ESL Podcast 770 - Joining a Tour

tour - an organized journey to see or explore a city, area, site, or museum

Should we pay for a tour of Bangkok, or just explore it on our own?

to make (one's) way - to explore something by oneself, without a guide or leader, doing what interests one at that particular moment, without having a clear plan ahead of time

They slowly made their way through the museum, pausing to look at the most interesting pieces of artwork.

leisurely - slowly; not rushed; in a calm, enjoyable way

They met for leisurely drinks after work and ended up staying at the bar talking for almost three hour.

site - a place that is visited, especially someplace that is a recognized landmark or important part of a larger city

What's the more popular site in New York City: the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty?

pace - speed; how quickly something is done or how quickly one moves

Math 201 moves through the material at a quicker pace than Math 101.

to take in - to view, experience, and appreciate something

How many hours would you need to really take in all the artwork at the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

to rush through - to do something very quickly, without enough time to enjoy or appreciate it, or without enough time to do it well

Drake rushed through the homework assignment and turned in a lot of answers that were incorrect.

to come in all shapes and sizes - to have a lot of variety; for something to be available in many different types

Homes come in all shapes and sizes, so it can take a while to find the one you want to buy.

strenuous - difficult; demanding; requiring a lot of attention and/or the use of physical effort; requiring a lot of strength and/or perseverance

The hike was too strenuous for Maggie, so she turned around and went back to the car to wait for everyone else to finish and come back.

to explore - to travel around an unfamiliar area to see many different parts of it and understand or experience it thoroughly

Do you think we'll ever be able to send astronauts to explore the planet Mars?

itinerary - a planned schedule for a trip, showing what one will do, where, and when

Please send me a copy of your itinerary so I'll know what you're doing each day while you're gone.

rave review - a very favorable statement about how good, interesting, or enjoyable something is

This new restaurant is getting rave reviews in the local newspaper. Do you want to eat there this weekend?

tour guide - a person who leads a group of individuals to an unfamiliar site, explaining the history and importance of the place and providing additional information about what those people are seeing

The tour guide said that this was the first university in North America.

admission fee - the amount of money paid to enter a museum, park, zoo, or similar place

The museum admission fee is normally $10.75, but it's free on the first Tuesday of each month.

accommodations - lodging; the hotel, hostel, cabin, or room where one sleeps while traveling

If we stay with Aunt Samantha, we won't need to worry about paying for accommodations.

ground transportation - vehicles used to get from one place to another, including cars, buses, vans, trains, and subways; not air travel

The hotel provides free ground transportation to and from the airport.

built-in - included as a part of something else in its original design

Older homes have a lot of beautiful built-in closets and cupboards.

alternative - another option; another way to do something; one of several available possibilities

If you don't want to spend so much money on gas, your alternative is to take the bus.