EM 4 - 2018 (ESPAÑOL - digitalizado)

Travel
New Orleans, situated at
the mouth of the mighty
Mississippi River, is one of
America’s most magnificent
and mysterious cities. Its unique history
and mélange of cultures rightfully makes
it a tourist hotspot that should be on everyone’s
bucket list. Once you book a visit,
you’ll realise your toughest decision will be
choosing what to see first.
A History Lesson
To fully appreciate the magic of New
Orleans, some rudimentary knowledge
of the city’s background would do you
some good. New Orleans was founded by
French settlers to the colony of Louisiana
in 1718. It wasn’t until 1803 that the
United States purchased all of Louisiana
from the French, and New Orleans started
to see a major influx of English-speaking
residents for the first time. Many elements
of French culture and language can still
be found in New Orleans today.
In 1815, British forces attempted to
seize New Orleans but were repelled by
soldiers under the command of Andrew
Jackson, who would go on to serve as US
President. Jackson became a hero of sorts
to the people of New Orleans, and you’ll
find many landmarks bearing his name
throughout the city. Prior to the American
Civil War, New Orleans thrived as a trade
centre, since it was located at the mouth
of the Mississippi River. It played a significant
role in the slave trade, but the
city also had the largest number of free
African Americans in the country. New
Orleans saw no devastating battles during
the Civil War, so its rich historical
architecture remains entirely intact.
New Orleans is known for being
a melting pot of all kinds of cultures.
Throughout the city, the term “Creole”
refers to people of any race who can
trace their ancestry to the colonial French
and Spanish who populated Louisiana
before the area became part of the USA.
Artists fell in love with New Orleans’
bohemian climate, and flocked to the city at
the turn of the twentieth century. Shortly
afterwards, jazz music burst onto the
scene, and New Orleans became
internationally recognisable. The event
having the largest impact on the city in
modern times is Hurricane Katrina,
which struck New
Orleans in August 2015. About 80 percent
of the city was flooded. Sections of the
city still show signs of damage, but valiant
rebuilding efforts are a testament to
the love Louisianans have for their home.
Creole Crowd-Pleasers
The city of New Orleans is itself
a major tourist attraction, but there are a
number of delightful draws that bring in
throngs of travellers every year. Its mostvisited
section is the French Quarter,
the original heart of the city. The iconic
Bourbon Street, which many call a tourist
trap, is home to several watering holes and
eateries. It may come across as a tad gaudy
and sleazy, but it’s still worth a glimpse.
A leisurely stroll or a carriage ride
mélange /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/ | mezcla
hotspot | foco, centro
bucket list | lista de deseos
to book sth | reservar
to realise | darse cuenta
tough | difícil, duro
rudimentary | básico
background | origen, trasfondo
founded | fundado
settler | colono
to purchase sth | comprar
influx | influjo, afluencia
to attempt | intentar
to seize sth | tomar por la fuerza
landmark | monumento, lugar
emblemático
to thrive | prosperar, desarrollarse
melting pot | crisol, punto de encuentro
ancestry | linaje, origen
to flock | ir en tropel, acudir en manada
at the turn of | a finales de
to burst onto the scene | irrumpir,
aparecer en escena
to strike sth | golpear
flooded | inundado
crowd-pleaser | que agrada a la multitud
major | gran
draw | atracción
throngs of | multitud de
quarter | barrio, distrito
watering hole | aquí: antro
eatery | restaurante
to come across as sth | parecer, dar la
impresión
Native Speaker
Says
New Orleans might have
more nicknames than any
other city out there. Most
of them are used by native
speakers, but are easy
enough to remember:
The Big Easy: possibly
refers to the easy-going
lifestyle found in the city.
New Orleans has a much
more relaxed mood than
many other major cities.
Crescent City: alludes to
the curved course of the
Mississippi River through
New
Orleans
Nawlins: imitates how
many locals pronounce
the city’s name. Any visitor
to New Orleans will be
quick to notice the thick,
sometimes incomprehensible
accent of true-blue
New
Orleanians
NOLA: a shortcut of New
Orleans, Louisiana
a tad | poco
gaudy | ordinario
sleazy | sórdido
be worth | merecer la pena
glimpse | vistazo
stroll | paseo
carriage ride | paseo en carruaje
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