19 July 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

The Ghosts of Spain

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apQkjjcqGnI

When you go aborad, which airport do you normally use? Do you know how many airports there are in Spain? Do you think there are too many? Have a look at this video and read a related news story...

Have you heard about the billion euro airport designed during Spain's booming economy, serving both city and coast via a state-of-the-art high speed train link? Ciudad Real's transport hub was to be a symbol of modern Spain's affluence. However, it shut down in April after just three years of operation and a cost of €1.1 billion.

The peninsula is also littered with 'ghost towns' - where empty apartment blocks, streets and gardens stand where communities were supposed to move. Entire housing estates built during the country's boom years have been left abandoned, now on sale for almost half their original price.

The town of Sesena, dubbed the Manhattan of Madrid for its towering apartments, proximity to the capital and capacity for 30, 000 people to live is now one of the most visible monuments of the country's boom gone bust.

Such modern-day ghost towns have become a familiar part of the Spanish landscape.

What do you think about these issues? What can be done to help Spain recover?

 

27

January 2012
Pretty....
by Radmila Gurkova
Pretty has many different meaning depending on how it is used. Adjective Adverb Verb Noun ...

27

January 2012
Try something new for 30 days…
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfBXjWm7hc Matt Cutts was “stuck in a rut” with his life so he took the advice of a fairly modern American philosopher – Morgan Spurlock – which was to, “do something new for 30 days”. So he thought of doing something straightforward that he has always wanted to try and add it to his life but for ...

27

January 2012
Friday Fun: The History of English #4
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN7-EvgKAsk&feature=relmfu The Friday posts about the history of English continue with this video about the impact of the King James Bible. Have you heard any of these terms and phrases? Why not try using some of them to talk about contemporary events. ...

24

January 2012
S1: Learn the Alphabet...
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIhzFh0yw8 Can you say the English alphabet? This musical video helps you to remember and pronounce the alphabet. ...

20

January 2012
I am rowing... subject + 'ing'
by Radmila Gurkova
The present continuous We use the present continuous to talk about actions in progress: I am reading I am swimming I am eating ...

20

January 2012
Roz Savage – Rows across the Pacific and embraces another big adventure
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXqPaHQp4Xw Roz Savage rows solo across many oceans – the Atlantic and the Pacific to name a few. She has rowed over 8,000 miles and taken over three million oar strokes and spent more than 312 days alone on a 23 foot rowboat. Roz has a love hate relationship wi...

20

January 2012
Across the river......preposition
by Radmila Gurkova
The preposition across talks about movement from one side to another, usually two-dimensional lines for example Room, or a River. How are we going to get ...

20

January 2012
Therefore......Connector
by Radmila Gurkova
Therefore is a connecting adverb that can be used instead of SO, it is formal.  It can come at the beginning of the clause or after the...

20

January 2012
If you read this post, you will understand the zero conditional
by Radmila Gurkova
We use the zero conditional when we talk about something that's generally true. For example. If I study, I will pass the exams. if +...

20

January 2012
€4,000 For a child's birthday party?
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn9B9cwZY4Y&feature=related Stephanie Kaster of Manhattan set out to plan the birthday party of a lifetime for her daughter. Little three year-old Sophie, had not have many birthday parties to compare to, so after careful deliberation and her mother Mrs Kaster saying: "I just thought,...