2016-06-24
【Aiden in English】
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a monarchy. Although Her Majesty isn't in that much power anymore, the country has unique attributes derived from its government's history. One such tradition is the changing of the guard. Being the only one in control of an entire country, the Queen of the UK requires much protection, whereas a president isn't the only one who controls a nation and passes the laws. Having a fascinating history of Knights in shining armor, Her Majesty used to have groups of Knights stand guard for her. Still, nowadays, security people can sit on their lazy butts and watch cameras, disregarding any privacy. I'm also pretty sure they can't "guard" the Queen from a nuke or something, so I think it has just become a tourist attraction. The fascinating aspect of seeing a group of guards is their attire. I often wonder if changing posts was added to make things more enjoyable, as they now include the complete package. Who needs Broadway when you have guards who can dress up in medieval gear and play instruments? Maybe this isn't Broadway, but watching a simple thing go down is amusing, such as changing a guard post. As we approached the scene of the action, the first thing I noticed about the guards was that they were extremely formal. In their attire, Everything was in line; everyone wore the same outfit, everyone performed the same motions, and nobody showed any expression. Each and every face looked as if it were going to war. At the motion of a conductor, the guards raised their instruments, which included the entire concert band. Sucking in a breath, the band began to play… Stevie Wonder is not the type of American composer who, to my standards, writes formal, medieval music. So, the band surprised the audience with fancy jazz, using one of its hottest jazz songs, Sir Duke. The song has become an international sensation, and its main melody has evolved into a recognizable jingle over the years. The song is short, so within minutes, the band turned around and marched away, playing a different, more appropriate piece of music. The other main headline is the one that everyone probably saw on CNN at some point or another. The UK was leaving the EU, which is big news. During a walk around the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, we happened to come across a news report station, and the attractive factor was the number of protesters. The signs ranged from pictures to words, but most shared an ordinary meaning of "don't leave the EU." The area was sectioned off, so the public couldn't enter, but Mom did so anyway. Multiple stations were set up, with newscasters reporting on a variety of topics. I don't know how they feel when Mom approaches one of them and snaps a photo with a flash right in their face while the camera is still on. No one will see in the audience, so it is all right. They'll witness a mysterious flash of white light in the reporter's eyes, causing him to blink repeatedly. 【紅霞譯】
大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國是世界上仍然實施君主立憲的政體國家之一，儘管女王陛下不再擁有更多實權，但政府堅持弘揚民族傳統，其中之一就是衛兵換崗。
