learning other languages is not only for culture or  our work but for our brain!  So, pay attention please!

Buenos días queridos amigos, hoy quiero compartir con vosotros un artículo muy interesante de una revista española llamada YO Dona porque yo creo que la gente no sabe lo importante que es hablar otros idiomas no solo por cultura o por nuestro trabajo sino para ¡nuestro cerebro! Así que,  por favor, tomad nota.

SCIENCE  INFO

Learning other languages is a tool to get  a job, to meet people or  to improve our creativity but there is much more!

Many  Spanish people spend a lot of their time on learning English, however, our level is quite low according to a Human Resources Company  Report called Randstad.

47% of the population says that  they can manage only in one language, their mother tongue;  35%  knows another one and only 18%  can speak two languages or more  despite the possibility of finding a job increases 44% if you speak other languages.  In fact, to speak English is essential if you want to apply for a job.

Moreover, a study has been done by a group of European Scientists  from Jyväskylä University, Finland, in 27 countries and finally they have demonstrated that to learn other languages is the basis to develop skills such as intelligence!

To become bilingual , trilingual or polyglotal  increases the capacity for processing complicated thoughts;  improve learning, creativity, mental flexibility and social abilities and it could slow down our mental ageing.

People who can speak languages are better at solving  difficult subjects or problems because when you are learning a new language, brain processes activate and modify the electrical activity of your brain.

People who are able to speak different  languages, model their brain and make it more connected because they are noticing what it is around them in a lot of ways and alternatives.

Dr Ellen Bialyostok, from York University in Canada, claims that if you  can speak other languages, you will solve important problems better and the best thing is that  you don't  have to  study many foreign languages, you obtain the advantages from the first one that you have already learnt!

The Magazine "Nature" has published a hypothetical theory  about this that explains that adult people who are learning a second  language have got different zones into  their brains dedicated to each expression. However, bilingual children activate the same area for all of the expressions what demonstrates that a child can learn earlier and better than an adult person and for this reason adults always say that it's really difficult to learn no matter the subject.  But it is not impossible!

But, what does really happen into our brain? An investigation which has been done by scientists from Northwetern University, Chicago (USA) suggests that a structure called Heschl Circunvolution would be exactly the point where the ability to recognise new sounds is located.  Other structure, the left angle circunvolution is the one which is activated in bilingual children.

Conclusion:  You can educate and improve your brain even if you are an adult and it is demonstrated that learning other languages is one of the most useful  tools to get it!

So, don't be afraid no matter your age and LEARN OTHER LANGUAGES!  It will be useful and healthy for you!!

SEE YOU SOON!!



  

VISITING LONDON 2nd Part, MONUMENTS AND PLACES / Visitando Londres segunda parte, Monumentos y lugares

Good morning my friends, the 2nd part of "Visiting London" is already here. I hope you'll like it!

Buenos días amigos, la 2ª parte de "Visitar Londres! ya está aquí.  ¡Espero que os guste!

LONDON
I'll give you the information depending on the zones of the city and  the underground stations to make your visit easier and more comfortable.

Os daré la información dependiendo de las zonas de la ciudad y de las estaciones de metro para haceros la visita más fácil y cómoda.

**PLACES TO GO   /  Sitios donde ir.
1.- Underground Station:  HYDE PARK CORNER.   Here you will see: Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch and Hyde Park.  At 11,30 in the morning you can see the Guard Change every day at Buckingham Palace.  The Palace can't be visited but in August and September it's possible to see some of its chambers.

2.- Underground Station: Charing Cross.  Here you will visit: Tha National Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church (iglesia), The Canada House, The South Africa House and Trafalgar Square.
You can walk for a while and you will find 10th Downing Street (Prime Minister's Residence), The Houses of Parliament (Westminster underground station)  and Westminster Abbey (Abadía de Westminster).

If you are at Trafalgar Square,  you can take St. Martin Lane Street and  try to go and see a beautiful ,  typical and Victorian style  English pub called "SALISBURY"  where there are a lot of mirrors and crystal objects.

3.-   Underground Station:  Victoria.  Here you will see "Westminster Cathedral".  It is the Londoners Catholic church.  It's really beautiful with its pink brick outside and black-grey marble inside. 

