Transport, Travelling, Accomodation

Means of transport
“There are three things that are too amazing for me, … that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas...“
Proverbs 30:18-19
Transport is the most important thing for travelling. In the past, when means of transport don't exist, people had to move on foot, on a carriage, coach or riding a horse. Transfer from one part of Europe to another took days and weeks. That's why distances in the Middle Ages seem so long for us. But times are changing. Nowadays, we know several means of transport. In the sentences below, I want to present some of them.

2.1 Bicycle
Bicycle is basic and very simple vehicle. It's possible that you think it isn't even a mean of transport. In the end of the 19th and in the 20th century it was widely used by poorer section of population. But even now, in the 21st century, a large number of road users have replaced cars for a much cleaner and more efficient machine- the bicycle. Countries like the Netherlands or Switzerland are famous for protecting their environment and you can see thousands of people riding bicycle on their way to work. There are also thousands cycle ways copying routes.

2.2 Car
Today, the dominant form of transport is undoubtedly the car. The car also masters the roads of most cities. The car can take us relatively quickly to wherever we want to go. Another advantage is that we can stop where we want and when we want. This kind of travelling is very fast and relatively cheap, but not very safe because the roads are full of cars, there are a lot of traffic jams and possibility of an accident. However, it's still the most advantageous and popular kind of travelling.

2.3 Bus
Another popular kind of travelling is the bus. It's advantageous for short distances. If you choose it for long distance, it's possible you will feel uncomfortable. On the other hand this vehicle is fast, the prices of tickets are quite good. Nowadays, buses (especially buses for long distances – coaches) are usually equipped with better seats, dark glasses, air-condition, television, radio and often with a toilet as well. Disadvantages of buses are that they are often crowded, there are a lot of accidents and traffic jams, they are often delayed.

We know 3 types of buses:
1. for city transport
2. for short distances
3. Coaches

2.4 Train
Train is the oldest of modern means of transport. It has been used since the 18th century. It's advantageous for travelling for long distances. There aren't stressful jams, and trains are fast and comfortable. You can just sit and read, work, sleep, walk, have a meal or a snack in the buffet car or watch the world go by. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars, which make travelling by train more pleasant. However, train also has some disadvantages: it's expensive and you must use other transport to get to the railway station.

2.5 Plane
Today, the airplane is the quickest way to get to a distant destination. Thousands of flights, carrying millions of people, take off and land all over the world every day. Business in today's fast-paced world would be very difficult without the airplane. It’s exciting (if you ever flew over the Alps, you know what I'm talking about), fast, comfortable. Disadvantages are similar like disadvantages of train: you must travel to the airport and also be there at least two hours in advance. Until recently flights have been very expensive, but now we know low-cost airlines, which are relatively cheap. Attention! Their plane ticket may not include all fees.

2.6 Ship
Before air travelling was possible, people used to travel long distances by sea. In the first half of the 20th century, grand passenger ships, or ocean liners, made regular voyages between all the continents. One of the grandest of them all was the Titanic. Nowadays, ships are used much less for travellers, because on board we will spend more time than in plane. It's very comfortable, clean, safe and expensive. The possibility of sickness from the waves is also taken into account.

3 “A way you travel...”
...isn't always the same. People of all the generations have known it. But, a word travel, what does it mean? The Oxford Dictionary says that noun travel mostly mean the action of travelling, like journeys, especially abroad.
But in my opinion, travelling is much more than holiday or journey. Such as art or culture: it's something that differentiate us from animal. Travelling is physical thing: it's moving, but spiritual thing, also. Experience, which we can acquire, is unique and subjective. In the text below, I would like to present some types of travel: from basic, such as commuting to school, to journeys abroad and discovery expedition.

3.1 Commuting
Commuting is the most important type of travel. You may even think that isn't travel. Many years ago, people didn't commute to school or work. They worked in their fields or they worked in their own workrooms, which were located near their home. But times are changing and today, just a few people work near their houses. The vast majority commutes several miles to work or school every day. This basic type of travelling means regular movement of only a few miles by the same way and the same means of transport.

