The sticks (палка) help walk (помогают ходить), especially (особенно) in the countryside (сельская местность), in the park or even on the asphalt.
That is otherwise (по-другому) called Nordic (нордический) walk.
Well, it’s a Northern (cеверный) style by origin (по своему происхождению). The sticks are a little shorter than those (здесь по смыслу: палки) for skis.
Does it inspire (вдохновлять) you?
It doesn’t (Нет).
I see (Понятно).
It’s a pity (жаль).
As for me (что касается меня), I think it might be very effective (эффективно).
***
Please, help me. How should I say in English?
Самый большой (the biggest) фейерверк (fireworks) в Новый год на самом деле (actually) бывает (take place, occur) в Мадейре (Madeira).
It would be (было бы) nice if you helped me.
***
In Spain they know how to get people together (собрать людей вместе) doing some common work (общая работа), for instance, making beautiful carpets (ковер) of the various flowers, and just talking, dancing and singing at that (при этом).
Is it great (замечательно)?
It sure is (да, конечно)!
No doubt (без сомнения), it is (да).
We are all of the same opinion (мы все так думаем), aren’t we (не так ли)?
We sure are (Да, конечно).
Just no doubt! (Никаких сомнений)!
***
Madeira is a beautiful place, they say (говорят).
Could you tell us (Не могли бы вы сказать нам) a few words (несколько слов) about it?
Is it in Portugal?
It’s the place (место) to best (наилучшим образом) spend (проводить) one’s honey-moon (медовый месяц).
Isn’t it (разве нет)?
Would you go there for your honey-moon?
***
– Tyrol is celebrated (славится, известен) for its (cвоими) Tyrol bells (колокольчик). It is also very well known (Он также хорошо известен) for good milk, cheese and seasoning or flavoring (приправа) made of (приготовленный, сделанный из) milfoil (тысячелистник).
– Have you got an idea of that medicinal plant [Знаете что-нибудь об этом лекарственном растении (Имеете какое-либо представление об этом лекарственном растении)]?
– None at all (Никакого представления).
– Just listen then… Oh, I’m sorry, there’s call. It’s a pity but I must be going. It’s such a pity I cannot stay with you. But it’s urgent (cрочно). I must take a leave (распрощаться). Bye-bye. See you (пока)!
– So long (пока)! See you later (пока, увидимся).
***
The settlement (село) of Dvoryaninovo is quite beautiful and taken care of (ухоженный). Formerly (раньше) it belonged (принадлежать) to Bolotov who was fond of (любил) nice landscapes (пейзаж).
I think it is not far from Moscow, but I’m not quite sure. I would like to visit that place.
By the way, I haven’t been to Moscow for so long. When I was younger I visited it very often. It’s a great city, isn’t it? It sure is (Да, конечно).
***
Are you fond of the countryside (Вам нравится сельская местность)?
Not in the least (Нисколько, ни в малейшей степени).
It’s a pity (жаль), isn’t it (не так ли)!
As for me (Что касается меня) I’m fond of (любить, нравиться) the countryside (сельский, загородный) landscapes (пейзаж, ландшафт).
***
You must be able to guess (догадаться) the meaning (значение) of some words and elements:
San Juan – Сан Хуан, Saint Juan – Святой Хуан
St. [snt] (saint – священный).
Saint Petersburg – St. Petersburg – Санкт-Петербург.
***
Сolombo is the capital (столица) of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), isn’t it?
It sure is (да, совершенно верно).
It is a beautiful country, isn’t it? The landscapes are so fascinating (чарующий)! Going sightseeing (знакомство с окрестностями, городом) there is so impressive (так впечатляет).
– Once (однажды) we were caught (мы попали) by a tropical rain. It poured down (хлынуть) as though (как будто) from a pail (ведро). It began (он начался) all of a sudden (coвершенно неожиданно).
– It came down in torrents (поток, ливень).
– Yes, it poured down in bucketfuls (лить как из ведра).
***
By the way, once when I was talking with American guests I said: «It’s raining cats and dogs». They were surprised and said that they had never heard such a phrase before. I said the phrase was first recorded in the middle of the 18th century by Jonathan Swift. And the phrase «rain dogs and polecats (хорек) ” was used in the 17th century in Richard Brome’s «The City Witt». I added that I analyzed some English words and phrases in my essay (эссе, реферат) when I was a student.
I said I was sorry (жаль) I had used a literary phrase which had not yet got penetrated (проникать) into the spoken (разговорный) English.
That’s how (вот как; вот так) I apologized for (извиняться за) my fault (упущение).
***
A foreigner’s (иностранец) English is often very far from (очень далекий от) the live (живой) spoken (разговорный) English. But the native speakers (носитель языка) are kind enough (достаточно добрый) and patient (терпеливый). They treat (относиться; воспринимать) the non-native speakers (не носитель языка) with great benevolence (доброжелательность, благосклонность). I am so much thankful to them (я так им благодарна).
English is spread (распространен) everywhere (повсюду). We must know it to be able to talk (чтобы быть в состоянии говорить) with the other people on the planet.
