2007-10-11, Marrakesh - 马拉喀什

If you've ever wondered what makes the cobra dance, this is the place to find out. For Marrakesh's street performers, an ordinary afternoon means out of the ordinary entertainment.

Enchanted¹ serpents are just a small part of the action on Djemma el Fna square. Just inside Marrakesh's ancient ramparts, this is a cultural crossroads of a very theatrical² kind. It's Marrakesh's answer to the 3 ring circus and it's been show time here every day since the 11th century. Every afternoon, Djemma el-Fna transforms itself into a festival of sights and sounds.

It used to be that every city in Morocco had a place like this, a sort of entertainment free-for-all in the center of town. But the country has moved into the TV age and people are leaving the old ways behind. Now, Djemma el-Fna is the only one left.

W. T. works to protect this unique part of Marrakesh's culture as part of a grassroots organization dedicated³ to the square. It's essential because it's the memory of the city if you want to learn the history of this city, if you want to get to know its sensibilities, if you want to learn about its habits, its tastes, its desires, come to the square.


There's something for everyone. Street preachers give sermons on the Koran while fortune tellers⁴ read the stars. Public scribes write letters for the illiterate⁵ and herbal pharmacies⁶ dispense⁷ medicines and advice. But when Marrakeshes want to just sit back, relax and listen, they turn to the storytellers. L. is telling the story of the inheritance, the son of a rich merchant is advised by his dying father to live a virtuous⁸ life. But he falls victim to temptation and suffers the consequences. Old men and young boys gather around, hanging on his every word.

1 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

2 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

3 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

4 tellers   

n.（银行）出纳员( teller的名词复数 )；（投票时的）计票员；讲故事等的人；讲述者

参考例句：

• The tellers were calculating the votes. 计票员正在统计票数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The use of automatic tellers is particularly used in large cities. 在大城市里，还特别投入了自动出纳机。 来自辞典例句

5 illiterate   

adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲

参考例句：

• There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
• I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。

6 pharmacies   

药店

参考例句：

• Still, 32 percent of the pharmacies filled the prescriptions. 但仍然有32%的药剂师配发了这两张药方。 来自互联网
• Chinese herbal pharmacies, and traditional massage therapists in the Vancouver telephone book. 中药店，和传统的按摩师在温哥华的电话簿里。 来自互联网

7 dispense   

vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施

参考例句：

• Let us dispense the food.咱们来分发这食物。
• The charity has been given a large sum of money to dispense as it sees fit.这个慈善机构获得一大笔钱，可自行适当分配。

8 virtuous   

adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的

参考例句：

• She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性，人人都尊敬她。
• My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。