cities built on ideals,

而是根據理想而建立

…cities shaped by a belief that the human experience

並依照人類的經驗 能在未來獲得比今日更大成就的

can be greater tomorrow than it is today.

信念打造而成。

Edinburgh, is one of those places.

愛丁堡就是這種地方。

Graced with over four and a half thousand heritage-listed buildings,

有超過 4,500 棟 受保護列為登錄建築的歷史古蹟，

the Scottish capital is one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

英國蘇格蘭首府 是世界上最美麗的城市之一。

Edinburgh’s Old Town, with its Royal Mile,

愛丁堡「舊城區」的皇家一英里

is filled with the ghosts of medieval merchants,

充斥著

body snatchers,

中世紀商人的鬼魂、

and poets.

掘墓盜屍者和詩人。

While its Georgian-styled New Town,

而喬治亞風格的「新城區」，

still shines with the glories of the Scottish Enlightenment.

則因蘇格蘭啟蒙運動 而依舊輝煌閃耀。

Edinburgh is studded with lofty crags and spectacular gardens,

愛丁堡充滿許多 高聳的峭壁、

and throughout the year,

壯觀的花園

hosts parties and festivals like no other.

一年四季舉辦首屈一指的派對和節慶。

To see Edinburgh in all her glory, walk, ride,

瞭解愛丁堡的光芒和榮耀，

or even climb to Arthur’s Seat,

可以用走路、騎車的方式，或者甚至是攀登亞瑟王座山。

the highest of the city’s seven peaks.

它是全市七座山峰最高的一座。

Some historians believe this peak was the site of

部份歷史學家認為 此峰為亞瑟王

King Arthur’s legendary castle Camelot,

傳奇卡美洛城堡的所在地，

which is hardly surprising,

其實這不足為奇

as Edinburgh has been at the clashing crossroads of history for millennia.

因為愛丁堡 在過去幾千年的歷史以來，一直都處於衝突點的位置。

Nearby, on another volcanic crag,

不遠處，另一個火山岩頂上

rise the battlements of Edinburgh Castle,

矗立著愛丁堡城堡，

the very symbol of Scotland itself.

就是代表著蘇格蘭本身真正的象徵。

Over the last eleven centuries,

在過去十一個世紀裡，

this castle has been laid siege to 26 times as opposing clans,

此城堡是對立族群、國王和國家

kings and countries battled with broadsword and cannon.

以刀槍和大炮搶奪和爭戰的地方， 曾遭圍攻多達 26 次。

But still it stands,

至今它仍然屹立不搖，

a testimony to the indomitable spirit of the Scots.

成為蘇格蘭 不屈不撓精神的最佳見證。

Edinburgh has a special place in the hearts of today’s monarchy.

即使是在現今君主政治的體制下 愛丁堡也代表著特殊的意義。

The last of a long line of royal yachts,

愛丁堡不列顛尼亞號

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia sailed over one million miles before she was decommissioned

是前英國皇家遊艇， 於西元 1997 年退役

in 1997.

期間共行駛達 100 多萬英哩。

Today she is permanently moored at Ocean Terminal,

如今，她永久停泊在海運碼頭，

a symbol the Royal Family’s affection for Scotland and the people of Edinburgh.

成為皇室對蘇格蘭 和愛丁堡人民情感的象徵。

Edinburgh has been the jewel in the crown of chieftains and royals for centuries,

過去幾個世紀以來 愛丁堡在領袖和皇室眼裡

but it’s also a place where old-world chivalry continues today.

都佔有極度崇高的地位， 但它現在則是將以前的騎士精神延續至今日的地方。

Beneath the crown spire of St Giles’ Cathedral,

位於聖吉爾斯大教堂皇冠尖頂下方的

is Thistle Chapel, which honors the 16 living Knights and Ladies

正是薊花勳章禮拜堂， 是用來褒揚蘇格蘭最古老與最高貴

of Scotland’s oldest order,

薊花勳章16 位在世的騎士和女士受勳者，

as well as those who came before.