4.- Underground station:  Tower Hill.   You will visit here "The Tower of London".  It is a group of buildings (more than 40)  that was unfotunately famous because of Henry VIII and his orders of beheading (decapitar).  You will also visit "The Crown Jewels" (Las Joyas de la Corona) etc.  It's a real interensting visit.  You will spend all day.  The timetable is:  From Monday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. until 18,00 p.m.  Sundays from 10:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m.

5.- Underground Station:  Tower Hill.  If you are visiting the Tower of London, you can also see Tower Bridge because it is very near.  Really wonderful!  Don't miss it!

6.-Underground Station:  St Paul's.   It is The City District  and St. Paul's Cathedral is here.The timetable is:  from 8:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m.  Nowadays, it is the Financial Centre of London.

7.- SOHO.  Underground Station:  Picadilly.
Visit Picadilly Circus Square with the Eros Statue and  go to Carnaby Street.  You will find here  a lot of shops, pubs and curious things to see and buy.  And take a photo at the same place that The Beatles did!

8.- SHOPS
The most popular streets for shopping are Knightsbridge (on Wednesday you can buy things until 20:00 h), Brompton Road, Regent Street, Oxford Street , Picadilly, Kensington High Street.

**Oxford Street.  Underground Station: Hyde Park Corner.  Although this street isn't what it was, it is "a must" to go and see it.  If you are in Marble Arch or Hyde Park you can go on foot because Oxford Street is very near.

**Covent Garden.  Underground Station: Covent Garden.  It is a covered market which was a food market in the past.  Nowadays, it has become a nice place not only to buy but to see  music shows and have a rest.

**Petticoat Lane.  Underground Station:  Liverpool Street.  A curious street full of curious shops that are opened on Sunday.  It is in Middlessex Street.

**Portobello Market.  Underground Station: Ladbroke Grove.  It is in Portobello Road  and it's opened on Saturday.  It is located in Notting Hill district close to Bayswater Road.  Very beautiful and lovely.

**Harrods.  Underground Station:  Knighstbridge.  The most typical English store.  Beautiful building to see but a bit expensive to buy.

9.- MUSEUMS.
**The British Museum. Underground station:  Russel Square.  It is the biggest museum in England.  It is free.
**The National Gallery.  Underground Station:  Charing Cross.  It is at Trafalgar Square.  More than 2,000 impressionist pictures.  It is free.
**The London Dungeon.  Underground station:  Tower Hill.  It is situated  in Tooley Street and you have to cross  Tower Bridge.    It is a terror museum.  It isn't free.
**Madame Tussaud's Wax museum.   Underground station:  Regent's Park. It is situated in Marylebone Road near Regent's Park. This wax museum is famous for its face's perfection.  It is not free.

10.- PARKS AND GARDENS.

**Hyde Park.  Underground station: Hyde Park Corner or Lancaster Gate.  This is the biggest garden in London.  It has got a lake called The Serpentine. Close to Marble Arch it is the "Speaker's Corner" where everybody can do a speech.
**Kensington Gardens.  You can pass from Hyde Park to Kensington Gardens through Rennie Bridge and there you could see Peter Pan Statue.
**St. James' Park.  Underground Station:  St. James' Park.  This garden is near Buckingham Palace.  It is smaller but the most beautiful too!

11.- NEW ATTRACTIONS.
**The London Eye.  It is a giant wheel (noria) that was made to celebrate the year 2000.  The views are excellent but it is very expensive.
**Helicopter tours.  You can fly on a helicopter with CABAIR HELICOPTERS.  It's a half an hour flight and you have to go to Elstree Airfield.  You reach this airfield from EDWARE underground station by taxi.  The flight costs about 200€  per person.
**You can also go for a sail on the river Thames.  Ask at your hotel because these boats only work in summer or good weather.

I HOPE YOU'LL LIKE THIS INFORMATION AND YOU'LL GO TO LONDON!!!

AND, PLEASE,  IF YOU FINALLY GO , TELL ME YOUR EXPERIENCE

See you soon!! 

LONDON / LONDRES

Hi my dear friends, today I'm going to write about London because a friend has asked me, so I'll try to tell you how to get there and what to do there too. Although I have written several times about this beautiful capital, there are always new things to discover!  So, let's go to London!

Hola mis queridos amigos, hoy voy a escribir sobre Londres porque una amiga me lo ha pedido, así que trataré de contaros cómo llegar allí y qué hacer también allí.  Aunque he escrito varias veces sobre esta bonita capital, hay siempre cosas nuevas que descubrir.  Así que ¡vamos a Londres!

