The Big Easy(a)|浴火重生的爵士之城：纽奥良

The Big Easy　　浴火重生的爵士之城：纽奥良

by Jeremy Beacock

Before Katrina, New Orleans was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US.

卡翠娜肆虐前，纽奥良曾是美国最受欢迎的旅游景点之一。

Founded by the French in 1718, New Orleans quickly became an important port city because of its location at the mouth of the Mississippi River. New Orleans attracted a large number of immigrants from South America as well as Europe and played an important role in the African slave trade. These influences have made New Orleans one of the most diverse cities in the US with a worldwide reputation for food, jazz, and of course, Mardi Gras.

This combination of cultures shows most clearly in its cuisine, which is a mix of African, French, and other European influences. The most famous dish in New Orleans is jambalaya, followed closely by gumbo, crawfish, and red beans and rice. However, it is not only the food that is fusion. Jazz and its many diversified influences are New Orleans' most distinctive export. This music, pioneered by black musicians in the early part of the 20th century, found its home in New Orleans. The mix of cultures made it easy for musicians to get work, so New Orleans was nicknamed The Big Easy.

As a result, the musicians made New Orleans a party town. All year round, bars and clubs offer an enticing range of activities for tourists, culminating in the huge Mardi Gras festival in February or March every year. Like so much about New Orleans, this enormous street party is a blend of European and South American traditions, which has become a huge hit with locals and tourists alike.

　　法国人在 1718 年建立纽奥良，很快地，这里就因为位处密西西比河河口，而成为重要港都。纽奥良吸引大量来自南美洲和欧洲的移民，并且在黑奴交易市场中占有一席之地。这些影响让纽奥良成为美国最多元化的城市之一，以美食、爵士和狂欢节而闻名全球。

　　这种文化的融合完全表现在饮食当中，纽奥良美食混和非洲、法国和其他欧洲风味，最著名的菜肴就是什锦饭，紧接在后的是秋葵浓汤、小龙虾和红豆饭。不过，纽奥良这种融合多国风味的特色不只呈现在食物上，爵士乐及其多方面的影响同样是纽奥良的输出特产。20世纪初由黑人音乐家发起的爵士乐，正是发迹于纽奥良。多元文化的融合让这些音乐家能轻易在纽奥良找到工作，因而让当地冠上『快活之都』的称号。

　　结果，这些音乐家让纽奥良成为狂欢之城。各式酒吧和俱乐部全年无休举办各式引人入胜的活动以飨观光客，尤其在每年 2 或 3 月的狂欢节达到最高潮。在这个忠于纽奥良特色的盛大街头狂欢日，可以看到许多融合欧洲和南美洲的传统，使得当地人和观光客无不趋之若鹜。