ESL Podcast 330 - Traveling by Bus
in advance - with anticipation; ahead of time; before something else happens
The dentist is always very busy, so we need to make our appointments at least four weeks in advance.
terminal - station; a large building where buses or trains stop to let people on and off
This hotel will send a car to pick us up from the train terminal when we arrive in Denver.
boarding - the act of getting onto a bus, train, plane, or boat; loading
The airline asks its passengers to arrive for boarding at least one hour before the flight is scheduled to leave.
to reserve - to make arrangements for something to be available for one's use at a future time so that it is not given or sold to another person
Please reserve a hotel room for next Friday night in Mobile, Alabama.
first-come, first-serve basis - a way of giving things to customers, so that the first customer to arrive gets to choose which seat he or she wants, other customers have fewer choices, and the last customer doesn't have a choice
At camp, the bicycles are given to children on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if you want to choose a good bicycle, you need to wake up early.
peak - busy; very active; with the greatest demand; with the most use
November and December are peak months for toy sales because many parents are buying toys for their children as Christmas presents.
night service - services that are offered at night, especially transportation that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning
I think riding buses is boring, so I prefer to use the night service so that I can sleep during the long ride.
stop - the time and place where a bus or train stops moving for a short period of time to pick up new passengers and let other passengers off
The train from Washington, D.C. to Boston has stops in Philadelphia and New York City.
en route - on the way; between two points; while traveling from one place to another
The flight includes breakfast en route from Minneapolis to Houston.
rest stop - a time and place where a bus stops for a short period of time so that people can use the bathroom, buy food and drinks, and walk a little bit
I hope we reach the next rest stop soon because I really need to go to the bathroom!
express - quick and non-stop, or with few stops; rapid
This is the express subway train to downtown, and it makes only three stops instead of seven.
on board - on a bus, train, or boat; carried on a bus, train, or boat
How many people are on board this train?
handler - a person who carries heavy things and helps people move their luggage and other bags onto a bus, train, or boat
The handler hurt his back while lifting a suitcase that was too heavy.
to load - to put many things onto a bus or train, or into the back of a car
Could you please help me load these groceries into the car?
to retrieve - to get something back from where it has been kept or stored; to pick up something that belongs to oneself but that one didn't have for a period of time
You'll need to bring your receipt to retrieve your clothes from the tailor after he has finished fixing them.
have a safe trip - a polite phrase used to wish someone a nice trip or safe travels
Becca's whole family stood waving as the bus left, shouting "We love you, Becca! Have a safe trip!"