DEDICATED TO "LACULTA"
Dedicado a  "Laculta".

Foto: http://www.escapadasescapadas.com/

**A visit to London at any weekend it's always a good option for people who live in Europe.  If you live in USA or South America, you'll need more days, but in a week you can make a good idea about London if you stay all the time in, of course!

Una visita  a Londres cualquier fin de semana es siempre una buena opción para la gente que vive en Europa.  Si vivís en USA o Sudamérica, necesitaréis más días, pero en una semana os podéis hacer una idea de Londres si os quedáis todo el tiempo allí, ¡claro!.

**Low Cost flights are the best suggestion.  In my opinion EASY JET is the best company. All these flights arrive at GATWICK Airport.  If you are not taken to your hotel, the mean of transport from the airport to London is by train. These trains called AIRBUS, normally arrive at Central Stations such as Victoria Station or Euston Station which are  located in the centre of the town.

Los vuelos de bajo coste son la mejor recomendación.  En mi opinión EASY JET es la mejor compañía.  Todos estos vuelos llegan al Aeropuerto de GATWICK.  Si no os llevan a vuestro hotel, el medio de transporte desde el aeropuerto hasta Londres es en tren.  Estos trenes llamados AIRBUS, normalmente llegan a Estaciones Centrales como Victoria Station o Euston Station que están ubicadas en el centro de la ciudad.

**TO STAY- HOSPEDARSE.
Any B&B  in London is perfect to stay.  They are cheaper than hotels but comfortable and beautiful. More info:  http://www.bedanbreakfastlondon.com/

Cualquier B&B (bed and breakfast) en Londres es perfecto para quedarse.  Son más baratos que los hoteles pero cómodos y bonitos.

**HOTELS -  HOTELES
There are plenty of hotels in London capital.  Many of them are new but a lot of them are old too.  My advice is that is preferable to stay in an older hotel in downtown.  New hotels are sometimes very far from the centre of the city.

Hay cantidad de hoteles en Londres capital.  Muchos de ellos son nuevos pero muchos son viejos también.  Mi consejo es que es preferible quedarse en un hotel más viejo en el centro de la ciudad.  Los hoteles nuevos algunas veces están muy lejos del centro.

** A RECOMMENDATION - Una recomendación
THE ZETTER TOWNHOUSE.  It's a real and authentic British house.  It has got 13 rooms and it is a lovely place.   But if you like a bigger hotel, THE ZETTER HOTEL is your destination.  There you will find "The Bistrot Bruno Loubet"  where you can eat well or simply have a typical English tea.
For more info:  http://www.thezetter.com/

**TO HAVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER. (para desayunar, comer o cenar)
In London, as it's an international city, you can find a lot of "fast food" restaurants to have a hamburger, hot-dogs or pizzas as well as Chinese or Indian restaurants.
But if you're looking for a typical English food, you must go to SOHO and visit "THE SHAKESPEARE'S HEAD" which is an English Pub.  There you can have lunch, taste the typical fish and chips and the most famous English dishes.  It's situated in Carnaby Street and your underground station is "Picadilly".

**MEAL TIMES:  Las horas de las comidas.
BREAKFAST- Desayuno:  from 7 a.m.  to 10 a.m.  You can have the "Full English breakfast" about coffee or tea, cereals, milk, sausages (salchichas), bacon, eggs, salad and bread with butter (mantequilla) and jam (mermelada)  or "The Continental Breakfast" which is  similar to ours with juices, coffee, buns (bollitos)  bread with butter and jam.

LUNCH:  from 12 p.m. to 14 p.m.
TEATIME: between 16:00 and 17:00 p.m.
DINNER:  from 18:30 p.m. to 22:30 p.m.

**MEANS OF TRANSPORT -  Medios de Transporte.
- The best way to move around  is "the underground" (el metro).  Rush hour (la hora punta) is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. so we must avoid it (evitarla).  The system is more difficult than in Madrid, for example, you have to look at your destination and buy your ticket depending on it and when you are waiting for the train  you have to look at the destination on the train itself too.
- Another option is the bus.  They are slower and more expensive but you can have a better view of the city.  If you take the bus numbers 8 , 11 or 12  you'll see the town around.
- You can also take a typical London Cab (taxi londinense típico).  They are very expensive.  If the taxi is free you will see a "FOR HIRE" on the top (en la parte de arriba).


