Exploring quays, piers, and the contrast between coastal and inland areas

What are the uses of a quay?

A quay is a concrete or wooden platform parallel to the coastline, where boats can stop for people to get on or off.

The ship docked at the quay so passengers could come ashore for the afternoon. In the evening, the passengers came back to the quay to get back on the boat.
When I was a child, I often sat on the quay to watch the boats come and go. I especially liked watching people load cargo onto the larger ships.

Piers and their functions

A pier is very similar to a quay, or concrete or wooden platform for boats to load and unload things, but piers can also be perpendicular to the coastline, sticking out into the water.
Mary is a big fan of fishing. Every Friday night you can find her at the fishing pier waiting for a fish to bite. She can stand on the pier watching the sea for hours.
The old pier downtown has been turned into a shopping mall. There's no more boats stopping there, but now you can visit nice shops and restaurants right on the water. It's very cool.

Inland safety during hurricanes

Inland is an adjective for all things and places that are away from the coastline.

When there is a hurricane, the safest thing to do is tape up your windows and leave your house, moving much further inland and away from the coast.
In my country, inland cities are always a bit more conservative than coastal ones; they tend to have less diversity and fewer visitors.
The inland part of a country or state is called the interior. A word for a country, state or region that has no coast is landlocked.

Sheena told us that if we want to get a real feel for the country, we shouldn't just visit the coastal cities, but also move inland into the interior. There the culture is a bit more old¬fashioned.
Bolivia is a landlocked country. Ever since the 19th century war, it has had no direct access to the sea.