Ep5: Describing places you love

Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of B1 English Talks. This podcast is here to help you improve your English at the B1 level and feel more confident in your progress. Each episode, we'll dive into fun and real-life topics to help you sound more natural and practice your listening skills. Let's get started.

Today's episode is all about describing a place that you love. Now in this episode, we will have many new vocabulary words that are at the B1 level and some at the B2 level. And these words I will pronounce slowly, like picturesque. Picturesque, for example, is a B2 level word. With that being said, let's dive into the episode.

Everyone has a place they enjoy visiting or spending time in. Whether it's a quiet park, a lively city, or even a cozy cafe. Let's think about how we can talk about these places and what makes them special to us.

For example, there is a park here in my city that is one of the most relaxing places that I have ever been to. On a weekday in the middle of the afternoon, this park is very charming. It's very relaxing to be there. It's very spacious. On the weekends, when more people are out, the park can become crowded. It can become lively. Many people go there with their kids and ride scooters through the park. Some people go alone and get comfortable on one of the benches and enjoy a nice book.

I personally would go there for a walk because the park gets a lot of sun and is very picturesque and cozy. I enjoy the peaceful vibes of the park as I walk through, listen to maybe a podcast or an audiobook, and just enjoy the day and the sun. Typically, I would take my dog to walk with me.

This park is a very different experience than the one I had in New York City. I stayed in New York City for four days and I stayed four minutes by foot from Central Park. Central Park is massive, really stunning in its scenery and beauty. However, it can feel the opposite of spacious and cozy. It feels cramped and it's also quite crowded. But in any case, it was a very memorable park and a very memorable environment.

Now, let's talk about a completely different kind of place. Speaking of New York City. It's a vibrant and lively city. You can imagine it's a city filled with modern buildings, colorful markets, and dynamic streets where there's always something happening. Yes, it is a bit crowded, but that adds to the exciting energy. I've never seen such a vibrant place. It's always busy, but for me was so welcoming.

And perhaps that is not your cup of tea. Perhaps you enjoy a place that is more historic and full of charm. Picture a small, rustic village with ancient houses, cobblestone streets, and a scenic view of the mountains. It might feel very authentic and unique, like a step back in time.

For me, I got this feeling of a very authentic and unique place when I visited Buenos Aires, Argentina. Not all parts of Buenos Aires feel this way, but there are areas with cobblestone streets that are quite historic. One such place is La Boca, which is very touristic. There are many tourists there, and there's a lot of bars and restaurants and dancing and music. But if you look beyond those things, it is a beautiful area with a lot of history. And I heard the story of La Boca, and it made me feel more connected to the city itself and to that area of the city. And I appreciated La Boca much more after hearing its history.

And this brings me to a point. When describing a place that you love, it's not just about what it looks like. It's about how that place makes you feel. Does it feel safe and comfortable? Does it feel memorable? Is it a place where you can relax? Or does it inspire you with its beauty?

For example, back in Buenos Aires, I lived near many cafes that were cozy and charming. And the atmosphere was perfect for reading or working. Aside from that, the places stood out because of its people, the community in that area. I lived in Recoleta, in the area of Recoleta. The community is very welcoming and friendly, and I was able to have conversations with strangers quite easily in most cases. And those experiences are what made the area unforgettable for me. Not just the famous, bright, vibrant, lively markets, or the majestic, beautiful, scenic, picturesque parks. But the people and the history is what made it so memorable for me.

To compare the two cities I've discussed, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and New York City, New York, I stayed in Manhattan. They are both very similar, with big, tall buildings, or skyscrapers. The skyscrapers of New York were much more modern than of Buenos Aires, where the skyscrapers were older and more historical. However, Buenos Aires had more of an authentic feel to it. And New York City had more of that bustling, busy vibe of a big city than Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires was more relaxing, and in my opinion, more charming than New York City.

Though they have their ups and downs, my visits to Buenos Aires and New York City were some of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

So to wrap up, describing a place you love isn't just about using big, cool words like beautiful, or interesting, or charming, or authentic. It's about sharing what makes a place special to you. This is what describing in a language is all about. Whether it's the green fields of a peaceful countryside, or the dynamic streets of a big, modern city, or the welcoming, charming vibe of a local cafe, these places connect us to moments and feelings.

So what's a place that you love? Think about it, and try to describe it using some of the words that you've heard today.

Thanks for listening to today's episode of B1 English Talks. Remember, if you're ready to connect, feel free to reach out to me with your thoughts. And otherwise, have a great day, and I'll see you next time. Bye!