LONDON IS VERY EXPENSIVE IN GENERAL, SO WE WILL HAVE TO THINK OF IT BEFORE GOING TO.  However we can spend some wonderful days in this marvellous city!  

NEXT POST I'LL TELL YOU MANY MORE THINGS AND INTERESTING PLACES!!  DON'T MISS IT!

TO BE CONTINUED...
CONTINUARÁ...

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS / Adjetivos y pronombres posesivos

Good morning my dear followers, thank you so much for being there!  Today we will see a bit of grammar, possessive adjectives and pronouns. 

Buenos días mis queridos seguidores, ¡muchas gracias por estar ahí!  Hoy veremos un poquito de gramática, adjetivos y pronombres posesivos.


POSSESIVE ADJECTIVES
These adjectives always go with a noun.
Estos adjetivos siempre van con un nombre.

MY:  mi, mis.
YOUR:  tu, tus.
HIS: su, sus ( de él)
HER: su, sus (de ella)
ITS: su, sus ( de ello, animales o cosas)
OUR: nuestro/a/os/as.
YOUR: vuestro/a/os/as
THEIR: su, sus (de ellos/ellas).

IN SPANISH

*That's my new car.
*I can see her bike.
*Whose is this house?  It's his house.

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS.

As all pronouns, you can find them alone; they don't go with any verb.
Como todos los pronombres, los podéis encontrar solos; no van acompañando a ningún verbo.

MINE: mío, mía, míos, mías.
YOURS: tuyo/a/os/as.
HIS: suyo/o/os/as (de él)
HERS: suyo/a/os/as  (de ella)
ITS: suyo/a/os/a  (de ello)
OURS: nuestro/a/os/as
YOURS: vuestro/a/os/as
THEIRS: suyo/a/os/as  (de ellos/ellas)

WRITE IN SPANISH

*That's  my coat.  The coat is mine.
*Whose this car?  It's his.
*My feet are bigger than yours.
*I don't like your bag.  Mine is nicer.

SOLUTION
* Ese es mi abrigo. El abrigo es mío.
*¿De quién es este coche? Es de él.
*Mis pies son más grandes que los tuyos.
*No me gusta tu bolso. El mío es más bonito.

WRITE IN ENGLISH, PLEASE.

1.- ¿Quieres mi libro de inglés?  No gracias, tengo el mío.
2.- ¿Dónde tienes tu diccionario? El mío no lo encuentro. Aquí tienes el de Jane.
3.- ¿De quién es este ordenador portátil?  Es de ella.
4.- Me gusta tu nueva bici.  La mía está rota.
5.- Hoy no he comprado el periódico. No te preocupes, aquí está el mío.
6.- Nuestra casa en la playa es pequeña pero muy bonita.
7.- Vuestro perro es encantador.  El mío también.
8.- Mi perrita Venus se va a recuperar enseguida.
9.- Mis amigos vendrán esta tarde.
10.- Lucas es tu perro y Emilio es mi periquito.  Los dos animales son nuestros.

SOLUTION

WRITE IN ENGLISH

1 Do you want my book of English? No, thank you, I've got mine.
2 Where have you got your dictionary? I can't find mine. Here you have Jane's.
3 Whose is this laptop? It's hers.
4 I like your new bike. Mine is broken.
5 Today I haven't bought the newspaper. Don't worry, mine is here.
6 Our house at the beach is small but it's very nice.
7 Your dog is lovely. Mine, too.
8 Mi little dog Venus is going to get over at once.
9 My friends will come this afternoon.
10 Lucas is your dog and Emilio is my budgie. Both animals are ours.

SEE YOU!

JAMES DEAN /A CINEMA MYTH / James Dean / Un mito del cine

Hi my dear followers, today's reading is about a cinema myth, "James Dean" a very young actor who unfortunately died at the age of 24 when his career was just starting!
When James Dean died I wasn't born yet but in my agenda I have got his  photographs right now.  I have seen his films several times and I like him very much.   Nowadays you can find not only agendas but notebooks, folders, and books which have his face on them.  It was a pity! If he had lived more, his career would have been long and successful!  With only 24 he became a Hollywood icon! So, imagine... 

