Every day thousands of people travel from one place to another. They commute to work, to school or on business. Many people travel for pleasure and travelling has recently become one of the most popular hobbies.
Travelling is also an interesting way of spending holidays. In every season of the year the airports, railway stations, seaports are full of people travelling for longer or shorter distances.
Travelling by bus
Travelling by bus may sometimes be a little uncomfortable, but the situation is gradually improving. Buses are usually equipped with better seats, dark glass against the sun, air-conditioning, television and often with a toilet as well.
Some buses even offer passengers food and drink. Buses with comfortable seats which are used for long journeys are called coaches.
Travelling by train
When travelling by train, we need a ticket. We usually buy a ticket at a booking-office in the station or at a travel agency. It can be a one-way ticket/single ticket or a return ticket. Sometimes it´s necessary to buy a ticket with the seat- reservation or a place in the sleeping car/sleeper.
The slowest trains are goods trains. Travellers usually/generaly use fast trains/express trains or passenger trains/slow trains.
Fast trains don´t stop at many places and can therefore go faster. Normal slow trains stop at every station. Through trains are the trains by which you can reach a place without changing.
Both classes(the first and the second) have upholstered seats. Fast trains have a dinning/restaurant car and a sleeper. Most of passenger coaches have several compartments for smokers and non-smokers. The fastest trains today are electric high-speed trains.
Travelling by plane
When people travel a long distance, they usually travel by air/plane. Travelling by plane is exciting, fast, comfortable, relatively safe but rather expensive.
But in such countries as the USA where the people have to travel long distances to get from one place to another, travelling by plane has become quite common.
When people chose to travel by plane, they usually go or phone to the airlines or travel agency to get information about flights as well as about reservations and cost of air tickets. It´s also usual to confirm the flight at least a week before travelling.
Check-in is a place where you report your arrival at an airport and your passport are checked. A customs officer weighs your luggage/baggage because each traveller can take only 20 kilos of luggage free of charge.
For air traffic safety both people and luggage have to be checked.
Bratislava´s M.R.Stefanik airport is going to adopt new security rules/measures for passenger check next year:
- they want to reduce the threat of terrorism
- along with weapons, explosives and chemicals, the list of banned items will also include liquids, gels such as drinks, perfumes, syrups, toothpaste and hair gel.
During the flight we are looked after by an air hostess/stewardess. She serves us something to eat and drink and supplies us with magazines to read.
Travelling by ship
On board a ship we will spend more time than in/on a plane. For us, Europeans, a ship is the most often used as a connection between the Continent and Great Britain. The shortest sea crossing by ferry from Calais to Dover takes one hour and a half.
A ferry is a boat or a ship which carries people or goods including cars. It makes short regular journeys between two or more places.
Travelling on foot
Travelling on foot is the simpliest, healthiest and cheapest way of travelling. All we need is a healthy pair of feet/legs. When we are tired, we can simply sit down, relax and have a snack. It is worth having a good map and a compass with us not to get lost on the way.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a very special type of travelling. It is mostly used by young people who are not afraid of taking a risk. Some travellers get also abroad in this way.
means of transport = dopravné prostriedky
a carriage/coach = koč
steer = volant
anchor = kotva
track = kolaj
deck = paluba
bonnet = kapota
mast = stožiar
carriage = vagón
dashboard = palubná doska
number plate = ŠPZ
level crossing = prejazd
compartment = kupé
rear view mirror = spätné zrkadlo
on behalf of = v mene....
connection = spojenie
announced in a loud speaker = oznámené cez rozhlas