3.2 Business journeys
Business journeys are typical for this age, when a lot of people work in services, like offices, banks and insurance companies. Because of these big companies often are based hundreds and thousands miles away from concrete branches, employees often have to travel to common meetings. This type of travel isn't mostly regular; it's very specific and depends on concrete company.

3.3 Holidays
Even people have traveled for holiday from time immemorial, in recent years it has become much more popular. In the past, travelers organized their journeys on their own. But in the end of the 20th century, a lot of travel agencies have arisen.

Today, we know:
1. Package holidays
2. Self catering holidays

3.3.1 Package holidays
Package holidays are provided by travel agencies. If you buy package holidays, it will include stay at a hotel, a plane ticket, suitable insurance, visas… In essence, you will be all set to go. Also, when you arrive to a destination, you will be taken to a hotel. Later, you will be able to use services of a delegate. This type of holidays has its advantages, but disadvantages, too. In my opinion, it's a big advantage that you don't have to worry about nothing. A disadvantage is that you must observe the rules of travel agency and you don't have full freedom.

3.3.2 Self catering holidays
On the other hand, many people can't afford so much luxury so they prefer travelling on their own. These holidays can include the same accommodation like package holidays, but you must arrange it yourself. Because of you must to do it on your own, a price of holiday will fall considerably. It's advantageous if you prefer staying at a campground or in a rented bungalow, or spending a lot of day on the beach. You can prepare your own meals and feel free because you can eat when you want and enjoy your holiday the way you want. But the disadvantage is that organizing a holiday isn't easy because there are so many things to think about. So it's important to plan every step carefully.

3.4 Discovery
This category includes discovering, exploring or individual travelling without other people, maybe just a small group of travellers. These travellers aren't looking for relax, but they want to reach something and this is common for them. In the past, some explorers like Marco Polo or Ferdinand Magellan risked their lives for exploration of new areas, which were unknown at that time. Nowadays, when most of areas are explored and known, explorers are trying to travel to these areas again. It's also the good way to find own heart.

4 Specific types of travel
A hopeful heart and an open mind are the best travelling companions
(Quote, unknown author)
In the sentences below, I would like to describe some specific types of travelling. This category can't be defined exactly, but I want to mention just some of them.

4.1 Agro-Tourism
In simple terms, it's a form of tourism that tries to have a low impact on the environment and local culture while it helps to generate income, employment and promote conservation. Perhaps “responsible” tourism is a better term. The travel industry is worth an estimated 35 billion pounds a year and it isn't just far-flung locations that can be at risk.
You can be an eco- tourist yourself by keeping some basic rules:
- Make sure you don't waste water, and be sure to switch lights off, recycle towels and turn the TV off
- Don't litter the landscape with rubbish
- Get on your bike or walk - it's cleaner for the environment and good for you too
- When you're picking a day trip or excursion, make sure you choose one that employs local members of the community

4.2 Missionary work and humanitarian aid
It's very specific type of travel, but worthy-mentioned. If you choose it, you will help the other people, which suffer from penury, unknown and incurable diseases and so on, often thousand miles away from your home. It isn't just travelling or work, it's a ministry. However it's very hard and exhaustive work, it's very fulfilling work. There are also less exacting types, like teaching in communities in less developed countries, proclaiming the gospel and so on.

4.3 Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage is specific type of travel, too. It's widely used among all the religions and nations of the world. For man is typical to have a desire for travelling and looking for his own heart. That's why in the past thousands of pilgrims walked hundreds of miles to reach their final destination, like Mt. Saint-Michel, Santiago de Compostela, Jerusalem, or in the Far East rivers like Ganges or Yangtze River. The final destination is always connected with something sacred. Nowadays, thousands of pilgrims still travel…to find themselves.

4.4 Hitch-hiking
It's for people who love fun and adventure. It's very special type of travel used mostly by young people, who aren't afraid of taking risk of using it. If one wishes to indicate that they need a ride, they must simply make a hand gesture. In North America, the gesture is to stick one of their thumbs upward. In other parts of the world, it is more common to use a gesture where the index finger is pointed at the road. The main advantage of hitch-hiking is the price (mostly free, but not always). There are some disadvantages of this travelling: you're with unknown strangers, so you don't know what you can expect. It's possible that money can be stolen, girls can be raped. This type of travelling is typical for North America and the United Kingdom.