作為掌控國家命脈的最高君主，英國女王需要加強保護；相形之下，總統卻無法成為統治政權簽署法令的唯一領袖。歷史上金甲武裝的騎士團身手不凡，女王陛下往往把他們當作自己的貼身護衛；如今保安屁股坐穩用不着挪窩，只要盯住攝像機就成，況且無需顧慮任何隱私，我敢打賭這些衛兵根本沒法“保駕”女王免遭核彈或其它武器威脅，所以說換崗儀式不過是吸引觀光客眼球的景點而已。 其實衛隊換崗的魅力在於服飾行頭，因其整套動作規範標緻，我禁不住暗自思忖，莫非換崗真是為了迎合大眾喜好而增設的遊覽項目。這群士兵身着中世紀服裝，手握樂器吹吹打打，有誰還想去看百老匯歌舞表演？哦它也許不能與百老匯相提並論，但親眼目睹像衛隊換崗這麼一個簡單過程還是蠻有意思的，等真正來到現場後我才意識到換崗儀式相當講究，衛兵們列成方隊，身着統一制服，步伐協調整齊，表情嚴肅不苟言笑，好像要趕赴戰場衝鋒陷陣似的，方隊指揮官手臂一揮，衛兵們高舉各種管樂樂器，先深吸一口氣，然後開始合奏……
以我個人之見，美國盲人歌手並不是那種擅長譜寫規範化中世紀音樂的美國作曲家，因此當衛兵樂隊吹奏其膾炙人口的爵士作品《公爵先生》時，大大出乎我們觀眾所料。這首曲子韻律感極強，多少年來其主旋律早已成為家喻戶曉的經典之作，樂曲音節不多，衛兵們花不了幾分鐘時間吹奏便轉到下面更適合換崗儀式的音樂主題上。 今天其它主要新聞大概就是美國有線電視新聞網上時不時發布的跟蹤報道內容，英國離開歐洲聯盟，這可是頭版頭條。我們沿着西敏宮英國議會大廈閒逛，無意走近各國媒體臨時搭建的新聞發布中心，最引人注目的恐怕非抗議示威人群莫屬，他們手舉印有圖片或者寫成文字的標語牌，旨在表達“切勿離開歐盟”的共同心願。記者站被圈成特區，閒人一概免進，但媽媽我行我素，繼續深入獵奇；諸多電台就地設點，播音員及時報道隨機新聞，我真不知道他們看到媽媽對準其中一位被採訪的國會議員按下快門作何感想，當時攝像機開着，一切都採用現場直播，好在無人把注意力放到觀眾一邊，拍張相片倒也沒啥了不起的，不過他們將親自目擊一道神秘的閃光燈突現在記者面前，刺得他不停地眨巴眼睛。
Today in History(歷史上的今天): 2016: London, Metropolis of the Empire ENG(英格蘭倫敦·帝國大都會) 2015: Constanta, the Oldest City ROU(羅馬尼亞堅定城·最古老的城市) 2015: Bucharest, La Belle Epoque Romania(羅馬尼亞布加勒斯特·美好時光) 2015: Bucharest, Balkan Paris in Romania(羅馬尼亞布加勒斯特·巴爾幹的巴黎) 2015: Dimitrie Gusti, Natl Village Museum ROU(羅馬尼亞國家鄉村館) 2015: Ceausescu's Dictatorship, Romania(羅馬尼亞齊奧塞斯庫獨裁) 2014: YMCA Camp—Outdoor Pool-1(基督教青年會營戶外戲水池之一) 2012: 妹子亞洲餐廳(Mei's Asian Diner)  Horse Guards Parade (皇家騎兵衛隊閱兵式 12-26-1998)
 Marlborough Road (石鎮路 06-24-2016)
 Sentry of the Grenadier Guards Posted outside St James' Palace
(擲彈兵衛隊哨兵在後來者宮外值班)  Marching Band outside St James' Palace
(後來者宮外軍樂隊)
 Queen's Guards (女王衛隊)
 Sentries of the London Regiment (倫敦軍團哨兵)
 Queen's Life Guards (女王近身衛隊)
 Royal Carriage (皇家馬車)
 Household Cavalry (皇家衛隊騎兵)
 Police Patrol (警察巡邏)
 The Mall (林蔭大道 06-24-2016)
Royal Horse Artillery (皇家騎兵隊炮兵 06-24-2016) 
A Sentry of the King's Troop (皇家衛隊哨兵)  Buckingham Palace (白金漢宮 06-24-2016)
 Ten Downing Street (唐寧街十號)
 Horse Guards Parade (騎兵衛隊閱兵場 06-24-2016)
 Façade of Admiralty Arch (水師提督門·正面 06-24-2016)
 Back of Admiralty Arch (水師提督門·背面)
Albert Memorial (高貴紀念亭 06-24-2016) 
Parliament Square (議會廣場 06-24-2016)  Palace of Westminster (議會大廈 06-24-2016)
 Brexit Demonstrators @ Palace of Westminster
(議會大廈·英國退歐示威者）  Brexit Press Conference @ Palace of Westminster
(議會大廈·英國退歐記者招待會 06-24-2016)  Congressman @ Press Conference, Palace of Westminster
(議會大廈·議員答記者問)
 Western Façade of Westminster Abbey (西敏寺·西面)
North Façade Built in Gothic Style @ Westminster Abbey
(西敏寺·北立面哥特式風格 06-24-2016) 
The Cloisters of Westminster Abbey (西敏寺迴廊 06-24-2016)
 Plaque of Edmond Halley @ Westminster Abbey
(西敏寺——《繁榮守望者·哈雷》匾額)  Navigators' Memorial @ Westminster Abbey
(西敏寺·航海家紀念牌) 
Chapter House and Pyx Chamber @ Westminster Abbey (西敏寺·會議室與圓頂地下室 06-24-2016)
The Oldest Door of the UK @ Westminster Abbey (西敏寺·英國最老的門) 
Old Phone Booth (老電話亭 06-24-2016) 
St James's Park (後繼者公園 06-24-2016)  St James's Park Lake (後來者公園湖 06-24-2016)
 Conrad London St James
(倫敦後繼者大膽忠告酒店 06-24-2016)  Afternoon Tea @ Conrad London St James
(倫敦後繼者大膽忠告酒店·下午茶 06-24-2016)  Suite @ Conrad London St. James
(倫敦後繼者大膽忠告酒店·套房 06-24-2016)  Suite @ Conrad London St. James
(倫敦後繼者大膽忠告酒店·套房 06-24-2016)  Mandarin Duck (鴛鴦)
Crosslinks(相關博文): London Metropolis of the Empire, UK (英格蘭倫敦帝國大都會)
Tower of London, UK(英格蘭倫敦塔) River Thames in London, UK(英格蘭倫敦泰晤士河)
UK(出遊英國) Europe(歐洲掠影) 7th Grade(初中二年級) |
