Gloriously Uncrowded Zaragoza

Paul Tierney has just written a detailed description of "gloriously uncrowded" Zaragoza for travellers in The Times, "The northeastern Spanish city with a surprising tapas scene", which mentions some of the tourist attractions of this little-known, unassuming city whose rich history closely mirrors the history of Spain at large. 

The article features a massive display of precise, often humorous, expressions that could be useful for C1 students (and above) trying to expand their vocabulary on the topics "cities, food and tourism", for example: a [surprising tapas] scene, a mighty [baroque church], an under-the-radar [weekend], to loom over [the River Ebro], to go unnoticed, an [architectural] powerhouse, a stronghold, the formidable [Basilica del Pilar], ochre, a dome, to cast [a glow], to glint, the brickwork, to echo, to put to shame, overhyped [Barcelona], cramped, a maze, a local, to jostle, to ooze, garlicky [gambas], to swell, a [flower] offering, the faint-hearted, unvarnished, at a glance, to blend, meandering [cobbled streets], to heave, [party] ephemera, to soak, laid-back, a show-stopper, flanked, backlit, blessed, carved [ceilings], mini-me, Moorish, compelling, a glimpse, layered, granted, an alley, oil-spitting, crowned, parsley, pie, mash, to top, overlooked, a chapel, a soaring [needle], brutalist, beguiling, the draw, to stud, a fruit gum, to flood, a beam, a crib, to grab, the foundations, [to be] tucked, meaty, a gyoza, lacquered, packed, boisterous, a clan, at the helm, wisecrack, to spill [on], a [modern] spin, camp, bric-a-[chic], tiered, car-boot, brasserie, to be lined, vintage, crackly, wholesome [plates], finesse, a cast, to stare at [you], a haunt, starchy, a [gastro-]hub, a bite, [no] frills [low bills], overkill, varnished, unflashy, wallet-friendly, [accommodation] bang, an olive's throw, to sample, sleek, respite, the [urban] sprawl, up to scratch, deftly, to put the world to rights, to haunt, crash pad, [to strew, strewed], strewn, to plunder, goose-bump, to shimmer, to catch up with, a fleet, a jumping off point, a foodie [city]. 

EXAM WARNING: do not try to memorize the most difficult expressions to force them into your monologue in the oral exam, it usually sounds unnatural or just wrong (this article is a written text, people do not talk like that!). Learning vocabulary is a slow process that takes time, involves reading extensively and requires forgetting new words a few times, before they finally get fixed in your active memory. What you can do, perhaps, is to find one or two expressions or collocations that you are already familiar with, but you do not normally use, and improve the precision and richness of your expression in a gentle manner. My favourite expression in the long list of vocabulary above is "to put the world to rights" but I am not sure it will be very useful in an oral exam.

The London Marathon 2024: Olympic Athletes, Minions, Wine Tasters and Charities

Kenyan athlete Peres Jepchirchir broke the world record yesterday, when she finished the London Marathon in 2:16:16, The Guardian reports in "Jepchirchir breaks women's world record, Munyao beats Bekele in men's race", and, in addition, The Guardian Sports offers a video with interviews to three of the winners who have qualified for the Olympics. BBC News offers a photo gallery with some of the most striking pictures of the event in "London Marathon photos: Fundraisers run as minions and camels". These articles are recommended for B2 students, who will encounter interesting words like: to beat, a wheelchair, a tap, a faucet, a rotating puzzle cube, tough, a PB, a bump, to raise awareness, [to take] a break, to turn away, to blast, distress, to struggle [to cope], to pull [myself] out of it, a way out, to fulfill, remarkable, a minion,

to pose, to storm [across Tower Bridge], a prayer, to pay off, fitness, stressful, a tough [time], to come through [a car crash], [runners] fit, to rock [threads], to unveil, to wave [to the crowd], up for grabs, to break away, to keep up with [Marcel Hug], to surge, time off etc.

One of those charity fundrairers was Jess Walklin, who wanted to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research in honour of his mother Caroline Walklin. Last week, E.O.I. nº 1 student Mª Ángeles G. became interested in the BBC News story "An Islington man is planning to run the London Marathon dressed as a giant brain" and learnt how this family raised funds to have the elaborate brain costume made to begin with and, eventually, to support the cancer charity. This report is suitable for B2 students, who will find interesting vocabulary like: to take on, to faint, a scan, to undergo, [school] pastoral, to make a difference, to host, an auction, a raffle, a challenge, a hole, to reach out, to grab, trepidation, pretty [lonely], to speed up.

