在非洲西南端有一个神奇的地方。
Standing on top of the flat surface of Table Mountain on a clear day is one of those special moments that you tuck away for safekeeping in the recesses of your mind. In the company of rock rabbits, an icy fresh sea breeze and your own thoughts 1086 meters above an Atlantic Ocean that stretches into electric blue infinity below, you feel like you're standing on top of the world. As well as its unusual shape, the mountain is known as a place of deep spiritual significance, the brooding quartzite and granite cliffs casting a protective aura over the city it has cradled for more than three and a half centuries.
晴空万里，站在平坦的桌山之顶是众多美妙时刻之一，如此美丽的画面烙在了记忆最深处，永远都不会忘记。身边不时有岩兔蹿过，清新微凉的海风抚过脸颊，想想自己正站在高过大西洋（无限蔓延的一片铁蓝）1086米的地方，顿生“会当临绝顶”的感慨。由于这座山山形奇特，因此也被赋予了一种深刻的精神意义——隐约的石英岩和花岗石悬崖以一种保卫的姿态守护这座城市近三个半世纪。
It is the presence of this iconic landmark at its rear and the ocean in front that has led Cape Town, nestled in a natural bowl between the two, to be internationally described as the most beautiful city in the world. Founded as a trading post in 1652, the settlement became an important stop-over for ships to repair and resupply on the Asan spice route. It was because of the relief felt by these weary ancient mariners when they discovered not only one of the most beautiful places on earth, but also one that had fresh food and water, that they called it the Cape of Good Hope. South Africa's oldest city, Cape Town is also known by locals as the Mother City
正是后方的这个地标以及前方的浩瀚大洋成就了开普敦——依偎在两者间的天然峡湾，也被公认为世界上最美丽的城市。1652年这里被建成一个商栈，随后逐渐成为Asan香料之路上来往船只休憩和补充给养的重要中转站。当筋疲力尽的老船员们发现这里不仅仅是世界上最美丽的地方之一，而且还有新鲜的食物和水，他们感到无比的安心和轻松，因此他们称之为好望角。南非最古老的城市——开普敦，也被当地人誉为母亲城。
Magical Mountain
神奇山脉
Table Mountain is Cape Town's top attraction for visitors. For those who are energetic it's a three-hour hike to the top, and as part of a nature reserve and a UNESCO Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site there is an opportunity to enjoy the unique flora on the way up. More than 1400 species of plant life flourish in the area. Most people opt to go up by cable car, with its revolving floor, that zips you up in minutes. Without warning, and almost like magic, a tablecloth of clouds can float down and spill over the mountains' edge, turning your visit into a fairy tale and softening the nearby rock formations known as the Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Devil's Peak and the Twelve Apostles until they look near enough to touch. An ancient legend says the ethereal tablecloth is due to an old Afrikaner called Van Hunks who sits on Devil's Peak (adjacent to Table Mountain) having a smoking contest with the devil himself. The two keep puffing away, blowing clouds of smoke and neither ever wins.
桌山是开普敦最有吸引力的地方。精力充沛的游客只需3个小时就能登上山顶。作为自然保护区以及联合国科教文组织植物区角世界遗产的一部分，一路上可以欣赏到各种奇特的植被，大概有1400多种。大部分游客都宁愿乘坐（360度）旋转上升缆车，几分钟内就能够到达山顶。然后，毫无预兆地，甚至可以说是不可思议地，大片大片桌布似的云朵会在瞬间飘过，紧紧覆在山的四周，几乎要满溢出来，游客也仿佛进入了一个童话世界，而四周的狮头峰、信号山、魔鬼峰、十二门徒峰也似乎被这些迷幻的云朵抹去了尖锐的棱角，变得柔软起来，仿佛近在咫尺，触手可及。关于这些飘渺的桌布的来历有一个古老的传说：一个名叫范汉?克斯的南非人在魔鬼峰（在桌山附近）和一个魔鬼比赛吸烟，两个人不停地抽烟、吞云吐雾，但谁都没有赢得对方，因此，桌山上便总是云雾缭绕了。
Beaches, Oh Beaches
美丽海滩
After the altitude of the mountain, get down to sea level and head for Cape Town's legendary beaches which have earned Europe's coveted blue flag status for outstanding beaches. Watersport junkies can surf, dive, kite-surf into salty nirvana. The trendy beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno along the Atlantic Seaboard are right up there with the best in the world. Tanned, gym-sculptured bodies, ivory colored sand and sunsets crying out for film are all part of the attraction. It's all too perfect. That is, of course, until you step into the water. The Atlantic tides that wash the Cape are teeth-chatteringly cold - dashing in and out to cool down is about all you'll want to do.
在领略过高山美景后就来到海边，直奔开普敦传说中的海滩——获得欧洲最具价值的蓝旗称号（颁给杰出的海滩）。这里的水上运动包括海上冲浪、潜水还有冲浪风筝等等。而像大西洋沿海的坎普斯湾海滩、克里夫顿海滩、兰蒂德诺海滩这些新潮时尚的海滩都是世界闻名。日光浴、健身房里刻意锻炼出的完美身材、泛着象牙色泽的沙子以及适合电影镜头的美丽落日，这些都极具吸引力。一切都太完美了。当然，更准确的说，是在你下水之前。冲刷着海角的大西洋海浪异常寒冷——你所能做的就是不断地游进游出让自己冷静下来。
On the east coast of the Cape peninsula, you can catch a commuter train along the False Bay coastline, stopping at beaches and quaint villages. The water here is warmer than the Atlantic and draws swimmers and surfers in droves. Long Beach at Muizenberg, with its rainbow colored wooden change rooms; the antique shops, art galleries and cafes of Kalk Bay, where fishermen hawk the day's catch; and Fish Hoek, a family beach always packed with locals, are all worth exploring. The bay is also a great place for whale watching. The train line ends at the postcard village of Simon's Town, South Africa's naval base, with its main street lined with Victorian wrought iron lace facades.
在开普半岛的东海岸，你可以乘坐佛斯湾海岸线的市郊火车，逐个停留游览沿途沙滩和独特的村庄。这里的海水比大西洋的要温暖得多，游泳者和冲浪者蜂拥而至。位于梅森堡长滩上的用木头搭建的彩虹色更衣室；考克湾的旧书店、艺廊、咖啡馆以及兜售一天收获的渔民；还有当地人集聚的钓鱼镇海滩，这些都值得一看。这个海湾还是观看鲸鱼的好地方。火车终点站是风景如画的西蒙镇，也是南非的海军基地，它的主街道满是维多利亚时期的锻铁饰物。
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