2013 Best Summer Trip #11
The top ski town in the Southern Alps combines spectacular Lord of the Rings-style alpine scenery and world-class runs at four mountain resorts at Lake Wanaka and two more within an hour’s drive. Buy a OnePassNZ to ski and snowboard at eight South Island locations, or skip the lines and lifts completely by heli-skiing through the deep, dry powder of a virgin snowfield.
When to Go: June-October, ski season; July 5-9, New Zealand Mountain Film Festival; August 4-22, World Heli Challenge; August 15-25, WinterGames NZ
How to Get Around: Bus and door-to-door shuttles to ski areas are available from Wanaka, Queenstown, Wanaka Airport, and many local hotels. Book in advance. If you rent a car, make sure the snow chains required in winter are included.
Where to Stay: Stay slopeside in a ski-in, ski-out self-catering apartment or lodge at Snow Park, Snow Farm (cross-country only), or Cardrona Alpine Resort. Whare Kea Lodge and Chalet on Lake Wanaka offers the ultimate Kiwi ski accommodations. Lift off from the front lawn of the lodge for a morning heli-ski run down the slopes of Dragonfly Peak, stopping for a gourmet lunch in the chalet.
Where to Eat or Drink: Wanaka’s whimsical Cinema Paradiso welcomes snow enthusiasts to its new, larger location this ski season (the famous movie house and café relocated to a former Catholic Church in December 2012). Loyal customers will be relieved to see that the Paradiso’s well-worn couches, quirky airplane seats, and yellow Morris Minor car also made the move. Split a preshow pizza in the café (meals aren’t served in the theater), buy a warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookie at intermission, and extend the evening back in the café with a glass a local Pinot Noir.
Helpful Links: Lake Wanaka Tourism
Fun Fact: Strike up a conversation with a local shop or innkeeper and you’ll likely meet someone who was or knows a goblin, troll, or crew member from The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings movies. With several filming locations in and around nearby Mount Aspiring National Park, many of Lake Wanaka’s year-round residents worked in front of the camera or behind the scenes on the productions.
Lake Wanaka - 瓦纳卡湖，新西兰第四大湖泊
spectacular - 壮观的
alpine - 阿尔卑斯的，高山的
cater - 满足（要求）
ultimate - 最终的，根本的，最高的，最大的
chalet - 小木屋
whimsical - 变化无常的，奇怪的
enthusiast - 爱好者
relieve - 享受，解脱
couch - 沙发
quirky - 奇妙的
split - 切割，使分裂
intermission - 休息时间，中断
strike up - 开始，结交
goblin - 小妖精，丑妖精
troll - （斯堪的纳维亚神话中居于洞穴或山上、专门偷小孩的）丑陋怪物，山精，巨怪
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Ski Portillo, Chile (12)
2013 Best Summer Trip #12
Located in eastern Chile on the shores of the sacred Lake of the Incas, Ski Portillo is a bit of a throwback. There's no glitz or wild après-ski scene at South America’s oldest ski resort, just pure powder, dazzling white Andean peaks, and no lines at 14 lifts thanks to limited ticket availability for day-trippers.
When to Go: Ski and snowboard season 2013 is June 22-October 5.
Where to Stay: Perched slope-side, canary yellow Hotel Portillo is the only option, promoting an esprit de corps among guests and the attentive staff. Weekly, all-inclusive rates at the iconic hotel cover lift tickets, recreation (heated outdoor pool, climbing wall, fitness facility), and four meals daily, including 5 p.m. onces (teatime).
How to Get Around: Located near the Argentine border, Portillo is a two-hour drive northeast of Santiago. Rental cars, airport and hotel transfers, and a Saturday shuttle service from the city are available for resort guests and day skiers. One-day lift tickets are limited, so staying at the resort is the best way to guarantee maximum slope time.
Where to Eat or Drink: Red-jacket wait staff warmly greet resort guests by name as they return to assigned tables for breakfast and dinner (8:30 or 9:30 p.m. seating) in the main, leather-paneled dining room. Lunch is more laid-back at outdoor Tio Bob’s, where barbecued fish, wine, and Andes views are served slope-side near the Plateau Lift. From 1 to 3 p.m., nonskiers can ride up (and back) to meet their skiing companions around the restaurant’s sun-drenched wooden tables.
Travel Tip: The Hotel Portillo is located 9,450 feet above sea level, making high-altitude sickness a possibility. Symptoms include headache, shortness of breath, nausea, and extreme fatigue. Allow at least a day to help the body adjust to the altitude safely before hitting the slopes, and drink water throughout each day to stay hydrated.
Helpful links: Ski Portillo
Fun Fact: Portillo’s Va et Vient (come and go) lifts work basically like giant slingshots, propelling five skiers at a time up the mountain. Since the pulley system was designed specifically to provide access to steep avalanche-chute runs, only experts are encouraged to make the somewhat daunting, yet completely safe, trip.
throwback - 倒退，返祖
glitz - 华美
dazzling - 耀眼的
Andean - 安第斯山脉的
perch - 栖息，停留
canary - 金丝雀，淡黄色
esprit - 精神
corps - 团体，兵团
inclusive - 包括的，包含的
iconic - 符号的，肖像的
recreation - 修养
laid-back - 放松的
drench - 使浸透，使充满
fatigue - 疲劳
hydrated - 含水的
slingshot - 弹弓
propel - 推进
pulley - 滑轮
specifically - 明确
steep - 危险的，陡峭的
avalanche - 雪崩，（邮件，不幸，提问等）杀到
chute - 斜槽，滑道
daunt - 使气馁
Located in eastern Chile on the shores of the sacred Lake of the Incas, Ski Portillo is a bit of a throwback. There's no glitz or wild après-ski scene at South America’s oldest ski resort, just pure powder, dazzling white Andean peaks, and no lines at 14 lifts thanks to limited ticket availability for day-trippers.
When to Go: Ski and snowboard season 2013 is June 22-October 5.
Where to Stay: Perched slope-side, canary yellow Hotel Portillo is the only option, promoting an esprit de corps among guests and the attentive staff. Weekly, all-inclusive rates at the iconic hotel cover lift tickets, recreation (heated outdoor pool, climbing wall, fitness facility), and four meals daily, including 5 p.m. onces (teatime).
