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Christmas in London
So what’s the secret to a truly fantastic holiday season? First, take the world’s most 1)glamorous1 capital, add carols sung by candlelight, thousands of fairy lights, familiar faces and some very twenty-first century 2)perspectives and you’ve got…Christmas in London. Join us, as we reveal the secrets behind the 3)glamour2 and the 4)glitz.
London Eye and Christmas Lights
Since the 1950’s the great shopping districts of 5)London’s West End have been dressing3 up for Christmas. Today millions of fairy lights light up the streets and squares of London and up to 20 million people each year come to stop and stare.
“The lights themselves are just—they’re, they’re beautiful—they’re shining all over the street, it’s wonderful.”
“That’s why I’m really here for, to see the really nice lights.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m from a small town in 6)Georgia and we don’t have lights like this, we have my Christmas tree.”
The best way to see the lights is not to look up, but to look down.
Climb aboard the British Airway’s “London Eye” and once you’ve reached the top, the birds eye view of the lights has visitors 7)transfixed.
“I thought I’d be nervous because I don’t like heights but no problem at all, and, I’m going again tomorrow.”
“It’s a really pretty view, it’s 8)gorgeous.”
“All the lights over London, all the sites, it’s just something to see.”
“It was absolutely fantastic!”
Located on the south bank of the river Thames, the 450-foot-high London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the world. It was built to celebrate the millennium4 and has quickly become one of the UK’s number one tourist attractions with its half hour of flight, or orbit.
David Sharpe (General Manager, BA London Eye): The British Airways5 London Eye has now become what we see as the symbol for new modern London. On nights like this where it’s crystal clear and very cold you can see all the Christmas lights over London and Christmas in London is a fantastic place for the shops and this is a 9)terrific place to start before you do your Christmas shopping.
Christmas Parade
The official start of Christmas at Harrods comes early—it’s the first weekend in November when Santa arrives in the Christmas 10)parade. It’s only nine a.m. but that doesn’t deter6 the crowds.
“It’s just fantastic for the children, I think it’s amazing!”
“There’s been lots of entertainment, clowns and 11)jugglers and costume Teddy Bears and things like that, so it’s been a lot of fun and kids have been happy.”
“We didn’t expect it to be so good, it was really good!”
The Christmas parade was the brainchild of Mohamed Al Fayed. It’s been running since 1988 and it’s free. One of the secrets of the parade’s success is a very special kind of snow.
Mark Briggs (Visual Merchandise Director): The actual snow that we use is like a 12)shredded paper—it’s obviously 13)biodegradable—once it hits the air and hits any kind of 14)moisture, it will 15)disintegrate9, as real snow would, so you get a wonderful effect that’s pumped out of at least 10 windows across the top of the store making the whole street look like it’s been snowing.
After the parade Santa heads for his 16)grotto10, over the next six weeks 160 thousand families will queue for up to eight hours for their 10 minutes with him.
Christmas Pudding Race
This is one of the market’s (17)Covent Garden) more unusual Christmas offerings. Every December celebrities11 and individuals compete in a rather unusual relay race around one of the 18)piazzas, it’s the “Christmas Pudding Race” all done to raise money for 19)charity.
Steve Melzak (Christmas Pudding Race Organiser): Christmas Pudding Race began because I started a cancer research committee following my young cousin, who was nineteen, she died of a brain 20)tumor13—it’s ironic14 that, sort-of, from my cousin’s death we’ve actually produced a very fun, wonderful activity that has sort-of 21)taken the Covent Garden market by storm for the last few years.
Here’s how it works—teams of six 22)negotiate their way through a number of 23)inflatable 24)obstacles while getting sprayed with foam15 and water. And that’s not all…in order to qualify the teams must not drop the tray with the Christmas pudding on.
“It was over in an instant! It seemed I’d hardly started running before we were all at the end.”
Somerset House Ice 25)Rink
Somerset House is one of London’s most 26)magnificent structures, originally built as a 27)naval16 28)HQ—a 99 million dollar 29)restoration program has recently turned it into a 30)stunning17 home for restaurants, museums, and art exhibitions. But at Christmas it’s quite a different attraction that draws in the crowds.
“Really nice way to spend the run-up to Christmas.”
“Yah, it’s really Christmassy, 31)brilliant.”
“It’s like such a 32)diversity of people, like people in suits, three-piece suits and office wear skating around—where else do you see that in the world?”
Skating hasn’t flourished in the heart of London since the 19th century when the River Thames regularly froze beneath London Bridge. Somerset House decided18 it was time the capital put its skates back on.
