Gap Fill Exercise - A Vacation in Greece

Thank you so much for your recent letter. I really -- enjoyed reading (enjoy, read) about your holiday -- in Spain. It sounds -- like you -- had (have) a wonderful vacation. Let me tell you about our summer holiday in Greece!

The flight -- to Greece -- went (go) smoothly. However, we had some problems with the ferry in Athens! We -- had booked (book) a ferry crossing two weeks before we -- left (leave) and arrived at the port with our tickets in hand. -- Unfortunately , the ferry -- was (be) nowhere in sight! We rushed about the port -- trying (try) to find the ferry, but no one -- had ever heard (ever hear) of the ferry lines! Finally, after we -- had been waiting (wait) for about four hours, a man -- told (tell) us that the ferry line -- had changed (change) owners and had a new name and kindly -- directed (direct) us to the correct ferry. Well, we were pretty lucky as the ferry -- was preparing (prepare) to depart that very moment! We hopped -- on board and -- drank (drink) a beer to calm our nerves.

After that, the vacation really -- began (begin) to be fun. We arrived in Sifnos (one of the many marvelous Greek islands) and -- found (find) our apartment. The apartment -- was located (be located) directly -- on the beach with a marvelous -- view of the sea. We -- stayed (stay) in a small village which -- has (have) about 200 inhabitants during the year, but -- swells (swell) to over 2,000 -- during the summer holiday months. We -- spent (spend) our days reading, swimming, napping and having a very relaxing time indeed. We also -- took (take) a number of long walks -- around the island.

I'll always remember one walk in particular: We -- had woken up (wake up) early that morning so as to get an early start. I -- was making (make) coffee when my brother-in-law, who -- had joined (join) us in Sifnos, -- burst (burst) in saying, "Susan -- is (be) ill and we have to go to the doctor's". We -- got into (get into) the car and, after a short journey up the road the nearest doctor's, Susan got the medicine she -- needed (need). We -- returned (return) to our apartment and Susan went to bed -- for the day. Daryn, my brother-in-law, and I -- decided (decide) to go on our hike even -- though we -- had lost (lose) a few hours going to the doctor. By that time, the sun -- had risen (rise) high in the sky and we -- set off (set off) in blistering heat. A slight breeze -- was blowing (blow) so we really -- didn't notice (not notice) the heat. After we -- had been walking (walk) for about an hour, the wind suddenly -- stopped (stop) and we found ourselves alone in the countryside without a drop of water. We decided we -- would keep (keep) walking as we were sure to find somewhere to stop and have a drink and a rest. Unfortunately, as we later -- discovered (discover), the closest village was another five kilometers -- away . We -- carried on (carry on) in the boiling sun -- until we finally reached the village. We -- went (go) into the nearest bar to have something to drink. It was then that I -- realized (realize) that I -- had left (leave) my wallet in the apartment -- as I -- was rushing (rush) to get out the door and go on the hike! We were 15 kilometers -- from our apartment and -- had been hiking (hike) through 100° heat and -- didn't have (not have) a dime (well, a drachma actually!) to buy ourselves something to drink! Luckily, the people of the island are really friendly, so we -- explained (explain) our situation and the owner -- offered (offer) us a Coke -- on the house. I don't think I -- had ever enjoyed (ever enjoy) a drink -- so much in all my life.

The rest of the vacation was spent relaxing. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and -- have already planned (already plan) our next vacation in Greece -- in two years time.

I hope you and Barbara are well. Write me soon.

Best wishes,

Ken