How to Get Around: Located near the Argentine border, Portillo is a two-hour drive northeast of Santiago. Rental cars, airport and hotel transfers, and a Saturday shuttle service from the city are available for resort guests and day skiers. One-day lift tickets are limited, so staying at the resort is the best way to guarantee maximum slope time.
Where to Eat or Drink: Red-jacket wait staff warmly greet resort guests by name as they return to assigned tables for breakfast and dinner (8:30 or 9:30 p.m. seating) in the main, leather-paneled dining room. Lunch is more laid-back at outdoor Tio Bob’s, where barbecued fish, wine, and Andes views are served slope-side near the Plateau Lift. From 1 to 3 p.m., nonskiers can ride up (and back) to meet their skiing companions around the restaurant’s sun-drenched wooden tables.
Travel Tip: The Hotel Portillo is located 9,450 feet above sea level, making high-altitude sickness a possibility. Symptoms include headache, shortness of breath, nausea, and extreme fatigue. Allow at least a day to help the body adjust to the altitude safely before hitting the slopes, and drink water throughout each day to stay hydrated.
Helpful links: Ski Portillo
Fun Fact: Portillo’s Va et Vient (come and go) lifts work basically like giant slingshots, propelling five skiers at a time up the mountain. Since the pulley system was designed specifically to provide access to steep avalanche-chute runs, only experts are encouraged to make the somewhat daunting, yet completely safe, trip.
throwback - 倒退，返祖
glitz - 华美
dazzling - 耀眼的
Andean - 安第斯山脉的
perch - 栖息，停留
canary - 金丝雀，淡黄色
esprit - 精神
corps - 团体，兵团
inclusive - 包括的，包含的
iconic - 符号的，肖像的
recreation - 修养
laid-back - 放松的
drench - 使浸透，使充满
fatigue - 疲劳
hydrated - 含水的
slingshot - 弹弓
propel - 推进
pulley - 滑轮
specifically - 明确
steep - 危险的，陡峭的
avalanche - 雪崩，（邮件，不幸，提问等）杀到
chute - 斜槽，滑道
daunt - 使气馁
Friday, September 20, 2013
Ring Road (Highway 1), Iceland (13)
2013 Best Summer Trip #13
Midsummer brings near round-the-clock daylight to Europe’s westernmost country and its drive-of-a-lifetime loop. Rounding each bend on the 830-mile Ring Road reveals another of Iceland’s fire-and-ice wonders—glacier-fed waterfalls, black-sand beaches, knife-cut valleys, lunar-esque lava fields, boiling mud pots, and seabird cliffs. Keep your eyes on the road, and pull off frequently to rest, hike, and enjoy the view.
When to Go: Mid-June to September
How to Get Around: Renting a car or SUV gives you the freedom to detour off the highway. Ring Road is (mostly) paved, but side roads are often narrow and gravel, and mountain “F-roads” can be little more than mud tracks. Always proceed with caution and plan ahead. Check current road conditions and driver safety information at Safetravel Iceland, or consider a self-drive or guided tour with a local Iceland travel expert like Nordic Visitor or Iceland Travel.
Where to Stay: Zen-like Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel is only a 20-minute drive from the airport, making it a convenient place to start or end your Icelandic adventure. From the 15-room oasis, it’s a short (but possibly foggy and wet) walk through the surrounding lava fields to the healing, geothermal waters of the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Room rates include complimentary Blue Lagoon passes. Hotel guests also have early morning and evening access to the Clinic’s private therapy lagoon.
Where to Eat: Humarsúp (lobster soup) is the specialty of the house at Sægreiffin, or the Sea Baron, named for its owner Kjartan Halldórsson. Located in a nondescript fisherman’s hut in Reykjavik's old harbor, the lunch-through-late-night (open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. through August 31) restaurant is a tourist favorite—but don’t let that dissuade you. From the barrel seating to the smoked eel odor, the Sea Baron is funky, fun, and straight-from-the-ocean fresh.
What to Buy: Visit one of the three Handknitting Association of Iceland Reykjavik locations to purchase Icelandic wool sweaters (including lighter summer weights), blankets, and mittens made by local artisans. For licorice candy (and anything else you could possibly need) walk or take the Tourist Information Centre's free shuttle bus to the sprawling Kringlan Shopping Centre.
Helpful Links: Visit Iceland
What to Read Before You Go: Iceland: Land of the Sagas by Jon Krakauer and David Roberts (1998)
Fun Fact: Iceland has more than 170 geothermal pools and a public swimming pool in every village and town, making it possible to swim or soak your way through the country no matter what the season. Since warm water (with temperatures ranging from 80 to 107°F) is everywhere here, children are required to learn to swim. Lessons are part of the school curriculum, and swimming proficiency is required to graduate.
loop - 圈，环
lunar - 月牙形的
‐esque - [接续]。。。样式的
detour - 绕远
lagoon - 湿地，泻湖
geothermal - 地热的
complimentary - 招待的，免费的
therapy - 疗法
nondescript - 没留下印象的
dissuade - 阻止
barrel - 酒桶
funky - 有臭味的
hand knitting - 手工编织
blanket - 毯子
mitten - 露指手套
licorice - 甘草
curriculum - 课程
proficiency - 娴熟
Midsummer brings near round-the-clock daylight to Europe’s westernmost country and its drive-of-a-lifetime loop. Rounding each bend on the 830-mile Ring Road reveals another of Iceland’s fire-and-ice wonders—glacier-fed waterfalls, black-sand beaches, knife-cut valleys, lunar-esque lava fields, boiling mud pots, and seabird cliffs. Keep your eyes on the road, and pull off frequently to rest, hike, and enjoy the view.
When to Go: Mid-June to September
How to Get Around: Renting a car or SUV gives you the freedom to detour off the highway. Ring Road is (mostly) paved, but side roads are often narrow and gravel, and mountain “F-roads” can be little more than mud tracks. Always proceed with caution and plan ahead. Check current road conditions and driver safety information at Safetravel Iceland, or consider a self-drive or guided tour with a local Iceland travel expert like Nordic Visitor or Iceland Travel.
Where to Stay: Zen-like Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel is only a 20-minute drive from the airport, making it a convenient place to start or end your Icelandic adventure. From the 15-room oasis, it’s a short (but possibly foggy and wet) walk through the surrounding lava fields to the healing, geothermal waters of the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Room rates include complimentary Blue Lagoon passes. Hotel guests also have early morning and evening access to the Clinic’s private therapy lagoon.