***
It’s very important (очень важно) not to feel (не чувствовать) greatly sorry (сожаление, неудобство) for making mistakes (за то, что делаешь ошибки), the people around (вокруг; окружающие вас) will be tolerant (терпеливый, толерантный) and understanding (понимающий), they will be ready (быть готовым) to help you.
***
I remember I liked Malaysia so much. Kuala Lumpur is magnificent. Up to now I remember I was presented a bouquet of orchids by a kind lady who grew those flowers. I did not see her. She passed them to me through my companions. The flowers were marvelous.
It is a pity I did not go to Penang, it was so close by. The island of Penang is beautiful, they say.
***
Subway – метро (амер); подземный проход, переход
Double-decker – двухэтажный автобус
***
A-ha – moments (моменты прозрения и озарения).
Do you happen (вам случается) to use this interjection (восклицание, междометие) in your speech (речь)?
When do you use (использовать) it?
Do you use it when you have understood something at last (наконец), when you’ve got (понимать) something?
***
Do you know, the capital of Jordan is the city of Amman [ə’ma: n]. Could you say a few words about it?
***
St. Petersburg became Leningrad in 1924.
And when has it become (когда он стал) St. Petersburg again, I wonder (интересно)?
Do you happen to remember (Случайно, не помните)?
St. Petersburg is so beautiful!
There are magnificent (великолепный) palaces (дворец), museums, bridges (мост) and a lot other beautiful places. The Hermitage alone is worth I don’t know what (чего стоит один Эрмитаж). It’s exceptional (исключительный), striking (поразительный) and phenomenal (необыкновенный). It might take a few years to see the things that are exhibited there. You can walk from one hall to another for many years running but you’ll not be able to say you have seen and felt everything. And above all just seeing does not seem to satisfy you, you will want to get to the heart (проникать в суть) of the painting, sculpture or anything.
There are no words to express one’s admiration.
Well, I do not know, but to my mind there is so much in common between St. Petersburg and Paris. Certainly, these are just my feelings. But I love both the cities.
***
Dubai is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (the UAE), if I am right.
Is it so? Could you tell me?
It would be nice (было бы хорошо) if I were not mistaken (если бы я не ошибалась).
The official language is Arabic.
The currency (валюта) is dirham.
This is a very rich country owing to (благодаря) oil production (добыча нефти).
Luxury uncovered – неприкрытая роскошь.
The Arab people in this city live on the welfare payment (государственное пособие).
Each child who is born into (родиться в) an Arab family is given quite a big cash benefit (денежное пособие) to buy a house or a flat or get higher education (получить образование) in future.
Only immigrants (expats) work there.
Actually (на самом деле) they are not paid much (им не платят много) but it is somewhat (отчасти, в некоторой степени) enough (достаточно) for them to keep (чтобы они поддерживали) their families who stay in their motherland (родина).
The immigrants do not live in very good conditions (условиe) but they have to (вынужден, приходится, должен) put up with (примириться с) that in order to (для того, чтобы) provide sustenance (прокормить), to keep (cодержать) their families staying home (остающихся дома).
There are a lot of the luxurious (роскошный) palaces (дворец), hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, entertainment centers (развлекательный центр) and the other places that have already been built (которые уже были построены раньше) and are being built now (строятся сейчас).
The country will flourish (процветать) owing to (благодаря) tourism too.
Living in good conditions now the young people сan grow well-bred (хорошо воспитанный), well-mannered (обходительный, имеющий хорошие манеры, благовоспитанный), polite (вежливый), all-round educated (всесторонне образованный), erudite (эрудированный), healthy (здоровый) and kind (добрый) people. Many of them can develop (развивать) some gift (способность) and become talented (даровитый, талантливый) in some sphere of science, culture and economy.
***
Stockholm is the capital of which country? I seem to have forgotten (кажется, я забыла)?
Could you help me?
Oh, I’ve got it (я вспомнила)!
It’s Sweden, isn’t it?
Am I right?
Am I not mistaken?
I am right. Good, if so.
***
What is a bay window (эркер), do you happen to know?
I knew but now I seem to have completely forgotten.
[Остекленный выступ (lug, prominence), углубление в стене внутри здания].
Please, translate: Часть комнаты или какого-либо иного помещения (building, premise), выступающая за пределы (project beyond) стены здания в виде (as) полукруглого (semicircular) или многогранного (multifaceted) застекленного (glassed) объёма (volume).
It is a part of the building projecting beyond some wall of the building as a semicircular or multifaceted glassed volume.
Oh, my god. It was just a job translating it to English. I got tired, oh, help me!
By the way, a bay window may be very nicely furnished (обставленный) and decorated (декорированный), I think.
***
What about Strasbourg?
What is this?
Is it located in France?
Do you happen to know anything about it?
[European court (суд) on human rights (право)].
***
I am fond of looking at the paintings by Caravaggio and Titian.
Titian’s painting «Lady Day» or «Annunciation» (Благовещение) is quite impressive (впечатляющий), to my mind (по-моему).
This is an explosion (взрыв) of light (свет).
Magical expressionism!
Powerful (могучий) intellect!
Genius!
***
Do you apologize (извиняться, просить прощения) to people if you hurt (обидеть, задеть) them?
Yes or no?
Do you actually (на самом деле)?
You do (вы просите прощения, извиняетесь), that’s very nice.