2016-12-25 Christmas Day

【Aiden in English】

        First things first, Merry Christmas.

        The funny thing is, I'm usually not home when celebrating Christmas. Last year, I went down south to Maryland, and this year, once again, it will be some places in Southern California where this is written. Los Angeles, an exotic tourist destination, seemingly blends Christmas cheer with everyday life, such as in downtown L.A., Beverly Hills, and Hollywood.

        My house is not modest, to say the least. I'm not going to lie; its size pretty much matches that of Beverly Hills. However, the significant factors that separate the living standards of superstars' residences are the location and architecture. Those living in this millionaire magnet neighborhood can walk to the most expensive shops in L.A., all within five minutes. They have many city parks surrounding their homes, so there is a balance between nature and city life. 

        Secondly, my neighborhood appears to be copied and pasted from house to house: brick front, garage on the side, triangular roofs, and an occasional balcony. Beverly is quite different, with every home unique. Some take on a miniature castle, and others may even resemble a box. Yet they all have something in common, which costs much more than "something."

        Most of those living in Beverly Hills have ways of making large amounts of money. Yet, no one makes as much money as those actors in Hollywood. Well, at least the famous ones. Following them are the popular artists and the fortunate people who inherited fortunes from previous family members. And if they wished, and if enough people knew them, then they could have their names engraved on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Stars lined Hollywood Blvd with all-American actors and artists. From Michael Jackson to Tom Cruise, every person on TV or the big screen has had their name on a star. I find it ironic, however, how all the pedestrians stand over the very people they look up to.  The hottest movie areas in the country were along the street of stars. On the right, there was Grauman's Chinese Theatre. On the left was an enormous cinema called the El Capitan Theatre, featuring Star Wars and Rogue One. All around, characters from the classics waltzed the streets, obviously charging for pictures. An aroma of hot dogs and roasting meat filled the air, provoking more than just a few growling stomachs. Next to the theaters was a large shopping mall in Hollywood and Highland, which had the most expensive stores and a schematic image of the Hollywood Sign. Although it isn't as good as the Griffith Observatory's view, it surely can provide any tourist with a great photo.

        What's in L.A.? 

        There's the Hollywood Walk of Fame, those Beverly Hills houses, each from a different era, and a bunch of Star Wars fans, too.

【红霞译】

        开篇想说的第一句话就是，圣诞节快乐。

        无巧不成书，通常每逢圣诞佳节我们均外出庆祝，去年南下马里兰“心爱之地”州，今年易地将笔锋锁定到具有异乡情调的南加利福尼亚“火炉”州，通过打卡洛杉矶“天使”城市中心、贝弗利“海狸溪”山以及好莱坞“圣诞灌木之地”等景点，好好体味为日常生活所营造的欢快气息。

        我家房舍说来不算太窘，就其规模大小而言与贝弗利山庄各处别墅旗鼓相当，但明星的生活标准大多基于地理位置和建筑风格考量，住在眼前这片百万富翁聚首的地方，居民不出五分钟即可走进洛杉矶最为昂贵的奢华名店，而且豪宅周围布满城市公园，都市生活与自然环境交相呼应。

        再者，我家社区房型可谓千篇一律，正面贴砖，车库位居侧面，三角形屋顶，少许人家门前建有凉台。贝弗利山庄截然不同，每家构造独具特色，有的形如城堡，还有的倒像盒子，然而有一点英雄所见略同，那就是出手不菲，房价绝非小打小闹。

        多数居住在贝弗利山庄的人都有本事发财，不过谁也比不过好莱坞善于呼风唤雨的演员，大腕肯定独领风骚，其次就是遐迩闻名的艺人，还有那些继承家业的幸运儿，如果他们成心想让世人皆知，那么干脆把自己的名字刻在好莱坞星光大道上。千真万确，好莱坞大道铺满星星，无一不是全美备受注目的演艺圈人士，从迈克尔·杰克逊“神慈·神赐之子”到汤姆·克鲁斯“双·勇敢”，大凡电视电影功成名就的艺人争相在这里留芳，然而有一点我觉得滑稽搞笑，行人怎么忍心把倍受自己宠爱的明星踩在脚下。该地带恐怕算作全国最火的影院所在地，马路右边为格劳曼“灰衣人”中国大剧院，而左边则是超级埃尔卡皮坦“船长”剧院，时下正上演《星球大战：侠盗一号》；打扮成各个经典角色的男女人物在街上翩翩起舞，显然他们凭借这身行头招徕照相生意；热狗烤肉香味扑鼻而来，孰不知要勾出多少馋虫上钩。好莱坞高地购物中心离影院不远，高档商店比比皆是，从这里放眼望去还能看到“好莱坞” 标志，虽说视觉效果不如格里菲斯天文台，但拍照留影仍不失为极好去处。

        洛杉矶有啥好看？

        好莱坞星光大道、贝弗利山庄别墅豪宅，关键在于每栋建筑仿佛出自不同时代，还有大批《星球大战》影迷。

Christmas Day in History(历史上的圣诞节)：

2016: Los Angeles the La-La Land, CA(加州洛杉矶天使城—梦幻之城)