Where to Eat: Humarsúp (lobster soup) is the specialty of the house at Sægreiffin, or the Sea Baron, named for its owner Kjartan Halldórsson. Located in a nondescript fisherman’s hut in Reykjavik's old harbor, the lunch-through-late-night (open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. through August 31) restaurant is a tourist favorite—but don’t let that dissuade you. From the barrel seating to the smoked eel odor, the Sea Baron is funky, fun, and straight-from-the-ocean fresh.
What to Buy: Visit one of the three Handknitting Association of Iceland Reykjavik locations to purchase Icelandic wool sweaters (including lighter summer weights), blankets, and mittens made by local artisans. For licorice candy (and anything else you could possibly need) walk or take the Tourist Information Centre's free shuttle bus to the sprawling Kringlan Shopping Centre.
Helpful Links: Visit Iceland
What to Read Before You Go: Iceland: Land of the Sagas by Jon Krakauer and David Roberts (1998)
Fun Fact: Iceland has more than 170 geothermal pools and a public swimming pool in every village and town, making it possible to swim or soak your way through the country no matter what the season. Since warm water (with temperatures ranging from 80 to 107°F) is everywhere here, children are required to learn to swim. Lessons are part of the school curriculum, and swimming proficiency is required to graduate.
loop - 圈，环
lunar - 月牙形的
‐esque - [接续]。。。样式的
detour - 绕远
lagoon - 湿地，泻湖
geothermal - 地热的
complimentary - 招待的，免费的
therapy - 疗法
nondescript - 没留下印象的
dissuade - 阻止
barrel - 酒桶
funky - 有臭味的
hand knitting - 手工编织
blanket - 毯子
mitten - 露指手套
licorice - 甘草
curriculum - 课程
proficiency - 娴熟
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Prince Edward Island, Canada (14)
2013 Best Summer Trip #14
Experience the quiet charms of Canada’s “million-acre farm” before next year, when a yearlong celebration called PEI 2014 will recognize Prince Edward Island’s role in the birth of the nation. Walk the coastal trails at Prince Edward Island National Park, dig for clams, and pedal past tidy villages and potato farms on the island-spanning Confederation Trail.
When to Go: June-September, the Charlottetown Festival's musical theater performances, including Anne of Green Gables–The Musical; July-August, beaches; July-September, Prince Edward Island National Park interpretive activities (campfire and geocaching programs, guided trail walks)
How to Get Around: Follow the locals’ lead and “go for a drive.” Take the eight-mile bridge to PEI from Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, or the Northumberland Car Ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia, or rent a car in Charlottetown, the island’s capital. Tourism PEI’s three clearly marked scenic routes—North Cape Coastal Drive, Central Coastal Drive, and Points East Coastal Drive—make it easy to drive PEI “tip-to-tip.”
Where to Stay: Stay in Bedeque at the five-room Briarcliffe Inn, where potato fields, secluded Salutation Cove, and a few private cottages are your only neighbors. Innkeepers Bill and Mary Kendrick also run Experience PEI. Ask them to arrange hands-on activities (woodworking, sand castle sculpting, oyster shucking) led by native islanders.
Where to Eat: Gather fresh ingredients (shellfish, produce, honey, bread) with PEI fishermen, organic farmers, and artisan food producers, then create your own made-from-scratch meal under the direction of local chef Ross Munro. This Surf & Turf experience is one of seven Munro has created for his Prince Edward Island Culinary Adventures (most available June 15-September). If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the menu, ask Munro to create a custom adventure.
What to Read Before You Go: The Anne of Green Gables series of books by L.M. Montgomery
What to Watch Before You Go: Anne of Green Gables (1986) and Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987), Canadian television productions filmed on location in PEI
Helpful Links: Tourism Prince Edward Island; Prince Edward Island National Park
Fun Fact: Eleven of the red clay lanes L.M. Montgomery described in her beloved 1908 literary classic Anne of Green Gables are designated as Scenic Heritage Roads. Many adjacent property owners voluntarily support the effort by protecting the hedgerow or woodland “buffer zone” over and along the bucolic lanes.
tidy - 整齐的
confederation - 联邦，联合
interpretive -作为说明的，解释的
secluded - 远离人群的，隐遁的
shuck - 剥皮
ingredient - 食材，原料
artisan - 职人，技工
scratch - 组合的
surf - 碎波
turf - 草地
culinary - 厨房的
gable - 山墙
sequel - 续篇
lane - 小路
adjacent - 邻接的
hedgerow - 灌木墙
bucolic - 牧歌的，田园生活的
Experience the quiet charms of Canada’s “million-acre farm” before next year, when a yearlong celebration called PEI 2014 will recognize Prince Edward Island’s role in the birth of the nation. Walk the coastal trails at Prince Edward Island National Park, dig for clams, and pedal past tidy villages and potato farms on the island-spanning Confederation Trail.
When to Go: June-September, the Charlottetown Festival's musical theater performances, including Anne of Green Gables–The Musical; July-August, beaches; July-September, Prince Edward Island National Park interpretive activities (campfire and geocaching programs, guided trail walks)
How to Get Around: Follow the locals’ lead and “go for a drive.” Take the eight-mile bridge to PEI from Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, or the Northumberland Car Ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia, or rent a car in Charlottetown, the island’s capital. Tourism PEI’s three clearly marked scenic routes—North Cape Coastal Drive, Central Coastal Drive, and Points East Coastal Drive—make it easy to drive PEI “tip-to-tip.”
Where to Stay: Stay in Bedeque at the five-room Briarcliffe Inn, where potato fields, secluded Salutation Cove, and a few private cottages are your only neighbors. Innkeepers Bill and Mary Kendrick also run Experience PEI. Ask them to arrange hands-on activities (woodworking, sand castle sculpting, oyster shucking) led by native islanders.
Where to Eat: Gather fresh ingredients (shellfish, produce, honey, bread) with PEI fishermen, organic farmers, and artisan food producers, then create your own made-from-scratch meal under the direction of local chef Ross Munro. This Surf & Turf experience is one of seven Munro has created for his Prince Edward Island Culinary Adventures (most available June 15-September). If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the menu, ask Munro to create a custom adventure.