Hola mis queridos seguidores, la lectura de hoy es sobre un mito del cine "James Dean" un actor muy joven que desgraciadamente murió a la edad de 24 años cuando su carrera estaba empezando.
Cuando James Dean murió yo no había nacido todavía pero en mi agenda tengo sus fotografías hoy.  He visto sus películas varias veces y me gusta muchísimo.  Hoy en día se pueden encontrar no solo agendas sino cuadernos, carpetas y libros con su imagen.  ¡Fue una pena!  Si hubiera vivido más, su carrera habría sido larga y de éxito.  Con solo 24 años se convirtió en un icono de Hollywood.  Así que imagináos...

A HARD CHILDHOOD
James Dean was born in a small town called Fairmount in Indiana (USA).  He was an only child and his mother died of cancer when she was only 29 years old . His father sent him away with his aunt and uncle who were farmers .  James Dean loved them very much but he never forgave his father for leaving him alone.

James Dean adored theatre, motorcycles and cars.  He was a very daredevil young man!

When James was 18, he decided to live with his father again in California.  He studied theatre in Los Angeles and he had some small roles on TV and in films.  In 1951, he decided to leave school to go to New York.

The first days in New York were very hard.  He felt alone and depressed! but he quickly found work.  And then, the director Elia Kazan gave him the role of his life in the film "East of Eden".

However, James loved speed and danger and he once told a friend: "Death is always there and I want to conquer it!"

THE PRICE OF FAME
In March 1954 he came back to Hollywood to work on "East of Eden".  Soon, he had a motorcycle and a sports car.  He loved to take his friends for fast rides and scare them. 

Love came to his life at that time too!  He fell in love with actress Pier Angeli and they wanted to marry but Pier Angeli's mother refused so she married another actor.  James Dean NEVER recovered!

"East of Eden" made Dean a star.  And the second film soon arrived.  In March 1955 he began "Rebel without a cause" with Nathalie Wood.  And  in June, a third  (and last) film  "Giant" with Liz Taylor.

James Dean received thousands of letters, he was followed and phtographed and he became very very nervous!

THE END OF THE ROAD
James Dean wanted a Porsche, so in September 1955, he bought a silver one.  He celebrated this fact at his favourite restaurant.  The actor Alec Guinnes was his friend and when he saw Dean's car said:  "Please, don't get into that car.  If you do, you will die"!   But Dean laughed.

One week later, on Friday September 30, James Dean and his mechanic were going to the races in Salinas.  Suddenly, a car turned left onto the highway in front of the Dean's Porsche which was running too quickly.  There was a terrible accident!
The mechanic survived but James Dean died instantly.  He broke his neck.

James Dean was buried in Fairmount, Indiana, on Saturday, October 8th, 1955.  But his photographs, his films and his legend live on!!

VOCABULARY
-CHILHOOD: niñez.
-TO MOVE: trasladarse.
-ONLY CHILD:  hijo único.
-DAREDEVIL:  atrevido.
-EVEN: incluso.
-FORGIVE - FORGAVE - FORGIVEN: perdonar.
-TO FALL IN LOVE:  enamorarse.
-TO RECOVER: recuperarse.
-TO SCARE: asustar.
-SILVER: plata, plateado.
-BURIED: enterrado.
-HIGHWAY: autopista.
-ONTO:  sobre.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!

SEE YOU!!

ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND EXERCISES COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES/ Gramática Inglesa y ejercicios

Good morning my friends, today we're looking at some English Grammar and some exercises for you to practice and to remember .  We're going to see THE COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES.

Buenos días amigos, hoy veremos algo de Gramática Inglesa y algunos ejercicios para que practiquéis y los recordéis. Vamos a ver LOS COMPARATIVOS Y SUPERLATIVOS.

**Comparatives and superlatives are done on adjectives only (on adverbs too if we have to) but the grammar  rules are about adjectives.

Los comparativos y superlativos se hacen sobre adjetivos solamente (sobre adverbios también si tenemos que hacerlo) pero las normas gramaticales son sobre adjetivos.

**Before doing a comparative or superlative, we have to look at the adjetive and see the number of syllables that it has because the way  of doing  is different.

Antes de hacer un comparativo o superlativo, tenemos que mirar el adjetivo y ver el número de sílabas que tiene porque la forma de hacerlo es diferente.

COMPARATIVES

**If our adjective is a short word (one or two syllables) we have to add to the adjective -ER.  Example:   short: corto   shorter : más corto.   

Si nuestro adjetivo es una palabra corta (una o dos sílabas) tenemos que añadir a la misma -ER.

