The sun, sand and sea resorts

The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point.

Activities

1. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word from the box below in the right form

a tutor a decline ostensibly a custom to displace

to encourage an advent to accompany to inhibit

1. His … encouraged him to read widely in philosophy.

2. We were … to learn foreign languages at University.

3. Pilgrimage seems to be on the … .

4. He has spent the last three months in Florida, … for medical treatment.

5. Life in Europe transformed by the … of the steam engine.

6. In 17^th century, it was the … to finish the education abroad.

7. Today, TV and Internet have … tourism.

8. Would you like me to … you to the station.

9. The Napoleonic wars … travel in Europe for around 30 years.

2. The following statements about the “Grand Tour” are all incorrect. Correct each one. Use “No, it is not the truth”, “It’s false”, “I don’t agree” and other parenthetical clauses.

1. The Grand Tour was a direct cause of the Renaissance.

2. Young men seeking position at court were encouraged to travel to build empire.

3. Later the Grand Tour became the concluding part of job search of gentlemen.

4. They were accompanied by a parent and the Tour lasted 3 or more months.

5. But the pleasure seeking men travelled to discover natural beauty of the Mediterranean.

6. Finally, educational travel displaced pleasure travel.

3. True or false?

1. The spas grew in popularity in the 13^th century in the Indies.

2. With the awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water, the spas became popular also in the Europe.

3. The resorts sprang up as health became the motivation of visits.

4. They became an important centre of social life for the middle class.

5. The industrial revolution became associated with health benefits.

6. In the beginning, people drank this water but did not bathe in it.

7. The airline services in 19^th century introduced more resorts in the circuit.

8. The seaside resort gradually became a service meeting point.

Speaking

1. Recently “The New York Times” described the Grand Tour in this way:

“Three hundred years ago, wealthy young Englishmen began taking a post-Oxbridge trek through France and Italy in search of art, culture and the roots of Western civilization. With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months (or years) to roam, they commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent.”

(Gross, Matt. "Lessons From the Frugal Grand Tour." New York Times 5 September 2008.)