What to Read Before You Go: The Anne of Green Gables series of books by L.M. Montgomery
What to Watch Before You Go: Anne of Green Gables (1986) and Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987), Canadian television productions filmed on location in PEI
Helpful Links: Tourism Prince Edward Island; Prince Edward Island National Park
Fun Fact: Eleven of the red clay lanes L.M. Montgomery described in her beloved 1908 literary classic Anne of Green Gables are designated as Scenic Heritage Roads. Many adjacent property owners voluntarily support the effort by protecting the hedgerow or woodland “buffer zone” over and along the bucolic lanes.
tidy - 整齐的
confederation - 联邦，联合
interpretive -作为说明的，解释的
secluded - 远离人群的，隐遁的
shuck - 剥皮
ingredient - 食材，原料
artisan - 职人，技工
scratch - 组合的
surf - 碎波
turf - 草地
culinary - 厨房的
gable - 山墙
sequel - 续篇
lane - 小路
adjacent - 邻接的
hedgerow - 灌木墙
bucolic - 牧歌的，田园生活的
Lake Skadar, Montenegro (15)
2013 Best Summer Trip #15
Skadar is the biggest lake in the Balkans at 150 square miles and, perhaps, its best kept secret destination. Ringed by medieval villages and hillside vineyards, the Montenegro portion (a third of the lake is in Albania) is a national park that's home to nearly 280 bird species (including the massive Dalmatian pelican), island monasteries and fortresses, icy waterfalls, and wild rivers.
When to Go: July-September
How to Get Around: Lake Skadar is an easy drive from the international airports at Podgorica (less than 30 minutes) and Tivat (less than 90 minutes). Public transportation is available to the main lake town, Virpazar, but not around the lake, so rent a car or join a small group tour. Responsible Travel and Undiscovered Montenegro offer itineraries that include kayaking, hiking, birding, boating, and monastery and wine tasting tours. For hikes and other activities at Lake Skadar National Park, start at the Skadar Lake Visitor Center.
Where to Stay: Captivated by the Lake Skadar Valley's unspoiled wilderness, British expats and outdoor sports enthusiasts Ben and Emma Heywood restored a stone, hillside villa in 2008 to share their discovery with adventurous guests. The couple's luxurious, four-room Villa Miela overlooks the lake within the national park. Book day trips (kayaking, wine tasting, hiking) with English-speaking guides through the Heywoods' Lake Skadar Travel & Tours. Return to the villa before sunset to soak in the plunge pool or lounge on the outdoor terrace.
Where to Eat or Drink: Located lakeside, Konoba Badanj offers traditional dishes (smoked and marinated carp and eel, šopska salad, grilled meats and vegetables) in one of Virpazar's old stone buildings. Ask the English-speaking servers for daily menu recommendations. The neighboring Silistria Boat Restaurant—built to resemble an Ottoman boat—is worth a visit for its fish platter and deck views.
Cultural Tip: Since English is rarely spoken outside of restaurants in Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića, learn a few words of Montenegrin in advance. Locals are extremely friendly to all, but they extend an extra-warm welcome to those who attempt a phrase or two. (You'll likely be rewarded with smiles and, maybe, an invitation to raise a potent glass of rakija.) Also, dress respectfully (long pants for men, covered knees and shoulders for women) outside beach areas, particularly when visiting monasteries or ethnic Muslim villages along the lake's Albanian shores.
What to Buy: Visit Virpazar's Friday morning farmers and fishermens market to shop for Crmnica Vranac (red wine); organic honey; local produce and cheeses; and wild figs, plums, walnuts, and pomegranates.
Helpful Links: Lake Skadar National Park; Lake Skadar Travel & Tours
Fun Fact: Of the many small islands in Lake Skadar, the most intriguing is Grmozur. The site of a prison built by Nikola I (Montenegro's only king, who reigned until 1918), the island is now a protected haven for reptiles and birds—and off limits to human visitors. Legend has it that to prevent escapes, only prisoners (and guards) who couldn't swim were sent to the "Alcatraz of Montenegro."
Montenegro - 黑山/蒙特内哥罗
Podgorica - 首都 波德戈里察
Lake Skadar - 斯库台湖，巴尔干半岛最大的湖泊，位于黑山与阿尔巴尼亚交界处。
Dalmatian - 南斯拉夫达尔马提亚地方的
pelican - 鹈鹕
monastery - （男子）修道院
kayaking - 划皮艇
captivate - 诱惑
unspoiled - 未损坏的，原风景的
expat = expatriate - 侨民，移居国外者
enthusiast - 狂热者
plunge - 跳水
marinate - 腌渍
carp - 鲤鱼
eel - 鳗鱼
grill - 在网上烤
platter - 大盘
a phrase or two - 只言片语
ethnic - 民族的
fig - 无花果
walnut - 核桃
pomegranate - 石榴
intriguing - 有趣的
reign - 统治
haven - 避难所，港口
reptile - 爬行动物
off limits - 禁止入内
Alcatraz - 阿尔卡特拉斯岛，俗称恶魔岛。位于加州旧金山湾，曾为监狱。
Skadar is the biggest lake in the Balkans at 150 square miles and, perhaps, its best kept secret destination. Ringed by medieval villages and hillside vineyards, the Montenegro portion (a third of the lake is in Albania) is a national park that's home to nearly 280 bird species (including the massive Dalmatian pelican), island monasteries and fortresses, icy waterfalls, and wild rivers.
When to Go: July-September
How to Get Around: Lake Skadar is an easy drive from the international airports at Podgorica (less than 30 minutes) and Tivat (less than 90 minutes). Public transportation is available to the main lake town, Virpazar, but not around the lake, so rent a car or join a small group tour. Responsible Travel and Undiscovered Montenegro offer itineraries that include kayaking, hiking, birding, boating, and monastery and wine tasting tours. For hikes and other activities at Lake Skadar National Park, start at the Skadar Lake Visitor Center.
Where to Stay: Captivated by the Lake Skadar Valley's unspoiled wilderness, British expats and outdoor sports enthusiasts Ben and Emma Heywood restored a stone, hillside villa in 2008 to share their discovery with adventurous guests. The couple's luxurious, four-room Villa Miela overlooks the lake within the national park. Book day trips (kayaking, wine tasting, hiking) with English-speaking guides through the Heywoods' Lake Skadar Travel & Tours. Return to the villa before sunset to soak in the plunge pool or lounge on the outdoor terrace.