Another peculiar charity runner was Tom Gilbey, who raised GBP 14,000 for Sobell House Hospice Charity in Oxford, by tasting 25 wines during the race, as you can read and watch in the BBC News story "London Marathon runner tastes 25 glasses of wine during race". In this B2 article, you will find interesting words like: connoisseur, to sample, to raise [money], to swap, malbec, merlot, to blind taste, to stash, to take up [a challenge], vintage, pinot noir, hazy, tipsy, a sip, to swallow, the wheels came off, a feat, to lull, fizz, chardonnay, sangiovese, to span, sprawling, vineyards, to be up for [doing something], bizarre, packed [with polyphenols], mitochondria, to tame, to impair, to deplete [energy], to down.

St. David's Day, 2024 / Dydd Gwyl Dewi, 2024

Wales is one of the four countries that constitute the United Kingdom. It is a small country, nevertheless, it has a vast literary history, a profound identity and an unwavering zest to preserve its cultural heritage. March 1st is St. David's Day, a celebration of Welshness around the world with street parades, concerts, festivals and Eisteddfods (Welsh arts & culture festivals), school games, homemade food etc. In this entry you will find a score of links to mark St. David's Day and join in the Welsh fun.

Visit Wales lists a wide range of partying activities in Epic Ways to Celebrate St. David's Day: it starts with a brief history of Saint David, a missionary and miracle man who preached "be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things" --his biography can also be watched at length on this Trisagion Film video entitled "Do the little things".  Back to Epic Ways to Celebrate St. David's Day, the article moves on to name the venues of the festivals, it also provides ideas to dress up, to cook traditional Welsh "cawl" soup, saussages, or cakes, and it ends up by visiting the city of St. David's and its superb cathedral. The Epic Ways to Celebrate St. David's Day text  is suitable for B2 students, who will find interesting expressions like: a broadcaster, daffodils, a leek, wondrous, [to travel] far and wide, scores of [religious communities], [his] remains, to settle, to be canonized, the Pope, a parade, to pin [an emblem] to the lapel, reliable, lavish, a host of [events], heritage, a costume, to spot, a banner, a procession, to head down to [the Hayes], a rousing [rendition], a shindig, a [food] stall, cookery, arts and crafts, a [daffodil] dash, an outpouring, a random, a bake off, to fuel [it] out, homemade, a settlement, [to bring out] the bunting, undulating, a fortress, to be dotted, a big hitter, a lesser-known [spot].

The Trisagion Film video with subtitles, "Do the little things" (13:34), can be accessible for B2+ and C1 students.

If you prefer a shorter journalistic report you can read the Evening Standard's article "St. David's Day 2024: why and how Wales celebrates its patron saint." This article can be accessible to B1 students, who will come across the following vocabulary: patron saint, a bank holiday, unlike, to mark [the day], a feast, a cliff,  fierce, a nun, a claim, to found [a monastery], [a Cathedral] to stand, to host, a parade, a leek, a helmet, a dish, cawl, bara brith, to top [your cake], a [lemon] curd, a sprinkle [of sugar], [to take to] the stage, [Go to a] gig, a singer-songwriter. 

Whereas WalesOnline reports on the Croeso celebration in Swansea, which started on February 29th, with the article "Huge four-day St. David's Day Celebration in Swansea with centrepiece spectacular parade through city".

Primary school teachers can find an array of resources to decorate classrooms, to play with children, a video to watch or some PowerPoints about St. David in the link St. David's Day on Twinkl.es. Techie teachers can use digital tools to build St. David's Cathedral with Minecraft, to write a Welsh recipe with Adobe Creative Cloud Express, to create images & animations with J2e, and find some more support materials & resources around the topic of St. David on Hwb, the National Digital Learning Platform.

St. David's Day is marked all around the world. Wales Week in London takes place for a fortnight, from 22nd February to 5th March 2024, and it features arts & crafts exhibitions, artisan food & drink tasting events, concerts, theatre, business talks etc. The number of cities around the world that honour St. David's Day has been growing since the covid19 pandemic impacted the spread of commemorations across the world. In A worldwide celebration of Wales, you can find parades and festivals in Bangkok, British Columbia, Dublin, Hungary, Iran, Kansas, Melbourne, New York, Osaka, Paris, Tokyo etc.