Jenny Waldman (Public Events, Somerset House): When Somerset House Trust was formed, the trustees were thinking of things that would bring the building alive and one of the things that they very much wanted to do was to create a temporary ice rink in the winter.
Ice skating at Somerset House will 33)set you back eleven dollars for one hour, and that includes your skate-hire. Our tip is to book in advance and come late in the evening when the rink is 34)illuminated with flaming torches and special architectural lighting20.
London is a pretty special city at any time of the year. At Christmas it’s unique—nowhere else do old traditions blend with 21st century 35)sophistication with quite so much 36)panache21. Happy holidays!
注释：
1) glamorous [5^lAmErEs] a. 迷人的
2) perspective [pE5spektiv] n. 景色, 前景
3) glamour [5^lAmE] n. 魅力，魔力
4) glitz [glits] n. 闪光，炫目
5) London’s West End 伦敦西区；英国伦敦中心区的西部，以时髦的街区与商店、剧院而著名。
6) Georgia [5dVC:dVjE] n. 乔治亚州[美国东南的一个州]
7) transfix [trAns5fiks] v. 使吓呆；使发愣
8) gorgeous [5^C:dVEs] a. 眩目艳丽的, 极好的
9) terrific [tE5rifik] a. 极好的, 惊人的
10) parade [pE5reid] n. 游行
11) juggler7 [5dVQ^lE] n. 玩杂耍的；变戏法者
13) biodegradable [baiEudi5^reidEbl] a. 能进行生物递降分解的
14) moisture [5mCistFE] n. 湿气；水分
15) disintegrate [dis5inti^reit] v. 使分解, 使分化
16) grotto [5^rRtEu] n.（人造）洞穴
17) Covent Garden 考文特花园，伦敦中部一个蔬菜花卉市场
18) piazza12 [pi5AtsE] n. 广场, [英]连拱廊
19) charity [5tFAriti] n. 慈善机构；慈善事业
20) tumor [5tju:mE] n. 肿瘤
21) take…by storm 使神魂颠倒；完全征服（观众等）
22) negotiate [ni5^EuFieit] v. [口]通过
23) inflatable [in5fleitEbl] a. 充气式的
24) obstacle [5RbstEkl] n. 障碍，障碍物
25) rink [riNk] n. 溜冰场
26) magnificent [mA^5nifisEnt] a. 壮丽的；宽宏的
27) naval [5neivl] a. 海军的
28) HQ =headquarters; 总部，指挥部
29) restoration [restE5reiFEn] n. 重建, 翻修
30) stunning [5stQniN5] a. 极吸引人的，令人晕倒的
31) brilliant [5briljEnt] a. 光辉的；辉煌的
32) diversity [dai5vE:siti] n. 多样；不同
33) set back [口]使(某人)花费
34) illuminate19 [i5lu:mineit] v. 照亮
35) sophistication [sE5fistikeiFEn] n. (技术、产品等的)复杂性，精密性
36) panache [pE5nAF] n. 华丽, 神韵
圣诞英伦狂欢之旅
要欢度一个真正精彩的节日——秘诀在哪里？首先来到世上最迷人的首都，加上随烛光而起的圣诞颂歌、数千彩色小灯、熟悉的面孔，以及极具21世纪特色的景观，这就是——伦敦的圣诞！跟我们一起发掘其魅力和辉煌背后的秘密吧。
伦敦眼与圣诞灯饰
自20世纪50年代开始，伦敦西区繁华的购物区就一直为圣诞节装饰点缀。今天数百万的彩灯在伦敦的街头和广场大方光彩，每年有多达2千万人来此驻足观赏。
“彩灯本身就很美，照亮了整条街道，美妙绝伦！”
“这是我来这里的原因，来看真正漂亮的彩灯。”
“我住在乔治亚州一个小镇，从没见过这么美的彩灯；我们那儿没有这样的彩灯，只有自己的圣诞树。”
最佳的赏灯方法不是往上看，而是往下看。
登上英国航空公司的“伦敦眼”吧！一旦到达最高点，鸟瞰全城的彩灯令游客目瞪口呆。
“我以为我会紧张，因为我畏高，但这次一点问题都没有，我明天会再来。”
“景观真的很美，棒极了。”
“整个伦敦的彩灯，一览无遗的景观，真令人赏心悦目。”
“这真是太奇妙了！”
“伦敦眼”位于泰晤士河南岸，高450英尺，是世上最高的观光轮。它是为庆祝千禧年而建造的，建成后迅速成为英国首选旅游热点之一，其吸引人之处在于其历时半小时的飞行，又或者说绕转。
大卫·夏普（英国航空公司“伦敦眼”总经理）：英国航空公司的伦敦眼现在成了新的现代伦敦的标志。在像这样水晶般透彻的晴朗寒夜，你可在此远眺整个伦敦的彩灯，圣诞节期间伦敦是个购物的好地方，而这儿是开始圣诞购物前的好去处。
圣诞大巡游
哈洛斯百货商场的圣诞购物期很早便正式开始——就是11月首个周末，圣诞老人参与圣诞大巡游的时候。现在才早上9点，但也阻止不了前来的人潮。
“孩子们觉得实在很新鲜好玩，我也感到很惊喜！”
“有很多娱乐表演，小丑、杂耍，有人扮泰迪熊等，所以很有趣。孩子们都玩得很高兴。”
“我们没想到那么好玩，但真的很好玩。”
圣诞大巡游是穆罕默德·阿法·耶兹的构思，自1988年开始举行，且是免费的。大巡游成功的秘诀之一是一种特别的雪花。
