Travel

typewriter: a machine that produces writing similar to print. It has keys that you press to make metal letters or signs hit a piece of paper through a long, narrow piece of cloth covered with ink (= colored liquid).

The IBM Selectric (a portmanteau of "selective" and "electric") was a highly successful line of electric typewriters introduced by IBM on 31 July 1961.

portmanteau word: a word that is invented by combining the beginning of one word and the end of another and keeping the meaning of each. For example motel is a portmanteau word that is a combination of motor and hotel.

cursive: ​(of handwriting) with the letters joined together

itinerary: a plan of a journey, including the route and the places that you visit

capitol: the building in Washington DC where the US Congress (= the national parliament) meets to work on new laws

"at the wheel" generally means in control or in command, often in a driving or leadership context

thoroughbred: (of an animal, especially a horse) of high quality, with parents that are both of the same type

orchard: DJ[ˋɔ:tʃəd]

adobe: a mixture of mud and straw, dried in the sun and used as a building material

Douglas fir: an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is the tallest tree in the Pinaceae family.

neatly: in a way that is tidy and in order; carefully

geology: the scientific study of the physical structure of the earth, including the origin and history of the rocks and soil of which the earth is made

thrill: a strong feeling of excitement or pleasure; an experience that gives you this feeling

stalactite: a long pointed piece of rock hanging down from the roof of a cave (= a hollow place underground), formed over a long period of time as water containing lime runs off the roof

stalagmite: a piece of rock pointing upwards from the floor of a cave (= a hollow place underground), that is formed over a long period of time from drops of water containing lime that fall from the roof

regale him with: to entertain somebody with stories, jokes, etc.

Bill Gates "Source Code"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com