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Overtourism

 

Chronic overcrowding in cities such as Venice and Barcelona has sparked a backlash from locals, who complain that the surge in visitors is making life intolerable.

威尼斯及巴塞隆拿這些城市，長期都有人滿之患，當地人對不斷增加的旅客感到不滿，認為令他們的日常生活變得難以忍受。

 

chronic (adj) 慢性的; 久病的; 長期的；積習難改  /ˈkrɒn.ɪk/

1. medical : continuing or occurring again and again for a long time

  • a chronic disease
  • eg. She suffers from chronic pain for ten years. 她被受痛症長期困擾，已達十年之久。

 

2.  happening or existing frequently or most of the time

e.g. Inflation has become a chronic situation in this country. 通脹成為這個國家的常態。

 

 3. always or often doing something specified

  • Peter is a chronic complainer. [=he complains all the time] Peter總是在投訴。

 

4.  British, informal : very bad

  • Don't waste time to go for that exhibition—it's chronic. 
    不用浪費時間去那個展覽，實在太差。

 

spark (verb) 引起，導致，觸發（尤指爭論或打鬥）

e.g. This proposal will almost certainly spark another countrywide debate about immigration.

這項提議很可能會再一次引起全國性的關於移民的爭論。

 

spark (noun)

1. 火花

  • A cigarette spark started the hillfire. 香煙的火花引起這場山火。
  • This wood burns steadily with no sparking. 這木柴長時間燃燒正常，不爆火花。

 

2. 魅力 a quality that makes someone or something enjoyable, interesting, successful, etc.

  • She's a talented actress but she doesn't have the spark.
    她是一個很有才華的演員，可惜沒有觀眾緣。

 

3. 一點 a small amount of something

  • Sometimes there were surprising sparks of humor in her speech. 有時候她的演講會突然有些出奇不意的幽默。

 

backlash （n.） 強烈反對，後衝

a strong public reaction against something

  • a backlash against feminism
  • The government predicts no political backlash against its proposal. 政府估計他們的計劃不會在政治上受到強烈反響。

 

Some examples of proactive approaches to overtourism, such as in Croatia’s walled medieval town of Dubrovnik, which staggers arrival times for cruise ships. Another is Amsterdam’s smartphone app that allows tourists to check on queue lengths at the city’s popular museums in real time so they can plan to avoid crowds.

 

medieval 中世紀

related to the Middle Ages (= the period in European history from about AD 600 to AD 1500): 

a medieval building/painting/town

 

e.g. This European church is a perfect example of medieval architecture.

這間歐洲教堂是中世紀建築的佼佼者。

 

 

stagger (verb)   

 

1. 使震驚 

  • I was staggered by his behaviour. 他的行為讓我震驚。
  • My whole family was staggered when they heard the news. 我家人聽到消息時大吃一驚。

2. 蹣跚

  • The little girl staggers along the road. 那個小女孩沿路蹣跚而行。
  • The baby staggers to his feet. 那嬰兒搖搖晃晃地站起來。

3. （安排）分散

  • Some countries have staggered school holidays so that holiday resorts do not become overcrowded.  某些國家特別安排錯開學校假期，以防度假酒店太過擠擁。

 

cruise (noun)

乘船遊覽  on a river cruise

cruise ships 遊覽船

cruise (verb) 平穩行駛/輕易獲取/巡行

to cruise at 100 km/h 以每小時100公里的速度巡航

  • 輕鬆獲取

e.g. She cruised into first place. 她輕鬆獲得第一名。

e.g. My brother cruises through an exam. 我弟弟輕而易舉通過考試。

 

  • 巡行; 徘徊尋覓

e.g. There is a police car just cruised past us.  一輛巡邏警車剛從我們身邊駛過。

 

Popcorn by Ben Elton

爆谷殺人狂

 

Brooke: (Betsy)

You looked at me and you saw sex, right? From the first second I’ve just been a piece of meat as far as you’re concerned. Well, now you’re going to pay!

你一望見我就諗著上床，係咪？由第一秒開始你就諗著食硬我，我宜家就要你還！

 

 

to deal with the bad result of something that you did : to be punished for doing something

  • If you offend my sister, she will make you pay. 如果你開罪我姐姐，她會報復的。

 

— often + for

  • Betty will make you pay for what you've done to her!   你這樣對待Betty，她會要你承擔後果。
  • Be careful, you'll pay for this!  小心，你要付出代價！

 

“Traveling On” by Kongos

 

So long my friend, my foe, my love, my pain

The road's calling out my name

Dreaming of La Boheme

Maybe I'll go to Barbizon

Or see a girl before she catches cold and she's gone

Or maybe I'll just travel on

Travel on

 

{...} Maybe I'll go it all alone

See the world and make my way back home

Or maybe I'll keep traveling on

 

 

so long 再見 (informal)

= goodbye / farewell (formal)

 

foe 敵人 (noun)

e.g. The two countries have united against their common foe.

兩國聯合起來對抗共同的敵人。

 

e.g. They were bitter foes for many years. 

他們結仇多年。

 

make my way (followed by a place, or a direction) 前往；搬到（某處）

e.g. We slowly made our way down the river.  我們慢慢地沿河而下。

e.g. It's getting late - we should make our way home soon.

        天晚了——我們應該動身回家了。

 

   
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