The Big Ben
Hello everybody!
Today I present you one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions: The Big Ben.
“Big Ben” is the nickname for the big bell of the clock tower, north of the Palace of Westminster. His real name is “Elizabeth Tower” in honour to the present Queen Elizabeth II.
Some curiosities:
# It works since 7th September 1859.
# Each clock dial (there are 4) is 7 meters in diameter.
# The minute hands are 4.3 meters long and the hour hands are 2.7 meters long.
# New Year’s Eve (31th December) in London is celebrated around Big Ben area. The countdown is accompanied by the Big Ben’s chimes.
# It has appeared in several animated Walt Disney films, including The Great Mouse Detective, Peter Pan and Cars 2.

The final question: Do you know a famous building in Sta. Coloma where there is a clock in a tower?

Vocabulary
Nickname: a familiar name given to a person, animal, or place… Pepe is a nickname for José
Dial: The circular graduated disc of a clock.
Countdown: To count numbers backwards: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0
Chimes: the sound of a bell (campanades)

See you next week!

Hi everyone!

The red double-decker buses are one of the most specials things in London.

If you are a tourist, for sure you will take a picture of it! But if you are a Londoner, red double-decker buses are just your usual transport.

There are approximately 8.600 iconic red buses carrying more than six millions (6.000.000!!!) passengers each weekday and there are 19.500 bus stops in the capital… Amazing, isn’t it?

When I first arrived at London I thought that it would be very difficult to move around the city by bus. But, believe me, it’s really easy and cheaper than the tube!

Getting on the upper deck is the most exciting, funniest way to see London.

The London bus fares are:

Cash (single fare) £2.40

Oyster (single fare) £1.45

Daily price cap £4.40

Children under the age of 15 can travel for free on London buses (the driver could require them a valid photocard).

Finally, the extra-point value question:

If you come to London how much will you pay for taking the bus???

Vocabulary:

Iconic: person or thing that is a symbol. Sagrada Familia is an iconic monument in Barcelona.

Weekday: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend: Saturday and Sunday

Fare: the sum paid for travelling in a bus, train, plane, taxi…
Oyster: name of the travel card for London transports.
Daily price cap: the maximum price you pay in a day.

Kisses from London

Pili