You can finally watch the Visit Wales video to visit St. David's, the smallest city in the UK, with a population of less than 2,000 people, and listen to some its inhabitants explaining the charms of the city. This short 2:11 video without subtitles can be easily avilable for B2 students.

After reading and watching all this, you can take this online St. David's Quiz  from the blog Office Holidays, to assess how much you have learnt about Wales and its patron saint. Good luck!

'Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus' - 'Happy St David's Day' in Welsh. On this short video from We Learn Welsh, you can hear the proper Welsh pronunciation.

Lunar New Year 2024: The Year of the Dragon

Lunar New Year starts today, February 10th, 2024.  It is a massive New Year celebration in China and in many Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea (where it is called "Seollal"). Here you can find a list of links to articles and videos that show how this spring festival is celebrated across Asia.

The Straits Times of Singapore run this story three days ago "Roaring into the Year of the Dragon: S'pore scales up its Chinese New Year splendour", which shows incredibly spectacular photos of street decoration to celebrate Chinese New Year. This photo display is accessible for any level, but the descriptive written language of the captions makes them more suitable for C1 students, who will find interesting words like: to roar, to scale up, to spot, to weave, an animatronic [sculpture], a cloak, striking, an installation, to herald, auspicious, a myriad, ferocious [splendour], reminiscent, to pose [for photos], cute, on display, to bestow, blessing, a beast, to soar [skyward], a roundabout, a lantern, to put up, to share, to grace, to toil, repurposed, an attire, lightbulbs, Styrofoam, to embody, community spirit, a rendition, handcrafted, to debut, an outsize [version], a performance, vibrant, to perch, greetings, formidable, a mid-vault, to leap over, a waterfall, polyfoam, fibreglass, a resort, insta-worthy, to whip out [their phones], to slay, a pairing, to adorn, troops, overhead, to set [Chinatown] aglow, to launch, festive [lights]. larger-than-life, to be fitted, to snap [shots], a showcase.

A very popular tradition on Chinese New Year is giving family and friends a red packet, called "lai see", with money. The South China Morning Post explains this custom in detail in "Lunar New Year red packets: everything you need to know about giving and receiving 'lai see', from who and when to how much", do not miss the video with subtitles! It explains the complex social rules of the gift-giving exchange and a short tale that recounts its legendary origin. The article can be read by B2 students, whereas the video, which basically contains the same information, is problably more suitable for C1 learners.

Shine News reports on the preparations for the Lunar New Year in Qibao Ancient Town in Shanghai, in the article "Spring festivities flourish on Shanghai's streets", which also shows some pictures of local street decorations, lights and food. Shine News also explains "China's fascination with dragons: What's behind it?" with an article and a video. These short articles and the video are recommended for B2 students.

Other parts of the world also celebrate Chinese New Year. Zaragoza held a parade on Sunday 28th January, on the eve of saint Valero's holiday, with a dragon, a tiger and a Chinese folk show on El Pilar square. Sydney (Australia) holds a 4-week-long festival with loads of activities from Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese traditions.  You can check it out on Sydney Lunar Festival 2024. And ABS-CBN News in Manila (Philippines) reports on the culinary feasts in neighbouring countries: in Vietnam the delicacy to eat for Lunar New Year or "Tet" is 'dragon feet' chickens and in Cambodia people flock to markets to buy roasted pigs.

Finally, you can learn how Seollal is celebrated in Korea by watching this short video below  (0:59") with subtitles, which is suitable for C1 students. 

Thanksgiving

Today, Thursday 23 November, 2023, I would like to thank an American family, the Dolbeys, who welcomed me as a foreign AFS exchange student over 40 years ago and taught me English around a dining table. 

Thank you, Boyd, Lynn (R.I.P.), Charlie, Cathy and Christie, in times of joy and in times of sorrow.

*****

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States, Canada, some Caribbean islands and even in Liberia. Wikipedia explains the history and traditions of this peculiar holiday all around the world, in an article which is rather long and complex, so it is recommended for C1 students if you want to read it all . Some of the interesting words you can find in this article are: blessing, harvest, failure, settlers, to flee, God Almighty, to be prompted, relief, siege, to beseech, sham, to observe a festivity, to dub, a feast, staple, non-denominational, crop, barley, oats.