**If our adjective is a long word (more than two syllables) we don't add anything but we put before the word MORE.  Example:  Intelligent: inteligente, MORE intelligent:  más inteligente.

Si nuestro adjetivo es una palabra larga (más de dos sílabas) no añadimos nada pero ponemos delante de la palabra  MORE.

**As we're speaking about comparatives if we want to continue with the comparison  we will put THAN after.  Example:  My brother is taller than me:  Mi hermano es más alto que yo.   This film is more interesting than the other:  esta película es más interesante que la otra.

Como estamos hablando de comparativos si queremos continuar con la comparación pondremos THAN después.

SUPERLATIVES

**The grammar rule for  superlatives is very similar to comparatives.  If we have a short word we will add to the adjective  -EST  and if the adjective is a long word we will say THE MOST  before our adjective.  The difference  is that we have to say THE before the superlative.  Examples:  tall: alto, the tallest: el más alto.  Comfortable: cómodo, The most comfortable:  el más cómodo.

La regla gramatical para los superlativos es muy parecida a la de los comparativos.  Si tenemos una palabra corta, añadiremos al adjetivo -EST y si el adjetivo es una palabra larga diremos THE MOST delante de nuestro adjetivo.  La diferencia es que tenemos que poner THE delante del superlativo. 

**PAY ATTENTION
*If the short adjective is finished like that: consonant+vowel+consonant  we have to double the last consonant, example:  fat > fatter  > the fattest.  No matter if we have two consonants +vowel+consonant, we double the last one too.  Example:  slim  >  slimmer  >  the slimmest.

Si el adjetivo corto está terminado así: consonante+vocal+consonante tenemos que doblar la última consonante. No importa si tenemos dos consonantes+vocal+consonante, doblamos la última también.

*If our adjective is finished by a -Y, we'll write > IER  or  IEST.  Happy > happier  > the happiest.
Si nuestro adjetivo se termina por Y, escribiremos  IER o IEST.

** IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
-good     better     the best.
-bad       worse     the worst
-far         farther    the farthest (se puede escribir también  further  /  the furthest)

**ALL THE ADJECTIVES THAT WE FINISH BY  -ING, will do the comparative: MORE ... and the superlative:  THE MOST... Example:  TIRING  >  more tiring than  >  the most tiring.

Todos los adjetivos que terminados en -ING, harán el comparativo con MORE...  y el superlativo con THE MOST...

EXERCISES

a) LOOK AT THESE SENTENCES AND TRANSLATE INTO SPANISH
1.-I'm much taller than my mother.
2.-Mario is a bit older than his brother.
3.-Japanese is more difficult than Italian.
4.-A Volkswagen is cheaper than a Mercedes.
5.-In your family, who is the oldest?
6.-Who is the best at English?
7.-Mary is the most beautiful girl in the world!
8.-This house is nicer than that one.
9.-You are richer than me but I'm much happier.
10.-Brad Pitt is the best-looking actor I have ever seen!

b) DO THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE OF THESE ADJECTIVES
-FAIR >
-EASY >
-LATE >
-FINE >
-DIFFICULT >
-BORING >
-UNBEARABLE >
-YOUNG >
-SLIM >
-FAT >
-FUNNY >
-PRETTY >

c) WRITE IN ENGLISH.
1.-¿Cual es el mejor cantante del mundo?
2.-Lucy es más joven que Paula.
3.-Mario es mucho mejor que Pedro en matemáticas.
4.-Yo puedo correr más rápido que mi hermana.
5.-Este sofá es el más cómodo de la tienda.
6.-¿Quién es el escritor más interesante de tu país?
7.-El cine es más barato que el teatro.
8.-Este frigorífico es el peor del mundo.
9.-El cine está más cerca de mi casa que el teatro.
10.-¡Los deportistas españoles son los mejores del mundo en muchos deportes!

