AS IT IS 2015-12-19 Take a Holiday Walk Through Washington

AS IT IS 2015-12-19 Take a Holiday Walk Through Washington

Can’t get to Washington, D.C. for the holidays? Luckily, we did the walking for you. Let’s head out on this holiday tour.

The National Botanic Garden is a living plant museum, designed to show how important plants are to humankind. Built in 1820, it is also one of the oldest places in North America. During the holidays, the central Garden Court displays beautiful Christmas trees and foliage¹, or plants. The centerpiece displays models of famous Washington buildings made from branches, moss² and flowers.

Another beautiful spot is Union Station, Washington’s main train hub. It is one of the busiest train stations and shopping destinations in the country, visited by more than 40 million people a year. Its restaurants and shops sit under soaring ceilings and glassy marble floors.

The historic train station was built in 1907 and designed by famed Chicago architect David Burnham. The entrance has a classic design and triumphant³ arches. And do not miss the charming toy train set, modeled on an American town from the 1940s.

The National Gallery of Art has one of the finest art collections in the world. The rotunda⁴, or domed⁵ ceiling, features a statue of the Roman god Mercury atop a splashing fountain. Some of the greens used to decorate the fountain were grown in the National Gallery’s 10 greenhouses. 

The West Garden Court has a bubbling fountain called “Cherubs Playing With a Swan,” made by French artist Jean-Baptiste Tuby. It is the setting for many holiday concerts. The East Garden Court, beautifully decorated with pale pink poinsettias, has a fountain by French artist Pierre Legros.

Afterward⁶, head downstairs to the Cascade⁷ Café for an espresso, gelato or a glass of wine. Sit and watch the water cascading⁸, or falling against a glass wall. To head to the East Gallery, take the moving sidewalk through a dazzling diode-lit tunnel, created by artist Leo Villareal. It will deliver you to the modern wing of the museum, designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, decorated for the holidays.

Finally, we close with a quieter but no less important spot on our trip, Arlington National Cemetery⁹. Arlington is where America buries its military and their family members. And it is important to remember them at this time of year.

Words in This Story

foliage - n. the leaves of a plant or of many plants?

destination - n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent?

triumphant - adj. resulting in victory or success?

charming - adj. very pleasing or appealing: full of charm?

dazzling - adj. to cause (someone) to be unable to see for a short time

1 foliage   

n.叶子，树叶，簇叶

参考例句：

• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage.小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
• Dark foliage clothes the hills.浓密的树叶覆盖着群山。

2 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

3 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

4 rotunda   

n.圆形建筑物；圆厅

参考例句：

• The Capitol at Washington has a large rotunda.华盛顿的国会大厦有一圆形大厅。
• The rotunda was almost deserted today,dotted with just a few tourists.圆形大厅今天几乎没有多少人，只零星散布着几个游客。

5 domed   

adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• I gazed up at the domed ceiling arching overhead. 我抬头凝望着上方弧形的穹顶。
• His forehead domed out in a curve. 他的前额呈弯曲的半球形。

6 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

7 cascade   

n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下

参考例句：

• She watched the magnificent waterfall cascade down the mountainside.她看着壮观的瀑布从山坡上倾泻而下。
• Her hair fell over her shoulders in a cascade of curls.她的卷发像瀑布一样垂在肩上。

8 cascading   

流注( cascade的现在分词 )； 大量落下； 大量垂悬； 梯流

参考例句：

• First of all, cascading menus are to be avoided at all costs. 首先，无论如何都要避免使用级联菜单。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Her sounds began cascading gently. 他的声音开始缓缓地低落下来。

9 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。