世界盃來嘍 快看五彩斑斕的巴西
巴西是南美最大的國家，最近更因要舉辦2014年世界盃而備受矚目。
The country certainly has a long tradition of soccer and has won the World Cup five times. But except for watching and playing soccer, Brazil’s beautiful landscape, various cultural events and delicious food also make it a great traveling destination.
巴西不僅擁有悠久的足球歷史，曾五次奪冠世界盃。除了看球和踢球之外，巴西也是一座令人神往的旅遊城市，擁有美麗的風景，豐富的文化活動與可口的美食。
Read on to learn more about this vibrant country.
接下來，讓我們一起來了解這個多彩斑斕的國度！
領略世界奇觀
Christ the Redeemer
里約熱內盧基督像
As one of the New Seven Wonders and an icon of Brazil, Christ the Redeemer is the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, also one of the largest art deco-statues in the world. Located at the top of the 700-meter Corcovado Mountain, it offers a sweeping panorama of Guanabara Bay. It stands 98 feet (30 meters) tall, not including its 26-foot (8-meter) pedestal, and its arms stretch to a width of 92 feet (28 meters).
里約熱內盧的救世主基督像是全世界最大的藝術裝飾性雕塑之一，既是巴西的標誌，也是“新世界七大奇蹟”。這座雕塑坐落在海拔700米的科科瓦多山頂，站在那裏可以將瓜納巴拉灣的美景盡收眼底。雕像淨高98英尺（30米），下面還有一個26英尺（8米）的底座，而雕塑耶穌雙臂張開寬度可達92英尺（28米）。
伊瓜蘇大瀑布
Situated on the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the great natural wonders of the world. They feature on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among its system of 275 waterfalls along the Iguazu River, the Devil’s Throat is the most magnificent one. It’s a U-shaped waterfall with a height of 269 feet (82 meters).
伊瓜蘇大瀑布位於巴西與阿根廷交界處，是世界偉大的自然奇觀之一，已被聯合國教科文組織列入世界遺產名錄。沿着伊瓜蘇河，大瀑布由275個小瀑布組成，其中“魔鬼咽喉”瀑布最爲壯觀，這條U字型的瀑布高達269英尺（82米）。
亞馬遜河
At approximately 6,400 km, the Amazon River is the second longest river and the largest river by volume in the world. With 3,000 recognized species of fish, it is surrounded by half of the planet’s remaining rainforests. Tourists can boat upriver into the damp and enjoy the unique and powerful ambience of the wild.
亞馬遜河全長近6400千米，是世界上第二長的河流，也是世界上總流量最大的河流。亞馬遜河裏已確認的魚種達3000種，而地球上現存熱帶雨林的一半也都在亞馬遜河兩岸。遊客可以從上游乘船進入溼地，在那裏感受動人心魄、獨一無二的野生環境。
參加文化盛事
Carnival
狂歡節
As Brazil’s best-known festival, Carnival is celebrated 46 days before the Easter festival and takes place over a period of about five days.
作爲巴西最著名的的節日，狂歡節於每年復活節之前的46天舉行，持續約5天時間。
Carnival is derived from the word carnelevare, literally meaning “removal of meat”. Brazil’s carnival began during the European dominated era when followers of the Roman Catholic Church would indulge in a last day of alcohol, dance, fun and sex just before the start of Lent, a period of abstinence from alcohol and other sins. Back then, people would exchange clothes and indulge in wild dancing.
狂歡一詞源於意大利語carnelevare，意爲“把肉拿走”。巴西狂歡節始於歐洲殖民時期，當時的羅馬天主教信徒會在四月齋（期間需戒除酒精等）之前的最後一天盡情喝酒，跳舞，玩樂，縱慾。那時，人們甚至會互換服裝，盡情跳舞。
Nowadays, the most famous carnival is that held in Rio de Janeiro, where thousands of people, wearing masks and colorful costumes, dance samba to the sound of drums and music.
時至今日，最著名的狂歡節會在里約熱內盧舉辦，成千上萬的人身着各色服飾，頭戴面具，伴着音樂和鼓點一起跳桑巴。
《受難記》表演
This festival takes place annually in the week before Easter and involves different performances. Brazil’s largest passion play is held in Nova Jerusalem, involving more than 500 actors. With a huge theater taking up an area close to that of 12 football fields, visitors can enjoy the wonderful play or just experience the street fair outside.
這一活動於每年復活節之前的一週舉行，期間會有各式各樣的表演。巴西最盛大的《受難記》表演是在Nova Jerusalem，參演者人數超過500。巨型劇院佔地近12個足球場大小，遊客既可以充分欣賞表演，也可以單純地逛逛街邊的露天集市。
Bumba-Meu-Boi
Roughly translated as “hit my bull”, Bumba-Meu-Boi, mainly held in June, is a festival with traditional roots. Locals create a bull from a wire frame covered in papier-mache and use it in a folk dance. It tells the story of a bull that was killed and then brought back to life by traditional healers and music. One of the largest Bumba-Meu-Boi is held in Sao Luis.
Bumba-Meu-Boi可以直譯爲“打我的牛”，是一個具有巴西傳統特色的節日，一般在每年六月慶祝。當地人會用鐵製骨架與紙做出一個牛的形狀，並將其用在民族舞蹈中。這段舞蹈講述的是一頭牛被殺死之後，又被醫生和音樂救活的故事。聖路易斯市舉辦的Bumba-Meu-Boi是最爲盛大的Bumba-Meu-Boi活動之一。
品嚐當地美食
Feijoada
Feijoada
Considered to be the national dish, feijoada is a black bean stew with various types of beef and sausage. It originated from the time of colonization when the Portuguese brought their stew of black beans to Brazil. Its taste is strong, moderately salty but not spicy.
Feijoada被認爲是巴西的“國菜”，由黑豆與各種牛肉和香腸燉煮而成。這道菜始於巴西被殖民時期，是葡萄牙人將燉煮黑豆的方法帶到了巴西。Feijoada 口味較重，略鹹但不辣。
Acaraje
Made from black-eyed peas that are rolled into balls and then fried, acaraje is a popular street food and beach snack in Brazil. It is typically stuffed with shrimp, peanuts and other ingredients.
Acaraje由黑眼豌豆做成的球煎炸而成，是巴西有名的街邊小吃和沙灘零食。更具代表性的Acaraje則會加入蝦、花生及其他食材。
Brigadeiro
Probably the national dessert of Brazil, brigadeiro look like balls of chocolate similar to truffles. They are named after a brigadier that helped stop a communist coup in Rio. The thick mix of condensed milk, butter and chocolate powder is rolled into small balls and cooked. Then they are covered in chocolate sprinkles and taste delicious.
Brigadeiro也許是巴西的“國家小吃”，它看上去像一個巧克力球，與松露差不多。Brigadeiro以一位陸軍軍官的名字命名，紀念他曾爲鎮壓里約熱內盧的共產主義政變貢獻一臂之力。將濃醇的牛奶、黃油以及巧克力粉做成球狀，烹調之後，再裹上巧克力碎屑，便帶來了Brigadeiro誘人的口感。