Where to Eat or Drink: Located lakeside, Konoba Badanj offers traditional dishes (smoked and marinated carp and eel, šopska salad, grilled meats and vegetables) in one of Virpazar's old stone buildings. Ask the English-speaking servers for daily menu recommendations. The neighboring Silistria Boat Restaurant—built to resemble an Ottoman boat—is worth a visit for its fish platter and deck views.
Cultural Tip: Since English is rarely spoken outside of restaurants in Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića, learn a few words of Montenegrin in advance. Locals are extremely friendly to all, but they extend an extra-warm welcome to those who attempt a phrase or two. (You'll likely be rewarded with smiles and, maybe, an invitation to raise a potent glass of rakija.) Also, dress respectfully (long pants for men, covered knees and shoulders for women) outside beach areas, particularly when visiting monasteries or ethnic Muslim villages along the lake's Albanian shores.
What to Buy: Visit Virpazar's Friday morning farmers and fishermens market to shop for Crmnica Vranac (red wine); organic honey; local produce and cheeses; and wild figs, plums, walnuts, and pomegranates.
Helpful Links: Lake Skadar National Park; Lake Skadar Travel & Tours
Fun Fact: Of the many small islands in Lake Skadar, the most intriguing is Grmozur. The site of a prison built by Nikola I (Montenegro's only king, who reigned until 1918), the island is now a protected haven for reptiles and birds—and off limits to human visitors. Legend has it that to prevent escapes, only prisoners (and guards) who couldn't swim were sent to the "Alcatraz of Montenegro."
Montenegro - 黑山/蒙特内哥罗
Podgorica - 首都 波德戈里察
Lake Skadar - 斯库台湖，巴尔干半岛最大的湖泊，位于黑山与阿尔巴尼亚交界处。
Dalmatian - 南斯拉夫达尔马提亚地方的
pelican - 鹈鹕
monastery - （男子）修道院
kayaking - 划皮艇
captivate - 诱惑
unspoiled - 未损坏的，原风景的
expat = expatriate - 侨民，移居国外者
enthusiast - 狂热者
plunge - 跳水
marinate - 腌渍
carp - 鲤鱼
eel - 鳗鱼
grill - 在网上烤
platter - 大盘
a phrase or two - 只言片语
ethnic - 民族的
fig - 无花果
walnut - 核桃
pomegranate - 石榴
intriguing - 有趣的
reign - 统治
haven - 避难所，港口
reptile - 爬行动物
off limits - 禁止入内
Alcatraz - 阿尔卡特拉斯岛，俗称恶魔岛。位于加州旧金山湾，曾为监狱。
Monday, September 16, 2013
Western Balkans Beach Vacation, Albanian Riviera (1)
2013 Best Fall Trip #1
Albania’s southwestern Ionian coast is a short ferry hop from Corfu, Greece, yet remains relatively undiscovered and affordable. Summer traffic is increasing along the sun-bleached Albanian Riviera, but—for the moment at least—the warm turquoise waters, rocky coves, and pebble-and-sand beaches are blissfully empty in early fall.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: From Corfu, Greece, it’s a 30-minute Ionian Cruises hydrofoil ride to Sarandë, southwestern Albania’s gateway port. Book a rental car in advance and drive just south of Sarandë to the ancient city of Butrint. Then head north along the winding SH8 expressway (reconstructed in 2009) to visit beaches and traditional Mediterranean villages like Lukovë, Piqeras, Himarë, Borsh, and Dhërmi.
Where to Eat or Drink: Follow the locals to family-owned tavernas, where menus typically feature spit-roasted lamb or the day’s fresh catch drizzled with local olive oil. For dramatic Straits of Corfu sunset views, join the tourists (and sip a glass of potent Albanian raki) in the hills above Sarandë at the Lëkursi Castle restaurant.
Where to Stay: Hotel websites and English-speaking hotel staff aren’t common, so making advance reservations can be a challenge. Online booking is available at modern hotels like the 50-room Rapo’s Resort near Himarë. For more authentic, locally owned lodging, look for signs reading dhoma plazhi (rooms for rent) outside smaller hotels and village guesthouses.
Cultural Tip: After spending the bulk of the 20th century in isolation thanks to its Stalinist dictator, Albania is eager to welcome the world. Tourism is still a new concept here, however, so patience, an adventurous spirit (particularly when driving), and an Albanian phrase book are essential.
What to Read Before You Go: Albania: An Archaeological Guide, by Oliver Gilkes (I. B. Tauris, 2012)
Helpful Links: Albanian Tourism and Western Balkans Geotourism MapGuide
Fun Fact: Former Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha died in 1985, but most of the estimated 750,000 igloo-shaped, concrete bunkers he had built throughout Albania remain. Though the foreign invasion Hoxha feared never materialized, the bunkers (including several near Ionian beaches) have become popular photo op stops for foreign visitors.
Staff Tip: If you have any hesitancy about visiting Albania, I suggest hiring a local group to show you around. One of the best is Auron Tare Expeditions. The staff will work with you to provide whatever you want in a tour: diving, horseback riding, following the path of Lord Byron, exploring the history of Jews during World War II (there were more Jews in this Nazi-dominated country at the end of the war than before it started), or anything else of interest.
the Balkans - Balkan States 巴尔干诸国
Ionian sea - 爱奥尼亚海（阿尔巴尼亚与意大利之间）
hop - 航程
Corfu - 科孚岛
riviera - 海岸风景区
turquoise - 青绿色的；土耳其石
cove - 河口，小海湾
pebble - 小石头
blissfully - 无比幸福地
hydrofoil - 水上飞机
taverna - a small Greek restaurant
drizzle - 下毛毛雨；毛毛雨
strait - 海峡，窘境，困难
sip - 啜饮
potent - 有效的
authentic - 真正的，可信的
bulk - 大部分
Stalinist - 斯大林主义者
dictator - 独裁者
Enver Hoxha - 恩维尔 霍查
igloo - 雪屋
bunker - 掩体
invasion - 侵略
materialize - 实现（计划等）
hesitancy - 犹豫
Albania’s southwestern Ionian coast is a short ferry hop from Corfu, Greece, yet remains relatively undiscovered and affordable. Summer traffic is increasing along the sun-bleached Albanian Riviera, but—for the moment at least—the warm turquoise waters, rocky coves, and pebble-and-sand beaches are blissfully empty in early fall.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: From Corfu, Greece, it’s a 30-minute Ionian Cruises hydrofoil ride to Sarandë, southwestern Albania’s gateway port. Book a rental car in advance and drive just south of Sarandë to the ancient city of Butrint. Then head north along the winding SH8 expressway (reconstructed in 2009) to visit beaches and traditional Mediterranean villages like Lukovë, Piqeras, Himarë, Borsh, and Dhërmi.