The Farmers' Almanac offers a more light-hearted, hands-on approach to celebrating Thanksgiving: recipes, helpful hints, traditions, trivia & nostalgia.  Each separate section could be accessible to B2 students. Some interesting words here are: to observe a festivity, to scour, a hint, to dig, to browse, mouth watering, cranberry, squash, stuffing, pumpkin, leftovers, heartburn, moist, fluffy, mashed [potatoes], yummy, stew, a riddled, jellied.

There are several videos on YouTube which give you complementary views of Thanksgiving. An easy video to introduce foreign students to the basics is Thanksgiving History & Traditions. ESL/ESOL/EFL A1- A2, (3:47) which, despite its title, is more suitable for B1 learners (you can read the subtitles). Some interesting words you will find are: an occasion, pilgrim, voyage, to land, crops, to grow [corn], harvest, roast, turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, parade.

A more detailed account of the story of Thanksgiving can be found in The Real Story of Thanksgiving, (11:42), where you can thoroughly learn about the sailing difficulties of the Mayflower, how the Pilgrims built the first settlement and the story of the individual Indians and tribes that hepled the settlers: Sumoset an Abenaki Indian; Squanto, a Patuxet Indian who was kidnapped and taken to Spain and England where he became fluent in English and the Wampanoag tribe who formed a military alliance with the Europeans against other Indian enemy tribe, namely, the Narragansetts. This video with subtitles is fast and dense, and it contains a lot of technical and colloquial expressions, so it is recommended for C2 students and above. Some interesting vocabulary: kumbaya, pier, bound for, a spit, speedwell, ungainly, to make it [to America], dissenters, haunt, to have more say, a printing press, a bad rap, flattering, creaky [boat], undaunted, glee, to be refitted, to botch, to cram, a snap, a beam, a spare, buckling, delays, a screw, to be kicked out, to cite land, to set up anchor, dodgy, to be set down, scurvy, icy, to send out, to be aboard, to drape, arrows, muskets, pilgrims, to search the area, claws, riddled, timber, to be wiped out, picky, to huddle together], to thaw, the crew, a storehouse, the locals, promptly, supplies, to swap, the chief, to be beset, a cannon, unlikely, tutelage, to thrive, bounty, game birds, waterfowl, deer, eel, crab, harvest, to set aside their differences.

A more critical view of the encounter of the two civilizations can be seen in the First Thanksgiving video (6:09) which takes pride to show the "true events" behind the fairy tale that is taught at primary schools: the complex political and religious background to the Mayflower Pilgrims's exile into the New World and the troubled relationships between the native Americans and the Pilgrims. This video is fast and quite complex in content so, it can be suitable for C2 students. Some interesting expressions are: dawn, deceitful, settlement, in droves, to be wiped out, the fate, pilgrims, to flee (fled), the congregation, to pay off the debt, to be spotted, a grave, a storage pit, furs, a hostage, to keep an eye on, bountiful, to entertain, settlers, to fast, to be up to something, to overthrow, swift, sachem, a conspiracy, preemptive, to outnumber, godless, the outcome, to surrender, short-lived, zealous beliefs, to wipe away, the fairy tale.

If you want to find out about how Thanksgiving is celebrated in other countries around the world, like Canada, China, Korea, the Caribbean, Liberia, Germany or Japan, you can watch Thanksgiving around the world (7:01). The script in this video with subtitles is more simple, colloquial and the delivery is less fast, so, perhaps it can be OK for B2 students and above. Some interesting expressions are: a feast, to compile, to get together, mashed potatoes, to chow down, casserole, cranberry, crew, treacherous, pastry, a filling, goddess, the eve, quality time, a bonding activity, odd, tiny, to be overthrown, a coup, a whaling ship, a whaler, a feast, a harvest  festival, the bounty of crops.

A final option is to watch the video The History of the Holidays: the History of Thanksgiving (3:25). This is a summary of the history of the festivity and the modern celebrations, a short version of the texts and videos above. The language is not too hard, so it can be accessible to B2 students.  You can also find the video at the bottom of this entry too. Some interesting vocabulary that you will find here: iconic, a feast, their bounty, staple, codfish, lobster, fasting, prayer, bountiful harvests, drought, to decree, to set about establishing, to urge politicians, leisure, to boost attendance, fledging, a kickoff, to brave the cold, a collective breath, to reconnect with loved ones. 

 

In 2023, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday 23rd November in the USA.

