Greece
What a whirlwind!
Last Wednesday Ijettedto Kefalonia for a last-minutegetaway. I went with my best friend for just 5 days because we both had work so couldn’tchillaxfor too long! We were both sohypedfor the trip because lockdown had meant she’d beentrappedaway from home in Melbourne for 7 months. We’d finally beenreunitedand it felt so good!
It wasforecastedto be stormy on the second day we were there but wefiguredwe’d just sit inside and read for a day - maybe it’d be enjoyable to have a notoverwhelminglyhot day and lightning is often quitebewitching. However, we awoke on Thursday morning to an emergencyalerton our phonesinformingus that we were near to theeyeof a rare Mediterraneanhurricane.
As a result of this we weren’tpermitted to leave the house for 2 days and experienced apower cutfor 3 days. On Friday the watersupply alsocut out. It waslaughablehow unlucky we’d been - these“medicanes”are once a year events! On Wednesday, we hadpicturedourselves living our Mamma Miafantasyfor the rest of the week, on the beach and in theold towns. By Friday evening, we werehuddled around the one candle in the house, eatingpittabecause that was all the food we had!
Despiteit all, weended upstill having a great time because the situation was so ridiculous. Also we did get 3 days of glorious sunny weather so we can’t complain. When we got home wekept on saying “What awhirlwind of a trip!”in every sense of the word!
GLOSSARY
To jet (verb)
Travel by a jet aircraft, a synonym to fly
Getaway (noun)
A short holiday
To chillax (verb)
To calm down and relax
Hyped (adjective)
To be excited
To trap (verb)
To prevent someone from escaping from a place. For example, they were trapped by flame
To reunite (verb)
To come together again after a period of separation
Forecast (noun)
A prediction or estimation of future events: in particular future weather or financial trends
To figure (verb)
To think, consider or expect something to be the case. This is quite an American verb
Overwhelmingly (adverb)
To a very great level, so in this sentence I’m saying a really hot day - 32 degrees is the average high temperature in Greece!
Bewitching (adjective)
Enchanting or delightful
Alert (noun)
An announcement or signal warning of danger
To inform (verb)
To tell someone something, and give them information
Eye (noun)
In this context, the centre of a hurricane about which the winds rotate
Hurricane (noun)
A storm with violent rotating winds
To permit (verb)
To allow someone to do something
Power cut (noun)
A period of time where there is no electricity in an area
Supply (noun)
An amount of something that is available to use
To cut out (phrasal verb)
to stop operating or working
Laughable (adjective)
So ridiculous as to be amusing
Medicane (noun)
A Mediterranean cyclone - i.e. a hurricane occurring in the Mediterranean. The one we experiences was called Medicane Ianos
To picture (verb)
To imagine something and form a mental image of something
Fantasy (noun)
Imagining impossible or unlikely things and situations
Old town (noun)
In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core
To huddle (verb)
To crowd and hug together, for example: the penguins huddled together for warmth
Pitta (noun )
A flat and hollow bread
Despite (preposition )
Without being affected by; in spite of
To end up (phrasal verb)
To finally be in a place or situation or feeling
To keep on [doing something] (phrasal verb)
To continue to do something, or do something again and again
Whirlwind (noun)
In this context, a reference to a tumultuous period of time. It also means a column of air moving rapidly
In every sense of the word (phrase)
In every way in which something could be understood or interpreted. By this I mean that the holiday was both hectic and also there was a hurricane which is sort of similar to a whirlwind!
Want to read more?
Here’s an article in the Guardian newspaper that’s more advanced. Just ask in the group if there’s any vocab that you don’t understand.