Caminito del Rey - Confront your Fears


Spotlight on Vocabulary:

So often I hear the expression "I had fear" to express "tenía miedo". This is wrong.

You should use to be afraid; so the above translation would be - I was afraid.

"to have a fear of something" exists in English but is used to describe a physical condition or phobia:
  • My sister has a fear of spiders. (She suffers from arachnophobia)
  • I have a fear of heights. (I suffer from vertigo)

More often we use the verb to be/feel afraid:
  • I felt afraid when I heard a bump in the middle of the night.
  • Are you afraid of flying?
Remember: preposition + verb-ing.

afraid = frightened = scared
frightening = scary

Have a look at the video of El Caminito del Rey. Don't you feel dizzy? Would you be able to walk along that path? 


Source: You Tube (Lukasz87pl) Key Words: Caminito Rey King's pathway

What are you afraid of?

I am afraid of heights - I got dizzy crossing the bridge in Cuenca and had to crawl along most of it!

I am scared of creepy-crawlies; especially moths and bees.



I feel really scared when I am in deep water; maybe because I can't swim. I think I have a fear of drowning.

I am not frightened of flying. I just hate it; that's all. Probably because something usually goes wrong.

Click on the title to this post (Confront your Fears) to find out about the history of this perilous path.

Comments

Sonia said…
I´ve look at the video and yes, I´ve felt dizzy. It´s shocking!. I couldn´t walk along this path, I think, neither for a million of dollars!. I´m not afraid of heights but I don´t like it very much.

I´ve read the history about this path,too and it´s very interesting I didn´t know it.

You are learning us a lot of things more about our country and not only English, with your blog!.
Graham said…
I'VE SEEN the video and yes, I felt dizzy. It´s shocking!. I couldn´t walk along this path, NOT EVEN for a MILLION DOLLARS I RECKON (1)! I´m not afraid of heights but I don´t like THEM very much.

I´ve read the history OF this path,too and it´s very interesting. I didn´t know ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

YOU ARE NOT ONLY TEACHING US English but YOU ARE ALSO TEACHING US A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY with your blog!


You haven't told us what you are afraid of. I am sure there must be some creature that makes you freeze with fear.

(1) Do you remember the word "reckon" that came up in class not long ago? It's informal and means " guess" or "think".
Alfredo said…
About “ el caminito del Rey” I had no idea about such a place and was the first time Ive heard of it, now Im glad to know it!
I´ve felt dizzy just watching the video and “yes” I´m afraid of heights because I suffer from
vertigo too.
Good! They have started to repair it and to keep the maintenance!, because it is the right place for adventuress and a great location for movie directors.
Graham said…
REGARDING(1)“ el caminito del Rey”, I had no idea THAT such a place EXISTED and IT IS the first time Ive heard of it. I'm glad to know ABOUT it now!
I felt dizzy just watching the video and yes; I am afraid of heights, because I suffer from
vertigo too.
Good! They have started to repair it and KEEP UP the maintenance!, because it is the right place for adventurers and a great location for movie directors.

(1)We don't really use "about" to introduce a topic in English. Best use "regarding" or more formally: "concerning".


I doubt they would even shoot an "Indiana Jones" movie there. Even he would be shaking if he attempted to walk the path!
Unknown said…
I feel afraid of heights, specially when the person is walking along the iron bar and you can see the holes in the way
Graham said…
So you won't be doing the "Caminito del rey" anytime soon? :-)

Would you do it if they paid you?

What is it that you are most afraid of?

You mentioned in class that you are afraid of spiders. What's the animal that scares you most?

By the way, you should say "ESPECIALLY when the person ..." I'll post the difference between "especially" and "specially" soon.

Go to the latest post on Introductions and write one about you.

See you tomorrow.