2015年CRI 关系解冻导致增加的美国游客

 

Tourists from around the world have been flocking to Cuba, anxious to explore th country before it's overwhelmed by US visitors.

"I think all of them came like we did before they opened it up to everyone. We wanted to see Cuba in its natural setting,

with its culture that exists and we're so afraid that in a number of years once they open this up to the United States it's going to be just thousands and thousands of American tourists coming here."

In December, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced plans to restore diplomatic relations, which were severed¹ in 1961.

While the decades-long US economic embargo² remains³ in place and general tourism is still illegal, the Obama administration has eased restrictions⁴ on travel and commerce.

Stats show the rapprochement between the US and Cuba has led to a 36-percent increase in visits by Americans to the island through the first three-months of this year compared to the year before.

Dozens of buses, transporting hundreds of tourists from around the world now pack Havana's historic sites every day.

Visitors have been flocking to the country's historic buildings and squares, snapping pictures and visiting Havana's picturesque⁵ neighbourhoods.

However, it's led to fears that Cuba's culture - untouched by the influence of the United States because of the decades of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation⁶ - may now be eroded⁷.

Alexander Nodarse is a local tour guide,

"Many people are certain that will be changes in Cuba. If you talk with an American they told you that the changes will be an avalanche⁸,

not only of persons but commercial too, the most common phrase its: I want to see Cuba before McDonald's came."

Some are suggesting Cuba may eventually become like Key West, a cruise-ship stop and tourist haven⁹ at Florida's southernmost point.

"They shouldn't change their culture, they should stay exactly the way they are and that will make it special.

But if it becomes like Key West did, it's just a tourist trap, and it takes away all the charm that exist."

However, Morejon with tour agency Total Caribbean Experience, says they remains confident Cuba will remain as visitors see it today.

"Cuba will be my Cuba the whole time. Cuba will be Cubans, Cuba will be Rumba, Rumba will be Santeria, with all the history and the culture of Cuba."

Cuba's economy has been severely¹⁰ restricted because of the US trade embargo.

For CRI, this is Tu Yun.

1 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

8 avalanche   

n.雪崩，大量涌来

参考例句：

• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
• Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。

9 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

10 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。