2016: Malibu—Paradise Cove, CA(加州大涛声市—天堂湾)

2016: Malibu the home of Hollywood, CA(加州大涛声市—电影人之家)

2016: Ventura—County of Good Fortune, CA(加州文图拉—福分之郡)

2015: Christmas in Maryland(马里兰州过圣诞节)

2014: A Christmas Day @ Longwood Gardens, PA(宾州杜邦花园过圣诞)

2013: Christmas over Indian Ocean(印度洋上过圣诞节)

2012: Christmas @ Sea, Chile(智利游轮上过圣诞)

2010: 节日礼物(Holiday Gifts)

2009: 新西兰基督城(Christchurch, NZ)

Beverly Hills Public Library & City Hall, Built in Its Spanish Renaissance Architecture in 1932

(弗利山·公共图书馆与建于1932年西班牙文艺复兴风格的市政厅)

Montage Hotel, Featuring a Timeless Spanish Revival Style in the Mid-20th Century, Combined w/ Estate-Style Furnishings 

(蒙太奇“尖山”酒店·采用永恒的西班牙复兴风格与庄园风格的家具相结合)

Chateau Marmont, Hollywood's Legendary, Discreet Hideaway for Celebrities & Artists

(马尔蒙“恶山”庄园·好莱坞为名人和艺术家提供传奇般隐居的胜地)

Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, a Historic Landmark & Popular Wedding Venue

(贝弗利山庄长老会·历史地标与热门婚礼场地)

Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a Movie Palace on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

(中国戏院·星光大道上的电影宫殿 12-25-2016)

Hollywood Walk of Fame (好莱坞星光大道 12-25-2016)

El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood's Historic Movie Palace

(船长剧院·好莱坞历史悠久的电影宫殿 12-25-2016)

Dolby Theatre, the Long-Time Home of the Academy Awards (Oscars) Ceremony

(杜比“山谷"剧院·奥斯卡颁奖典礼的长期举办地 12-25-2016)

Gate of Babylon, the Set of Intolerance in 1916 @ Ovation Hollywood

(位于好莱坞欢呼的巴比伦“森林的生命”之门·1916年《党同伐异》的拍摄地 12-25-2016)

Ovation Hollywood, a Shopping Center & Entertainment Complex

(好莱坞欢呼·购物与娱乐中心 12-25-2016)

Hollywood Museum, Housing the World's Largest Collection of Hollywood Memorabilia & Artifacts

(好莱坞博物馆·收藏世上最大的好莱坞纪念品及其文物)

Ripley's Believe It or Not! 

(里普利“带状空地”《信不信由你！》博物馆 12-25-2016)

The Four Silver Ladies of Hollywood w/ Dorothy Dandridge, Dolores del Rio, Mae West, & Anna May Wong

 (雕塑《好莱坞四位银发女郎》——多萝西·丹德里奇、多洛雷斯·德尔·里奥、梅·韦斯特和黄柳霜12-25-2016)

West Hollywood, the Swankiest, Most Glamorous Nightlife Destination in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

(西好莱坞·洛杉矶大都会区最时尚、最迷人的夜生活胜地)

Beverly Dr @ Rexford Dr (贝弗利路与国王津路交道口)

Beverly Dr w/ a "Small-Town Feel"

(贝弗利路·充满“小镇风情”12-25-2016)

Rodeo Dr, a World-Renowned Luxury Shopping Street

(罗迪欧“竞技”路·举世闻名的的奢侈品购物街)

Two Rodeo Drive Shopping Plaza， the Extreme High End Mini Mall of Luxury Boutiques

(罗迪欧路二号商场·极致高端的奢侈品精品迷你购物中心 12-25-2016)

Unconscious @ Chase Bank

(大通银行·雕塑《无意识》12-25-2016)

Giant Ficus @ Beverly Gardens Park

(贝弗利花园公园·巨榕 12-25-2016)

Erratic (2007) @ Beverly Gardens Park

(贝弗利花园公园·创作于2007年的雕塑《徘徊》12-25-2016)

Hymn of Life Tulips (2007) @ Beverly Gardens Park 

(贝弗利花园公园·创作于2007年的雕塑《生命礼赞郁金香》12-25-2016)

Endless V (2012) @ Beverly Gardens Park

(贝弗利花园公园·创作于2012年的雕塑《无尽V》12=25-2016)

IO (2015) @ Beverly Gardens Park

(贝弗利花园公园·创作于2015年的雕塑《输入输出》12-25-2016)

The Drummer (1989-90) @ Beverly Gardens Park

(贝弗利花园公园·创作于1989—90年间的雕塑《鼓手》12-25-2016)

Deli Stand (熟食摊)

Crosslink(相关博文):

L.A.—Griffith Observatory, CA(加州洛杉矶—格里菲斯天文台)

USA(出游美国)

8th Grade(初中三年级)