New Orleans is the largest city in the US state of Louisiana.

是美國路易斯安那州最大的城市。

Straddling the lower reaches of the Mississippi River,

橫跨密西西比河兩岸的下游地區，

this port city has long been

這座港口城市一直以來都是

at the crossroads of exploration, trade and commerce.

探勘、貿易和商業的交會中心。

New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures

紐奧良是一座文化大熔爐，

that has happily simmered away since 1718.

從1718年開始就樂此不疲地燒融著。

So, what's in the pot?

那麼，熔爐裡到底有什麼？

Cultural influences from France, Africa, Brazil and the Deep South

受到法國、非洲、巴西和美國南方的文化影響，

mix with Catholicism, Voodoo, Cajun zydeco, and Dixieland jazz

與天主教、巫毒、卡將柴迪科音樂和狄西蘭爵士樂相互交織融合，

to make New Orleans one of the most lively and popular destinations

使紐奧良成為全美最有活力的

in the USA.

熱門旅遊勝地。

"Let the Good Times Roll"; that's the motto New Orleans lives by.

「歡樂時光不停歇」是紐奧良人身體力行的格言。

And newcomers usually waste no time

初來乍到的旅客通常會迫不及待

in heading to where the good times roll the loudest, The French Quarter

湧向最能代表「歡樂時光」的地點，也就是法國區，

the birthplace of Jazz!

爵士樂的誕生地！

Lined with bars, clubs and restaurants,

看著滿街的酒吧、夜店和餐廳，

"The Quarter" is home to one of the most party-friendly streets in the world,

難怪來自世界各地的派對愛好者都愛來法國區的

Bourbon Street.

波旁街。

But the French Quarter is more than just a good time.

但除了狂歡，法國區還有更多地方值得一瞧，

It's also where you'll find many of the city's prime attractions.

許多紐奧良主要景點都集中在這一區。

Start your day in "The Big Easy" with a Cafe au Lait in Jackson Square.

到傑克森廣場的「快樂站」點杯咖啡歐雷，開始美好的一天。

Riding tall in the saddle is Andrew Jackson,

高坐在馬背上的是安德魯傑克森將軍，

the General whose rag-tag army of locals humiliated the British

他當年曾率領當地烏合之眾軍隊，在紐奧良之役中

in the Battle of New Orleans.

擊潰了英軍。

Jackson Square is lined with many of the city's grand old buildings,

傑克森廣場周邊圍繞著雄偉的城市舊建築，

like St. Louis Cathedral.

像是聖路易斯教堂。

On either side of the Cathedral are the Cabildo and the Presbytere,

座落於教堂兩側的卡比利多和普瑞思貝提爾博物館，

just two of several historic French Quarter buildings

則是法國區眾多悠久建築中的兩棟

which make up the Louisiana State Museum.

，它們都是路易斯安那州博物館的一部分。

Across the square is the 1850 House,

穿越過廣場來到1850之家，

which recreates life in a row-house from the Antibellum era.

感受南北戰爭之前的連棟房屋裡的生活實景。

Just around the corner,

接著前往位於轉角的

The Old U.S. Mint preserves the city's mercantile and musical treasures.

舊美國鑄幣廠，這裡保存著紐奧良的商業和音樂珍貴文物。

While it's tempting to spend your entire visit in the French Quarter-

雖然法國區的強大魅力讓人不捨離去，

and some folks never leave- New Orleans offers plenty of other flavors too.

有些人就真的待了下來，但紐奧良還有其他許多迷人面貌值得一看。

Cross over Canal Street into the Warehouse district,

穿越運河街前往倉庫區，

an area of renovated grain-stores and sugar presses,

這裡有許多經過整修翻新的穀倉和榨糖機，

now packed with galleries and chic boutiques.

如今放眼望去則滿是藝廊和時尚精品店。

A little further Uptown in Memorial Hall,

走遠一點來到上城區的聯盟國紀念堂，

the faces and voices from the American Civil War

在瀰漫的時光大砲煙霧中感受

reach out across the cannon-smoke of time.

美國南北戰爭將士們的音容宛在。

Just nearby, discover why the National World War Two Museum

不遠處，便是國立二次世界大戰博物館，

has been hailed as the most important Second World War repository in America.

來到這您就能瞭解為什麼這裡被稱為美國最重要的二戰博物館。

Climb aboard a St Charles Streetcar bound for the Garden District.

搭乘開往花園區的聖查爾斯電車。

Here, amid the Victorian cottages and stately plantation homes,

這裡有整片的維多利亞式木屋和雄偉農場莊園，

you'll find Lafayette Cemetery.

而拉法葉墓園就在其中。

Join a tour run by local volunteers or explore the crypts on your own.

參加由當地志願者帶領的導覽行程，或自己參觀探索墓穴。

But be warned;

但警告您，

the cemetery is regarded as one of the country's most haunted!

這座墓園是全美公認鬧鬼最嚴重的墓園之一！

When it's time to rejoin the living,

重新回到活人世界後，

follow your nose across the road to another New Orleans institution,

跟著香味穿越馬路，直達另一間紐奧良知名地標，

Commanders Palace Restaurant.

指揮官宮殿餐廳。

Ride the streetcar a few stops further west to Audubon Park.

搭乘電車再往西坐幾站，就能抵達奧杜邦公園。

The park is home to the charming Audubon Zoo

公園裡有座充滿魅力的奧杜邦動物園，

which features a quaint southern touch, an alligator-filled swamp.

園內有個別具南方特色、養滿鱷魚的沼澤。

The zoo is part of the Audubon Nature Institute

這個動物園隸屬於奧杜邦自然研究機構，

which includes the Insectarium and The Aquarium of the Americas.

同屬此機構的還有昆蟲館和美洲水族館。

While at the nearby New Orleans Museum of Art,

造訪鄰近的紐奧良美術館，

explore paintings, ceramics and sculptures

探索來自世界各地、跨越各個時代的

from across the ages and from around the world.

畫作、陶瓷和雕塑作品。

Visiting New Orleans outside the Carnival Season?

沒趕上紐奧良的嘉年華季嗎？

No problem.

沒關係，

Just head across the river to the Mardi Gras Museum

只要到河對岸的馬蒂格拉斯博物館，

which brings one of the worlds greatest festivals to life all year round.

這場全球最盛大的狂歡派對，隨時都能在您眼前生動上演。

New Orleans' distinctive and sometimes fiery cuisine

紐奧良風格獨具、有時火辣無比的美食

will ensure you never miss a beat.

會讓您捨不得錯過任何一道。

Local specialties like gumbo, po' boys, and praline are available everywhere.

當地特色美食，像是如秋葵濃湯、Po' boy潛艇堡和胡桃糖皆隨處可見。

But it's the music here that truly feeds the soul.

不過，這裡真正能滿足心靈的還是音樂。

So when the sun starts to set,

所以當華燈初上，

head for one of the many jazz or blues clubs on Frenchman Street,

挑間法國街上的爵士或藍調俱樂部享受美妙音樂，

before heading back to Bourbon Street

再回到波旁街找樂子，

where the New Orleans good times roll on, and on, and on.

在這裡，紐奧良的歡樂時光永不停歇。