Where to Eat or Drink: Follow the locals to family-owned tavernas, where menus typically feature spit-roasted lamb or the day’s fresh catch drizzled with local olive oil. For dramatic Straits of Corfu sunset views, join the tourists (and sip a glass of potent Albanian raki) in the hills above Sarandë at the Lëkursi Castle restaurant.
Where to Stay: Hotel websites and English-speaking hotel staff aren’t common, so making advance reservations can be a challenge. Online booking is available at modern hotels like the 50-room Rapo’s Resort near Himarë. For more authentic, locally owned lodging, look for signs reading dhoma plazhi (rooms for rent) outside smaller hotels and village guesthouses.
Cultural Tip: After spending the bulk of the 20th century in isolation thanks to its Stalinist dictator, Albania is eager to welcome the world. Tourism is still a new concept here, however, so patience, an adventurous spirit (particularly when driving), and an Albanian phrase book are essential.
What to Read Before You Go: Albania: An Archaeological Guide, by Oliver Gilkes (I. B. Tauris, 2012)
Helpful Links: Albanian Tourism and Western Balkans Geotourism MapGuide
Fun Fact: Former Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha died in 1985, but most of the estimated 750,000 igloo-shaped, concrete bunkers he had built throughout Albania remain. Though the foreign invasion Hoxha feared never materialized, the bunkers (including several near Ionian beaches) have become popular photo op stops for foreign visitors.
Staff Tip: If you have any hesitancy about visiting Albania, I suggest hiring a local group to show you around. One of the best is Auron Tare Expeditions. The staff will work with you to provide whatever you want in a tour: diving, horseback riding, following the path of Lord Byron, exploring the history of Jews during World War II (there were more Jews in this Nazi-dominated country at the end of the war than before it started), or anything else of interest.
the Balkans - Balkan States 巴尔干诸国
Ionian sea - 爱奥尼亚海（阿尔巴尼亚与意大利之间）
hop - 航程
Corfu - 科孚岛
riviera - 海岸风景区
turquoise - 青绿色的；土耳其石
cove - 河口，小海湾
pebble - 小石头
blissfully - 无比幸福地
hydrofoil - 水上飞机
taverna - a small Greek restaurant
drizzle - 下毛毛雨；毛毛雨
strait - 海峡，窘境，困难
sip - 啜饮
potent - 有效的
authentic - 真正的，可信的
bulk - 大部分
Stalinist - 斯大林主义者
dictator - 独裁者
Enver Hoxha - 恩维尔 霍查
igloo - 雪屋
bunker - 掩体
invasion - 侵略
materialize - 实现（计划等）
hesitancy - 犹豫
Lincoln Highway-Fall Foliage Road Trip, Fort Wayne to Dyer, Indiana (2)
2013 Best Fall Trip #2
Hoosier Carl G. Fisher was one of the people who spearheaded construction of the original 3,389-mile Lincoln Highway in 1913, making the Indiana portions of America’s first coast-to-coast highway ideal for a centennial celebration-fall foliage road trip. Pull off along the way at the Johnny Appleseed Festival, September 21-22; Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, September 27-29; and Westville Pumpkin Festival, October 4-6.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: There are two distinct Lincoln Highway routes in northern Indiana. To retrace the original 1913 sections, start in Fort Wayne and head northwest on U.S. Route 33 following "Indiana's Lincoln Highway Byway: A Turn-by-Turn Road Guide for the 1913 Route."
Where to Eat: Teibel’s Family Restaurant at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Highway 41 in Schererville has been a Lincoln Highway lunch and dinner favorite since 1929. Seven days a week, Stephen and Paul Teibel serve up hearty, homemade staples like Grandma Teibel’s fried chicken, buttered lake perch, and broccoli chicken casserole.
Where to Stay: Built 37 years before the Lincoln Highway (and with 96,650 bricks) the stately Kimmell House Inn on U.S. 33/Lincolnway S in Kimmell has three romantic guest rooms in the main house and a standalone cottage that once served as the estate's summer kitchen. Trails lead through the inn’s six wooded acres (an additional six are mowed), where by late September the leaves of the hundred-year-old sugar maples typically glow brilliant orange-red.
What to Read Before You Go: Greetings from the Lincoln Highway: A Road Trip Celebration of America’s First Coast-to-Coast Highway, Centennial Edition, by Brian Butko (Stackpole Boos, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway, a PBS documentary by film director and narrator Rick Sebak
Helpful Links: Indiana Lincoln Highway Association and Visit Indiana
Fun Fact: At 1 p.m. on September 1, 1928, groups of Boy Scouts simultaneously positioned 2,450 directional markers at intervals along the Lincoln Highway. Only 15 markers remain in Indiana, including one displayed outside the New Haven City Hall.
Lincoln Highway - 第一条贯穿美国连接东西海岸的高速公路
foliage - 一棵树上的叶子，群叶
spearhead - 领军；先锋
centennial - 百年的
Pull off - 把车贴向路边，（车，船）离开
retrace - 追溯，返回
intersection - 交叉，路口
serve up - 提供（食物）
staple - 主要物产，基本食品
perch - 鲈鱼
broccoli - 西兰花
casserole - 砂锅菜
stately - 威严的，有品味的
mow - 割（草，麦子）
maple - 枫树
glow - 光辉，泛红
PBS - Public Broadcasting Service
narrator - 解说人
simultaneously - 同时地
interval - 间隔
Hoosier Carl G. Fisher was one of the people who spearheaded construction of the original 3,389-mile Lincoln Highway in 1913, making the Indiana portions of America’s first coast-to-coast highway ideal for a centennial celebration-fall foliage road trip. Pull off along the way at the Johnny Appleseed Festival, September 21-22; Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, September 27-29; and Westville Pumpkin Festival, October 4-6.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: There are two distinct Lincoln Highway routes in northern Indiana. To retrace the original 1913 sections, start in Fort Wayne and head northwest on U.S. Route 33 following "Indiana's Lincoln Highway Byway: A Turn-by-Turn Road Guide for the 1913 Route."