SOLUTIONS

a)
1 Soy mucho más alto que mi madre
2 Mario es un poco mayor que su hermano.
3 El japonés es más difícil que el italiano.
4 Un Volkswagen es más barato que un Mercedes.
5 En tu familia, ¿quién es el más mayor?
6 ¿Quién es el mejor en Inglés?
7 Mary es la chica más guapa del mundo.
8 Esta casa es más bonita que ésa.
9 Eres más rico que yo pero yo soy mucho más feliz.
10 Brad Pitt es el actor más guapo que yo haya visto jamás.

b)
fairer     the fairest
easier    the easiest
later      the latest 
finer      the finest
more difficult    the most difficult
more boring      the most boring
more unbearable   the most unbearable
younger    the youngest
slimmer    the slimmest
fatter        the fattest
funnier     the funniest
prettier     the prettiest

c)
1 Who is the best singer in the world?
2 Lucy is younger than Paula.
3 Mario is much better at Maths than Pedro.
4 I can run faster than my sister
5 This sofa is the most comfortable in the shop.
6 Who is the most interesting writer in your country?
7 Cinema is cheaper than theatre.
8 This fidge is the worst in the world.
9 The cinema is closer my house than the theatre.
10 Spanish sportsmen and women are the best in the world at my sports!

IF YOU HAVE SOME DOUBTS, TELL ME, OK?

HAVE A GOOD DAY MY FRIENDS!

THE CHEWING GUM STORY / La historia del chicle

Hi my friends, today we're going to see a new English story.  Do you like chewing gum?  Many of you are going to say: YES, we do.  But do we really know where chewing gum comes from?  How did all start? Is it a modern custom? Let's go and see!

Hola amigos, hoy vamos a ver una nueva historia en Inglés.  ¿Os gusta el chicle?  Muchos de vosotros váis a decir: Sí, nos gusta.  Pero ¿sabemos realmente de donde viene el chichle?  ¿Cómo empezó todo? ¿Es una costumbre moderna?  ¡Vamos a verlo!

** MEXICO AND THE MAYAS
An Indian people called "The Mayas" lived in Mexico more than a thousand year ago.  They collected the resin of a tree called "sapodilla" and they used to eat its fruit.  When the resin was dry, it formed a gum that they liked to chew.

When the Spaniards conquered Mexico, they followed the same custom.  They called the gum "chicle" and the people who collected it were called "chicleros".  So, it is from the Spanish word "chicle" that we get the word "Chiclets"!!

**THOMAS ADAMS
In 1869, a famous Mexican general named Antonio Lopes de Santa Ana visited New York.  He brought 250 kg of sapodilla gum with him.  The general liked to chew this gum and at the same time he thought that it could make him rich.  The gum was very elastic so perhaps it could become a substitute for rubber.  Thomas Adams became the general's assistant and he started to experiment but finally, he couldn't use the gum to replace rubber.  The general returned home to Mexico and gave all the gum to Thomas Adams.

**ADAMS CHEWING GUM
Thomas Adams once saw a little girl who was chewing paraffin wax in a pharmacy.  Suddenly, he remembered the Mexican general and his gum.  He talked to the pharmacist and showed him some gum.  Adams asked:  Why don't you sell this? I'm sure it is nicer than paraffin wax!

The pharmacist agreed.  Adams and his 12-year-old son, Horatio, made the gum into strips.  The pharmacist sold them for 1 cent each!
As it was a great success, so the Adams invested $55  to import new stock and build a factory.  THE ADAMS NEW YORK CHEWING GUM COMPANY  was created!  Young Horatio chewed the gum constantly and he was 102 years old when he died in 1956!!!

Many other people began to make gum.  William Whit flavored it with mint.  A dentist, put in naphtha , alcohol and liquorice and sold it as a substitute for toothpaste.
William Wrigley started a brilliant publicity campaign and chewing gum became part of the American way of life!!!

**EUROPE AND CHEWING GUM
American soldiers brought chewing gum with them in the Second World War in 1944 and gave it to European children.

One of the soldiers was so impressed by the general enthusiasm that chewing gum caused among children and population in general that when he left the army and came back to France, started to manufacture , in 1952,   "Hollywood Chewing Gum" flavored with chlorophyll. His name was C.E. Parfet.

**BUBBLES

But nowadays, what is new with chewing gum?  There are a lot of kinds of chewing gums:  with sugar, without sugar, fruit flavors, mix flavors, whitening chewing gum, new and strange flavors, etc.  but what do people like to do with chewing gum most?  BUBBLES, of course.  The record for the biggest bubble gum bubble was set by Susan Montgomery in 1985, in California, USA.  It measured 55.8 cm across!

In Britain, people spend around 120 pounds a year on chewing gum.
France is the second-largest producer of chewing gum in the world after the USA.

But not all countries are enthusiastic about gum.  In Singapore and Japan, if you bring your own gum and drop it in the street, you will have to pay a minimum fine of $500!


HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!

SEE YOU!!