你似乎不能说捷克是一个陌生的国度,但提起捷克,你会想起什么?提起布拉格,你想到什么?电影《布拉格之恋》?你知道一些人挂在嘴边的“波希米亚”正是源自这个国家吗?
美式发音 适合泛听
The Czech Republic is a land-locked country in central Europe that is bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia.
捷克位于中欧,是一个内陆国家,它的邻国包括德国、奥地利、波兰和斯洛文尼亚。
Old Town Charms 古都古韵
When you ask a local about Prague, they’re proud to point out that Prague is the heart of Europe. Prague was settled about 500 AD, and about 300 years later, because of war and turmoil, two fortresses were built. One of them was the Prague Castle. Now if you look inside the castle, the churches, the halls, the gates, everything has maintained its charm from each period of its history.
本地人谈起布拉格都很自豪,会对你说布拉格是欧洲的心脏。约在公元六世纪就有人在布拉格定居。大约过了三百年,人们建了两座堡垒抵御战火和骚乱,布拉格城堡就是其中之一。城堡里面的教堂、大堂、大门,各处都古韵犹存,极具魅力。
Once inside the castle walls you’ll be greeted by Prague’s most distinctive landmark. This is the St. Vitus Cathedral. Construction originally started in 1344, but what’s interesting is that construction didn’t end until about the 20th century. Now over the centuries, this place has seen many 1)coronations and a lot of burials of kings. Today it’s the most prominent building in the Prague Castle. It also now houses the crown jewels and also the kings’ tombs.
一进入城堡,你就会看到布拉格最具特色的地标。这是圣维塔教堂,它最早在1344年动工,但有意思的是它差不多到了20世纪才竣工。在过去的几百年里,教堂见证了多次国王的加冕盛典和葬礼。如今,这座教堂是城堡内最著名的建筑物,保存了皇冠珠宝和国王坟墓。
A leisurely boat cruise along the Vltava River is a great way to see the Charles Bridge and the surrounding area.
轻松乘船顺着伏尔塔瓦河前行是欣赏查尔斯桥和周边地区景色的绝佳方式。
Guide: The Charles Bridge was built in the 14th century by the Emperor Charles IV. It is very well 2)fortified by towers on both sides. So all this area in the Middle Ages used to get flooded every spring. It was a very 3)fertile area. And because the Charles Bridge was the only bridge here for about 439 years, it was built over this place to make a safe and reliable crossing. This bridge was one of the most important trade routes of Europe. And of course we collected tax for the crossing. That’s the reason why this city became so rich.
导游:查尔斯桥于14世纪由查尔斯四世建造,两端的塔楼极大地增强了桥的防御能力。在中世纪,这个区每逢春天都会河水泛滥,因此这里的土地很肥沃。在439年间,查尔斯桥是这里的唯一桥梁,提供安全可靠的过河途径。这座桥是欧洲的一条重要商贸路径。当然了,人每次从桥上过都要纳税,因此本市相当富裕。
The Charles Bridge is the most visited site in Prague. The bridge has 30 statues lining both of its sides.
查尔斯桥是布拉格游客最多的景点,桥上两边有30座石雕。
Cozy Town Magic 小镇天堂
Karlovy Vary is a very fashionable and glamorous town and it gained 4)notoriety in the early 14th century by chance, when one of Emperor Charles IV’s hunting dogs fell into a natural hot spring. After Charles IV’s hunting incident, it was realized that great profit could be made from the warm springs. The town soon became a magnet for European 5)aristocrats. 
卡洛维发利小镇又新潮又漂亮,它在14世纪早期因一次意外而声名鹊起。当时,查理四世的猎狗跌入温泉死亡。在查理四世的这次狩猎意外后,大家意识到温泉可以变成摇钱树,小镇很快就吸引无数欧洲贵族前来。
Situated on the 6)confluence of the rivers Teplá and Ohře it is surrounded by three mountain ranges, where the picturesque river valley winds through wooded hills. More than 70 hot mineral springs can be found in the surrounding region. In Karlovy Vary there are 12 hot springs that are used for various spa treatments, which include mostly drinking cures and baths. The water temperatures vary from 39℃ to 73℃.
小镇位于特普拉河和奥赫热河汇流处,被三条山脉包围。景色如画的河谷穿越茂密山林,附近地区有超过七十个矿物质温泉。卡洛维发利镇有12个可用作各种水疗的温泉,多数是饮用水疗和浸浴水疗。温泉水温由摄氏39度至73度不等。
What goes better with spa treatments and natural hot springs than shopping? And Karlovy Vary has no lack of it. From high-end shops to shops for the rest of us, they’ve got you covered. Make sure you look for porcelain, glassworks and a7)potent herb 8)liqueur that the Karlovy Varyans are popular for.
除了购物,有什么可以更好地与享受温泉水疗和天然温泉相搭配呢?卡洛维发利镇有无数店铺,名店和普通店都一应俱全。要记得搜寻本地名产:瓷器、玻璃制品和草本药酒。
Several centuries ago the region began attracting a growing population of aristocrats with plenty of money and time to kill in between spa treatments. As a result, it became a centre for the arts. One of the art forms that gained popularity was porcelain-making. First produced in 9)Bohemia while under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the number of factories jumped to 77 by 1928. The factories employed almost 20,000 people and produced over 35,000 tonnes of porcelain annually.
数百年前,这里开始吸引无数贵族,他们浸浴温泉之余会花钱消遣,这里也因此成了艺术中心。其中制瓷工艺极受欢迎。工艺源于奥匈帝国的波希米亚,到了1928年工厂增至77家,聘用近两万人,每年生产逾三万五千吨瓷器。
Czech glassware is also a famous export of the region. Dating back to the Renaissance period, the first stonecutters came to the court of the Czech king and produced what they referred to as “mountain crystal,” and since then Czech glasswork companies have become official suppliers to many imperial courts, including the British royalty.
玻璃器具也是捷克的出口名产,可追溯至文艺复兴时期,其时首批石匠到捷克国王的宫廷里制成所谓的“山脉水晶”(即玻璃)。其后,捷克玻璃公司成为许多皇室的正式供应商,其中包括英国皇室。
After the discovery of the hot springs the town’s popularity was further enhanced in 1790 by Dr. David Behr. Now, while analyzing the water source of the town, he managed to make a potent herb liqueur. What’s interesting about it is not only does it make you 10)tipsy, but it also makes you healthier when you drink it.
小镇的温泉被发现后,到了1790年,大卫·贝尔医生再次提升小镇的知名度。他在分析小镇的水源时成功制出一种草本药酒。有趣的是这酒不仅能让人喝醉,也可促进健康。