马克·布里格斯（视觉商品主管）：我们用的雪花就像碎纸，当然是采用可以作生物降解的；一旦它遇到空气或水份便会像真雪般分解，这样，你就看到人造雪从商铺顶部最少10个窗口一起喷出的壮丽效果，那时整条街道都像真的在下雪般。
大巡游过后，圣诞老人会返回其人造冰穴内，其后6周多的时间，16万个家庭将排队近8小时跟他共欢10分钟。
圣诞布丁比赛
这是考文特花园市场较特别的圣诞节目之一。每年12月，名人和市民会围绕其中一个广场参加一个非同寻常的接力赛，那就是圣诞布丁接力跑，接力跑的目的在于为慈善事业筹款。
史蒂夫·缪萨克（圣诞布丁比赛组织者）：圣诞布丁接力赛的起源是因为我成立了一个癌症研究委员会，这个委员会是在我那19岁的年轻表妹因脑癌去世后设立的。说来真有点讽刺意味，我表妹的死却让我们想出了这么有趣、精彩的活动，过去数年这活动在考文特深得民心。
比赛规则是这样的：6人队伍要走过一连串的充气路障，途中会被泡沫和水花喷射。不仅如此！要出线的话，各队伍还不可让盛有圣诞布丁的盘子掉到地上。
“比赛瞬间便完结！好像我还没开始跑比赛就已结束了一样。”
萨默塞特剧院溜冰场
萨默塞特中心，伦敦最宏伟的建筑物之一，原本是用作海军总部的，但最近一个花费9900万的重建计划把它变成一个集餐馆、博物馆和艺术展览于一体的绝佳之所。然而在圣诞节期间，它又变身成为一个与别不同的热点去处吸引大批游客前来。
“这是一个为圣诞预热的好地方。”
“对，很有圣诞气氛，很棒！”
“你会见到人们穿着不同的衣服，如西服、三件套西服和办公室着装，他们在你的四周溜冰——你还能在世界上的其它地方看到这样的景象吗？”
在伦敦市中心，自19世纪末以后伦敦桥段的泰晤士河开始没有定期冰封，溜冰运动便衰落了。后来，萨默塞特剧院决定是时候重振溜冰运动了。
詹妮·沃尔德曼（萨默塞特剧院公众事项负责人）：成立萨默塞特剧院信托基金时，托管的理事们就考虑如何能给剧院带来生机——其中他们非常想做的是建造一个冬季临时溜冰场。
在萨默塞特剧院溜冰一小时需11美元，已包括租用溜冰鞋的费用。我们给大家的小提示是：提前预订门票，等到了晚上才来溜冰。这时候的溜冰场就会被熊熊火把和特别的建筑灯饰烘托得摇曳生辉。
伦敦在一年四季都是一个十分独特的城市。在圣诞节，更是独一无二的，没有其它什么地方能像伦敦那样把传统和21世纪的高科技如此绚丽神奇地揉合在一块了。祝大家圣诞快乐！
收听单词发音 |
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glamorous
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| adj.富有魅力的；美丽动人的；令人向往的 | |
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glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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4
millennium
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| n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世 | |
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5
AIRWAYS
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| 航空公司 | |
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6
deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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7
juggler
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| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
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8
shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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disintegrate
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| v.瓦解，解体，（使）碎裂，（使）粉碎 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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tumor
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| n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour | |
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14
ironic
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| adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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illuminate
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| vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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panache
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| n.羽饰；假威风，炫耀 | |
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