Quebec City—UNESCO City of Literature(加拿大魁北克市—文学城)-儿歌荟萃-万维博客-万维读者网（电脑版）

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		Quebec City—UNESCO City of Literature(加拿大魁北克市—文学城)	2020-06-15 07:48:23

2017-05-28 Memorial Weekend

Quebec City0001.JPG

【Aiden in English】

What is Canada known for?

Moose, snow, hockey, free health care. Why all of these are aspects of its culture, but it has come to dominate the American perspective. To find what Canadian culture is truly like, one must venture to Quebec City, the center of Canadian culture.

In North America, Quebec City was the first French colony. Not only does this look good on its resume, but the people of Quebec can expect millions of visitors a year. What attracts so many tourists then?

Because of the great history of the city, there are many spots to gather people. The main attraction revolves around a single street called Rue du Petit-Champlain in the Lower Town next to the St. Lawrence River. Actually, it can be considered a series of attractions. It is also the oldest street in Canada. Due to fur trades in the 1500s, people gathered in this area of the river where it narrowed. Settlers requested France for more women to populate the area, which somewhat successfully increased the total amount of people. And to this day, that homogeneous culture remained in the city. From the narrow, cobbled street to the substantial French architecture, I don't think I've ever seen a Main Street as it. It was through the very numerous amounts of shops set up around the area that the street became bustling with people. Music contributed to the atmosphere. Many locals also wandered around the area. It's interesting why indigenous people still shop here. Apparently, the Farmer’s Market still sells items unique to the location. However, we were not here to shop. Rue Notre-Dame displayed a realistic mural on the wall of Soumande House, so well done that it could, if seen at the correct angle, look like a separate alley. Painted by some French name I can't pronounce, it featured many aspects of the old city's history. In some areas, it depicts old kings and queens. Others show interactions with Native Americans. This is something I can relate to in school. The French settlers were the only European culture not obligated to force native tribes out of their land. This essentially created peace and trading, allowing interesting stories to arise as well. Obviously, the French credited the discovery of the Mississippi River to themselves, as an explorer was a friend of Sacajawea who explained a long river in the south. Don't ask me who that explorer was. It's a name the keyboard cannot spell.

Because of this pride, the building with the cable car was named after the explorer. What's the cable car for? Well, over an enormous hill which we didn't have time to climb and lay a treasure of luxury across the Lower and Upper Town. The Chateau Frontenac, a hotel in the Upper Town that has quite a standard among those who have enough money to spend a night there, is an extremely old, gorgeously decorated hotel where literally superstars live. Just pass by any time and you can expect cameras and photographers to be there, awaiting a mystery VIP in a limousine to pull up. The inside, however, is what sets the hotel apart. Due to its historical build, the hotel had set up a miniature art exhibit for guests to view, areas for visitors to take pictures, and places left for those willing to pay a thousand dollars. The inside halls were dimly lit and decorated elegantly with Renaissance styles. But due to little time, Mom and I were forced to sprint back after a quick glance around.

Quebec City, however old, will never change its roots. From new paintings to historic hotels, its French heritage will remain there for a long, long time. And I like that. It is probably the most blended city in North America (Mexico is ...... a different story). Therefore, by looking from the edge of Main Street, it seems like taking a glance back in time.

【红霞译文】

加拿大以什么著称？

麋鹿、大雪、曲棍球、公费医疗，之所以要提及这些，就是因为它们隶属文化范畴，但在美国人眼里都是可望不可即的。如若真想了解加拿大文化，不如亲自去一趟魁北克市，那里毕竟是加国文化中心。

魁北克市可谓北美洲第一个法国殖民地，足以彰显文化底蕴，每年吸引了数以百万计的观光客，到底是什么魅力让游人为之倾倒？

因为历史悠久，魁北克市大街小巷聚集了慕名而来的各路大军，下城圣劳伦斯河畔一条名叫小香普兰街更是游人如织，其实它既是若干重要景点之一，也是全国最古老的街道。十六世纪由于毛皮生意的兴起，处于圣劳伦斯河流变窄地段的小香普兰街便成为贸易交流的商业街，法国殖民者请求政府多输送些妇女到此繁衍后代，结果有效地促进人口增长。到目前为止，魁北克市承载了法国传统文化，从狭窄的鹅卵石弄堂到殷实的法式建筑，我从未见过这么清一色的城市主街，正因为小香普兰街商店铺面鱼贯而出，整条路段人山人海，随同空气中跳动的音符波浪起伏。有趣的是，不少土生土长的老百姓也来凑热闹打点所需商品，有些特产明摆着仅在农夫市场独家出售，可惜我们不是来购物的。圣母街苏曼大厦墙壁上有一幅表现真人真事的壁画，如果从合适的角度观看，还能辨认出不同的街道，形象逼真。画家的法语名字我发不出音来，画面描绘了许多古城历史，有的与老国王和王后有关，也有的与印第安人有关，这让我想起课堂上教过的背景知识，法国殖民者是欧洲唯一一个没有义务强行把土著人赶出家园的民族，基本上实施和平交易，由此还衍生出一些喜闻乐见的故事。显然法国人把发现密西西比河的功劳揽到自己身上，原来有一探险家与萨卡加维亚（帮助刘易斯与克拉克开拓美国西部）是朋友，这位女士曾向他说起南方有一条绵长的河流，千万别问我探险家尊姓大名，反正键盘没法敲打出来。

因为自豪感，缆车室便以这位探险家命名，什么缆车？这么说吧，就是能带我们翻过那座没工夫爬的大山并且让我们不费吹灰之力即可攀援上城下城的交通工具。上城的芳堤娜城堡是一家相当标致花钱如流水的酒店，里外打造得古色古香，可谓超级明星光顾驻足的地方，任何时候打那经过，你都能看到手握相机的摄影师正蹲点准备捕捉神秘要人走出豪华轿车的瞬间。不过酒店内部把住房区分隔开来，作为标志性建筑，酒店分别专设供顾客参观的小型艺展厅、为游人拍照留念的景区、让富翁豪掷钱财的会所。大厅里面灯光昏暗，装饰全部采用华丽的文艺复兴风格，苦于时间紧迫，我和妈妈赶紧猫上一眼飞身离去。

源远流长的魁北克市永远不会改变自己的根基，从新绘画到老客栈，始终保持着法国传统，我欣赏这个做法，它或许是北美最具异国情调（墨西哥……另当别论）的古城，因此当身置小香普兰街尽端放眼望去，恍若又回到了久远的过去。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2017: Outskirt of Quebec City, Canada(加拿大魁北克市—郊外拾零)

2017: Quebec City the Old Capital, Canada(加拿大魁北克市—旧都古韵)

2015 North Penn Art Show(2015年北宾州学区艺术展)

2009: 语录文化(Slogan Culture)