Where to Eat: Teibel’s Family Restaurant at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Highway 41 in Schererville has been a Lincoln Highway lunch and dinner favorite since 1929. Seven days a week, Stephen and Paul Teibel serve up hearty, homemade staples like Grandma Teibel’s fried chicken, buttered lake perch, and broccoli chicken casserole.
Where to Stay: Built 37 years before the Lincoln Highway (and with 96,650 bricks) the stately Kimmell House Inn on U.S. 33/Lincolnway S in Kimmell has three romantic guest rooms in the main house and a standalone cottage that once served as the estate's summer kitchen. Trails lead through the inn’s six wooded acres (an additional six are mowed), where by late September the leaves of the hundred-year-old sugar maples typically glow brilliant orange-red.
What to Read Before You Go: Greetings from the Lincoln Highway: A Road Trip Celebration of America’s First Coast-to-Coast Highway, Centennial Edition, by Brian Butko (Stackpole Boos, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway, a PBS documentary by film director and narrator Rick Sebak
Helpful Links: Indiana Lincoln Highway Association and Visit Indiana
Fun Fact: At 1 p.m. on September 1, 1928, groups of Boy Scouts simultaneously positioned 2,450 directional markers at intervals along the Lincoln Highway. Only 15 markers remain in Indiana, including one displayed outside the New Haven City Hall.
Lincoln Highway - 第一条贯穿美国连接东西海岸的高速公路
foliage - 一棵树上的叶子，群叶
spearhead - 领军；先锋
centennial - 百年的
Pull off - 把车贴向路边，（车，船）离开
retrace - 追溯，返回
intersection - 交叉，路口
serve up - 提供（食物）
staple - 主要物产，基本食品
perch - 鲈鱼
broccoli - 西兰花
casserole - 砂锅菜
stately - 威严的，有品味的
mow - 割（草，麦子）
maple - 枫树
glow - 光辉，泛红
PBS - Public Broadcasting Service
narrator - 解说人
simultaneously - 同时地
interval - 间隔
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Celebrate the Grape Harvest, Alto Douro Region, Portugal (3)
2013 Best Fall Trip #3
For nearly 2,000 years, wine has been produced in northern Portugal’s steeply terraced Alto Douro region, a World Heritage site and the birthplace of port wine. Get knee-deep in the region’s traditional port vinification process by joining a jubilant grape-crushing session at a historic quinta, or estate.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: Small group tour operators like A2Z Adventures and Douro vou offer single- and multiday Douro Valley itineraries from Porto Antigo (about two hours west) combining boat cruises or scenic rail trips with vineyard tours, tastings, hiking, biking, “winecaching,” or grape harvesting. If going solo, make at least one leg of the trip a Douro River cruise for the most dramatic views of the valley’s terraced vineyards.
Where to Eat or Drink: Tasting port is a given, but don’t bypass the region’s emerging table wines from the Douro Boys, a group of five quintas (Quinta do Vallado, Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Vale D. Maria and Quinta do Vale Meấo) celebrating its tenth anniversary in September. Most of the welcome visitors to their estates for tastings, full meals, or picnic lunches (idyllic vineyard picnic spot included).
Where to Stay: Casa de Casal de Loivos sits on a hilltop and reveals one of the most breathtaking views overlooking the Douro River Valley. Stay in one of six river-view rooms that open out to a grand terrace, perfect for soaking in the picturesque landscape. The historic mansion is furnished with family heirlooms from the Pereira de Sampayo family, which has owned the manor for nearly 300 years. Lavish meals are served in a large dining room, and the attentive, friendly staff provides insider tips for vineyard tours and tastings in the region. After a day exploring the valley, return to the manor and wander through the residential gardens, lounge poolside, and order a bottle of wine from the family’s vineyard to watch the sunset.
Cultural Tip: An increasing number of Alto Douro quintas are actively promoting wine tourism, but others are not open to the public or don’t host harvest activities. Before visiting, check each estate’s website for specifics.
What to Read Before You Go: Port and the Douro by port wine expert Richard Mayson (Infinite Ideas, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: The Strange Case of Angelica (2010), directed by Porto native Manoel de Oliveira and filmed on location in the Douro Valley
Helpful Links: Go Oporto, Douro Valley, and Portugal’s Douro Valley Geotourism Map Guide
Fun Fact: To regulate the Douro Valley’s most profitable export, the Marquis de Pombal positioned 335 large granite pillars (known ever since as pombals) around the original zone officially permitted to produce port. The markers were inscribed with the word feitoria (factory) plus the date (either 1758 or 1761) on which they were placed.
Insider Tip: The Douro Valley’s unique landscape is best seen by car. Travelers can take in the spectacular views from hilltops and down along the river valley when driving through pretty towns to a variety of quintas for small wine tastings and vineyard tours. Caution: The roads in the Douro Valley are narrow and winding. There aren’t many guardrails or lights through the steep region so be extra cautious when driving at night.
steeply - 陡坡
Alto Douro - 世界遗产上杜罗葡萄酒产地
port wine - 波特酒（葡萄牙产加强葡萄酒）
knee-deep - 膝盖深的，难以自拔的
vinification - 酿酒发酵
jubilant - 欢喜的
quinta - 葡萄园
itinerary - 旅行计划，游记
cruise - 巡航，漫游
scenic - 风景的，风光明媚的，舞台背景的
vineyard - 葡萄园
cache - 躲藏
given - 已知事实
idyllic - 田园诗的
breathtaking - 非常激动人心的，惊人的，使人透不过气来的
furnish - 供给
heirloom - 祖传家产
manor - （封建时代的）庄园，领地
lavish - 大方的，豪华的
attentive - 周到的
wander - 漫步
lounge - 游荡
infinite - 无限的，大量的
profitable - 有益的
granite - 花岗岩
spectacular - 壮观的
caution - 警告
guardrail - 防护栏
cautious - 慎重的，注意的
For nearly 2,000 years, wine has been produced in northern Portugal’s steeply terraced Alto Douro region, a World Heritage site and the birthplace of port wine. Get knee-deep in the region’s traditional port vinification process by joining a jubilant grape-crushing session at a historic quinta, or estate.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: Small group tour operators like A2Z Adventures and Douro vou offer single- and multiday Douro Valley itineraries from Porto Antigo (about two hours west) combining boat cruises or scenic rail trips with vineyard tours, tastings, hiking, biking, “winecaching,” or grape harvesting. If going solo, make at least one leg of the trip a Douro River cruise for the most dramatic views of the valley’s terraced vineyards.