Paella (with a Caribbean touch)

Paella is a delicious Spanish dish, originated in Valencia, but acclaimed world-wide, that can have multiple variations. Here award-winning chef JJ Johnson gives an interesting recipe with all the traditional ingredients (seafood, vegetables and spices) and a touch of Caribbean lime, rather than Valencian lemon. The recipe is practical to cook, if you can find the right kind of stock, which is essential to give the rice its full flavour. Perhaps you can try it and enjoy the result with your family and friends next weekend!

The article "The Simple Art of Rice: Seafood Paella with Lime" comes from BBC Travel, and is part of the book The Simple Art of Rice, that chef  JJ Johnson  and graphic novelist and illustrator Danica Novgorodoff presented on September 18th in the Museum of the City of New York. 

The article is suitable for C1 students, as it has ample cooking vocabulary.  You can find words like cookbook, seafood, award-winning, a fast-casual [restaurant], a gathering, to dive [deep] into [rice], akin to, clams, shrimp, a squeeze, to date back to, expertise, spices, [to become] entwined, a staple, oversized, a medley, stout, kernel, to plump with flavour, to soak up [the stock], to stick [together], a [perfect] bite, fancy, brininess, mussels, prawns, lobster, scallops, a cast-iron [pan], shallow, crispy, a crust, a hint, garnished, [lemon] wedges, a burst, a zing, shellfish, to dice, tbsp (a table spoon), minced, a clove [of garlic], kosher salt, paprika, saffron threads, to crush, to roast, a strip, to scrub, to rinse, to remove, to peel, to devein [prawns], to chop, a chunk, to sauté, gummy, a skillet, to sprinkle, a lid,  to simmer, to discard, the burner, [rice] to set, cockles. 

Carnival

Summer, together with February, is Carnival season.  You may be out there, enjoying the carnivals of your hometown, or not.  In that case, perhaps you can make a virtual trip to the Caribbean and enjoy the colour and the fun here, in this National Geographic article about carnival in the Caribbean islands.

In the text , which can easily be read by C1 students, you will come across interesting words like: lesser-known [islands], to ring, lure, flamboyant, costumes, Lenten, Mardi Gras, debauchery, a masquerade ball, to enslave, to tap into, to drum, a [rebellious] chant, to mock, a [colonial] master, defiance, slavery, to spill [onto the streets], to bear [similarities], distinct [traditions], craftmanship, to honour [their ancestors' resistance], fellowship, a whopping [$124bn], performers, on display, iconic [carnivals], to be dubbed ['the mother of all carnivals'], to draw [visitors], to purchase, to join in, a parade, the entire [country], masqueraders, to gather, mud, sunrise, feather, glitter, jewelled [costumes], a steel pan band competition, fetes, themed parties, a trendsetter, to renact, a riot, emancipated slaves, to ban, to fuel up [on local foods], doubles, bake and shark, roti, pelau, pineapple chow, to add to [the experience], the launch, pan yaad hopping, a meet up, T-shirt mas, a reveller, a swimsuit, a casual cut-off outfit, J'ouvert, a powered-down [body], a wig, daybreak, to showcase, conch wate, souse, bakes, a distinct [feature], cowbells, car rims, infectious beats, to pack a [significant] punch, season festivities, ride parties, soca fetes, to sell out, value for {your] money, to wind down, [island] commute, the harvesting season, a long-running [carnival], to kick off, an elaborate [show], a skit, calypso music, to pass down to [the future generation], to feature, crafts, live performers, the highlight, to name after, a bounty [of spices], glistening [oiled-bodies], to take over, helmets, devil horns, to drag [chains], a smoked herring, to protrude, to lunge, in jubilance, a satire, Bacchanal Friday, Soca Monarch, Pantastic Saturday, Monday Night Mas, to stand out, to show up [at dusk], glowing paraphernalia, sticks, a fancy costumed parade, a last-lap [parade], a picturesque [waterfront], to check out, an off-the-beaten track [experience], a loser, whip, the sidelines, to host, startling [diversity], a vibrant [parade], the seafront [boulevard], island-hopping, a southernmost [island], Junior Pan Fest, a pristine [beach].

The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

Travel + Leisure magazine has just published the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022, for their affluent American readers, featuring Alaska (left) among other national and international destinations. 

