A weekend in an unfamiliar town
Follow a visitor who changes her plans and discovers stories behind old buildings.
Lucia arrived in an unfamiliar town with a list of places she wanted to see. At the top was a small museum near the river. However, when she reached its entrance on Saturday morning, a sign explained that it was closed for building work.
For a moment, she felt disappointed. She had planned her afternoon around the museum and did not know what to do instead. At a nearby café, she asked the server whether there was another place to learn about the town.
He suggested a short walk through the old market area. Some buildings had small information boards explaining their earlier uses. He drew a route on the back of Lucia’s list and marked a bridge where she could start.
Lucia spent the afternoon following the route. A building that now sold shoes had once been a bakery, and an old store had become a music room. She took notes rather than rushing to the next place. That evening, her original list was unfinished, but she had several stories about the town to tell her friends.
Words to take with you
- unfamiliar
- Not known to you.The street names were unfamiliar.
- disappointed
- Unhappy because something was not as you hoped.I was disappointed when the shop was closed.
- earlier
- Before the present time.This picture shows an earlier use of the room.
- mark
- To show a place or detail with a sign.Please mark the station on the map.
- rush
- To move or do something too quickly.We did not want to rush through the museum.
Check your understanding
Choose an answer, then check each question.
Use your English
Describe how you would learn about an unfamiliar town if its main attraction was closed.
Say your answer aloud or write two or three sentences.