英语博客(A cup of English):040 D'Anjou bakery.

　　Beginners.

The D'Anjou bakery is a special place to visit that is located quite close to Wenatchee. A quick drive on the highway, past the town of Cashmere, will take you to this place of delights. If you are not careful, you will miss the turn-off, so you need to keep your eyes peeled. I drove there the other day to meet a lady who works in the bakery. She is from France. I wanted to introduce myself, and practice a bit of french. We had a very pleasant conversation and exchanged phone numbers, but then she had to get back to work. I had some time to spare, so I bought three yummy pastries 1 and a coffee. I sat down, relaxed, and looked around the room. It is similar to the inside of a log cabin. The style is relaxed, and reminds me of European cafes. People came and went as I drank my coffee; everyone seemed cheered by walking into the place. I don't eat much candy, but what I love to have instead is some free time, a good coffee, and a freshly baked pastry 2. There's nothing better!

Grammar notes.

Located: Spain is located South of France. The rescue team located the man. Scientists have located where the ship sunk.

Exchange: They exchanged glances; I think they like eachother. There is a student exchange program in our school.

To get back to: I had to get back to studying. I have to get back to the ironing. They had to get back to the hotel. * Multiple meanings - to return to/ to continue/ to dedicate oneself to.

Useful expressions:Quick (sometimes means short), keep your eyes peeled (ouch!), spare time (extra time).

Verbs: To drive (drive, drove, driven), to buy (buy, bought, bought), to come (come, came, come), to go (go, went, gone).

Advanced.

Atmosphere. What is it when you think in terms of a great place to be, where you feel comfortable, relaxed, interested, and inspired? Are you lucky enough to have anywhere like that close by? Well, I'm a lucky person. The D'Anjou bakery is a discovery, or, at least, feels like it. If olde worlde appeals to you, not over done I might add, but subtle and self explanatory, as olde worlde should be, then, you might just like it too. I'm an olde worlde gal 3 myself. I miss, at times, the sense of rich, deep history in buildings around me. It's comforting. To walk down a street where history unravels 5 itself at each step, and the buildings seem to tell their stories of people and events, places you in the middle of a story book that happens to be real. Newness and plastic can be quite repulsive 6. So, with these feelings in mind, I go to the D'Anjou bakery and smile. What can I say? It's a little fix. Good coffee brings people back, of course. Even when they vow 7 to give the stuff up, they are helplessly hooked. And then there are the baked goods. When made with quality ingredients, easy on the sugar, liberal with the cream and butter, eating them is like absorbing a piece of fine art. But I have said too much. I've given away my vice 8. Bakery? What bakery?

Grammar notes.

Useful expressions: in terms of, close by, at least, I might add, with this/ these....in mind, a vice.

Verbs: To absorb (reg.), to unravel 4 (reg.), to appeal (reg.).

Useful vocabulary: inspired, olde worlde, subtle, self explanatory, events, newness, repulsive, a fix, fine art.