C1 students can do some virtual travel with the article 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022, they can look at the beautiful pictures and pick up English words galore, as the text is packed with descriptive adjectives, nouns and verbs like: a far-flung destination, a thrill, travel restrictions galore, albeit, to cross off [destinations], the hospitality industry was hit hard, downtime, to venture, to reap [the benefits], valiant [efforts], to teem with [fresh-air activities], to be raring, to make up for, splashy, hard-hit destinations, buzzy, stateside, to hold back, wellness, farm-to-table living, to stretch, overlooked, unspoiled [villages], picturesque, stunning, sleepy, underdog, harbinger, an eco-lodge, glamping, a [food] hotspot, local produce, an eager [traveler], vast, towering snow-capped [peaks], pristine [wilderness], to roll out [itineraries], to launch [new ships], myriad, a gathering, easy-going, to resume [service], a fleet [of jets], a sprawling [resort], perks, butler, to debut, a shutdown, a compelling [reason], seals, heli-hiking, a craps table, to skip, crystal-clear waters, [50 miles] off the coast, a day pass, to be whisked away, to indulge [in local food], conch, stew, rock lobster, hiatus, to keep an eye for, junkanoo, an all-inclusive [stay], vibrant, a spa, hammam [treatment], vendors, to stroll down, a boardwalk, ocean-front [food], rainforests, diver, a barrier reef, abundance, casual [spots,], luxe [resorts], an oceanfront [villa], a nonstop [flight], charm, a shining [example], a rooftop [library], an oenophile, unassuming, a wine cellar, draped, a estate, resilience, on tap, hilltop [suites], to glimpse, glitzy, to unveil, [room] renovations, an outpost, a mogul, to snag [the term], a venue, a low-key [escape], stunning, white-washed [buildings], to lust after, cerulean blue, to peruse, to seek out, to hop [aboard], to wield [lightsabers], to brush shoulders with, to be slated, to encapsulate [a definition], a [steel] monolith,

to be buzzing [with energy], to bolster, to carve out a name, the [luxury travel] realm, riesling [wine], to knock, a lighter-bodied [red wine], a [foodie] draw, festival roster, to grasp onto its charms, quaint [downtown], chock-full, storefronts, lining, sidewalk, [race] riots, a winery, a rock quarry, a quirky-cool [enclave], brand-new, a lush [setting], rolling [hills], nourishing [food], to be raised, to be foraged, bustling, to tack on [to], a [presidential] decree, to seek [to combat], amenities, a carbon-neutral footprint, to kick its signature into high gear, a cue, to soak, hot springs, a speakeasy [bar], a budding [surf scene], a state-of-the art [wave pool], a [wave] lagoon, pending [city approvals], a splash zone, a craft beer hotspot, a [biking] trail, alum, to grab [headlines], to make strides, to showcase, jetty, wary [of travelling], solace, to hop on [a flight], to straddle [three regions of Zambia], a hot air balloon, a sundowner, a lofty [resolution], to commence, sparkly [new] digs, to [venture] off the beaten track, snorkeling, scuba diving, to top, to splash out on [dinner and a show], to wrap [a project], a racetrack, the attendees, a medley [of cultures], a smattering [of terrain], verdant [rain forests], to blend, hawker food stalls, a coveted [resort], turquoise, an overwater [villa], primed for [snorkeling], zip-lining, to meld, sleek,

available for charter, a slew of [hotel openings], a [cocktail] curator, to set sail, a tagline, a suspended bridge, an all-nighter, high-end, alluring, otherworldly, cloud-shrouded, an uptick, to partake, volcanic terroir, a grueling [hike], ample [opportunities], a humpback [whale], an orca, to spot, nuanced, a gateway, to tag [a turtle], a hideaway, to put [an area] on the radar, a hub, moss-draped [streets], slick, hazy [ales], sours, a taproom, luster, to garner, cooped-up [city dwellers], to be enthralled, vortex, stargazing, to follow suit, revamped, glitz, to flock, skijöring, snowkiting, tobogganing, to pop up, rugged [land], a penthouse [room], over-the-top [hotels], a flagship [hotel], a stretch [of a path], a hillfort, [gourmet Mexican] fare, boho-chic [lodgings], a beachcomber, to lift off, to ramp up, a jaunt, the edge [of space], a dealbreaker. 

If you prefer urban travel, you can look at the pictures of the 25 Best Cities to Travel in 2022, also from Travel + Leisure magazine, which puts Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) at the top of this inventory and Ubud (Indonesia) ranking 3rd. The Spanish city of Seville is also included in this year's list at number 11.