以及其他超額的受勳者。

It’s not just the brave and chivalrous who are celebrated in Edinburgh,

愛丁堡不是只有 勇氣和騎士精神，

this is a city that has given the world some of its

這座城市也帶給世界

best-loved writers and stories.

一些深受喜愛的作家和故事。

In Princes Street Gardens,

在王子街花園內，

rises the world’s largest monument to a writer,

矗立著一座世界上 最大的作家紀念碑，

dedicated to Sir Walter Scott,

它是為了向作家沃爾特‧史考特爵士致敬所建，

who penned epics such as Ivanhoe and Rob Roy.

其知名著作，包含艾凡豪 (Ivanhoe) 和羅勃洛依 (Rob Roy)。

Nearby, at the Writers Museum,

不遠處，還有一個作家博物館，

learn more about Scott,

瞭解更多關於史考特爵士，

and two more of Scotland’s most cherished literary adventurers,

以及蘇格蘭另外兩位 受愛戴的文學巨匠

Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson.

羅伯特·伯恩斯　(Robert Burns) 和羅伯特·路易斯·史蒂文生　(Robert Louis Stevenson)的故事。

Edinburgh continues to cast her spell over contemporary writers too.

愛丁堡也持續地 深深吸引著當代作家。

JK Rowling wrote the first two of her Harry Potter series

J.K·羅琳就是在 溫馨舊城區裡的角落，

in cozy Old Town nooks,

像是大象咖啡屋，

such as the Elephant House Café.

撰寫《哈利波特》系列作品的前兩部。

But history and literature aside,

但除了歷史和文學以外，

perhaps the greatest gifts that Edinburgh has given humankind

愛丁堡為人類帶來最珍貴的禮物 也許就是在

is in the field of knowledge,

知識領域方面的成就了，

which once earned the city the title,

因此，它也獲得

The Athens of The North.

「北方雅典」的美名。

For over four centuries,

過去的四個世紀裡，

the University of Edinburgh has given us intellectual giants such as Charles Darwin,

著名偉人如查爾斯·達爾文、 大衛·休謨和亞歷山大·貝爾等

David Hume and Alexander Bell.

皆出自於愛丁堡大學。

Explore centuries of innovation at the Scottish Museum,

前往蘇格蘭博物館 探索百年創新

or head to South Queensferry to see the Forth Bridge,

或者前往南昆斯費里 欣賞福斯橋，

an engineering marvel when it opened in 1890,

於西元 1980 年開通後

and one which still takes the breath away today.

即成為著名的建築工程奇蹟， 至今也仍舊另人讚嘆！

Knowledge and beauty go hand in hand at the Royal Botanic Gardens too.

在皇家植物園 知識和美麗也是齊頭並進的。

Established in 1670,

建於西元 1670 年，

this is one of the world’s oldest and most important centers of botanical science,

是世界上最古老和最重要的 植物科學中心之一，

yet it’s a place which invites even the most harried heart

也是一個能讓忙碌的人 放慢腳步，

to slow down and swoon.

盡情地沉醉在其中的地方。

Beauty is honored at every turn in Edinburgh,

美麗在愛丁堡處處可見，

whether it be the elegant interiors of the Georgian House,

無論是 喬治亞之家優雅的室內裝潢、

…the priceless treasures within the Scottish National Gallery,

蘇格蘭國家美術館內的 無價之寶，

…or the simple flower boxes which adorn the city’s pubs.

還是即使只是 市區酒吧外牆上單純的花卉盆栽。

Edinburgh is a city that has given the world countless gifts,

這個城市給了世界 無數的禮物，

but perhaps her greatest is this:

但最偉大的就是

she shows us that all parts of the human experience

她告訴我們：

the sciences and the arts,

人類生命中的所有體驗

the past and the present,

科學和藝術、

the sacred and the light-hearted

過去和現在、

all have equal value.

神聖和輕鬆愉快，都具有等同的價值。

And that when brought together,

當它們匯聚在一起時

these things can create a beauty,

可以創造出一種美麗、

…a state of mind,…

……一種心境……

a city,…

一個……

like no other.

舉世無雙的城市。