Where to Eat or Drink: Tasting port is a given, but don’t bypass the region’s emerging table wines from the Douro Boys, a group of five quintas (Quinta do Vallado, Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Vale D. Maria and Quinta do Vale Meấo) celebrating its tenth anniversary in September. Most of the welcome visitors to their estates for tastings, full meals, or picnic lunches (idyllic vineyard picnic spot included).
Where to Stay: Casa de Casal de Loivos sits on a hilltop and reveals one of the most breathtaking views overlooking the Douro River Valley. Stay in one of six river-view rooms that open out to a grand terrace, perfect for soaking in the picturesque landscape. The historic mansion is furnished with family heirlooms from the Pereira de Sampayo family, which has owned the manor for nearly 300 years. Lavish meals are served in a large dining room, and the attentive, friendly staff provides insider tips for vineyard tours and tastings in the region. After a day exploring the valley, return to the manor and wander through the residential gardens, lounge poolside, and order a bottle of wine from the family’s vineyard to watch the sunset.
Cultural Tip: An increasing number of Alto Douro quintas are actively promoting wine tourism, but others are not open to the public or don’t host harvest activities. Before visiting, check each estate’s website for specifics.
What to Read Before You Go: Port and the Douro by port wine expert Richard Mayson (Infinite Ideas, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: The Strange Case of Angelica (2010), directed by Porto native Manoel de Oliveira and filmed on location in the Douro Valley
Helpful Links: Go Oporto, Douro Valley, and Portugal’s Douro Valley Geotourism Map Guide
Fun Fact: To regulate the Douro Valley’s most profitable export, the Marquis de Pombal positioned 335 large granite pillars (known ever since as pombals) around the original zone officially permitted to produce port. The markers were inscribed with the word feitoria (factory) plus the date (either 1758 or 1761) on which they were placed.
Insider Tip: The Douro Valley’s unique landscape is best seen by car. Travelers can take in the spectacular views from hilltops and down along the river valley when driving through pretty towns to a variety of quintas for small wine tastings and vineyard tours. Caution: The roads in the Douro Valley are narrow and winding. There aren’t many guardrails or lights through the steep region so be extra cautious when driving at night.
steeply - 陡坡
Alto Douro - 世界遗产上杜罗葡萄酒产地
port wine - 波特酒（葡萄牙产加强葡萄酒）
knee-deep - 膝盖深的，难以自拔的
vinification - 酿酒发酵
jubilant - 欢喜的
quinta - 葡萄园
itinerary - 旅行计划，游记
cruise - 巡航，漫游
scenic - 风景的，风光明媚的，舞台背景的
vineyard - 葡萄园
cache - 躲藏
given - 已知事实
idyllic - 田园诗的
breathtaking - 非常激动人心的，惊人的，使人透不过气来的
furnish - 供给
heirloom - 祖传家产
manor - （封建时代的）庄园，领地
lavish - 大方的，豪华的
attentive - 周到的
wander - 漫步
lounge - 游荡
infinite - 无限的，大量的
profitable - 有益的
granite - 花岗岩
spectacular - 壮观的
caution - 警告
guardrail - 防护栏
cautious - 慎重的，注意的
Latest Radioactive Leak at Fukushima: How Is It Different?
In the latest crisis to strike the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has discovered that 300 tons (nearly 72,000 gallons) of highly radioactive water has leaked from a holding tank into the ground over the past month.
The development comes on top of TEPCO's admission last month that an estimated 300 tons of radioactive groundwater, which picks up small amounts of contamination when it flows through the damaged reactor buildings, has been leaking into the Pacific Ocean every day.
The new storage tank leak presents a different and potentially more serious problem than the ongoing groundwater flow leaks. The water from the leaking tank is so heavily contaminated with strontium-90, cesium-137, and other radioactive substances that a person standing less than two feet away would receive, in an hour's time, a radiation dose equivalent to five times the acceptable exposure for nuclear workers, Reuters reported. Within ten hours, the exposed person would develop radiation sickness, with symptoms such as nausea and a drop in white blood cells.
A More Hazardous Leak
The latest leak comes from one of the massive array of 1,000 above-ground storage tanks built inside the plant by TEPCO, which store water that deliberately has been pumped into the damaged reactors in an effort to cool the nuclear fuel inside and prevent a meltdown. Such water is heavily contaminated and dangerous compared with the larger radioactive groundwater flow problem, which scientists say does not pose an immediate health hazard to humans (though it has made some types of fish from the area unsafe for consumption).
The Japanese government's Nuclear Regulation Authority is calling the leak a "serious accident" and wants to raise the official threat level from 1 to 3 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale—the highest level since the level 7 rating given when the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the facility.
While about two-thirds of Fukushima's storage tanks are welded steel vessels, the leaking tank is one of about 350 improvised temporary tanks that TEPCO has employed to augment its capacity. The temporary tanks are made of steel plates bolted together with plastic packing materials to seal the seams, and apparently are more vulnerable to leaks. A TEPCO official told The Japan Times, an English-language daily, that there have been four previous leaks in the temporary tanks. Unlike the previous ones, this leak somehow went undetected by plant workers for as long as a month. During that time, it leaked an estimated ten tons (about 2,400 gallons) of highly radioactive water per day.
TEPCO hasn't yet found the precise leakage spot or spots on the faulty tank, which according to Reuters is located just 550 yards from the ocean. But the company said that workers have pumped all of the water from inside a small concrete containment area where the leaking tank is located. In the event of rain, they plan to continue running the pump, which they say is powerful enough to keep rainwater from flowing out of the containment.
"We apologize again for creating anxiety among the public," TEPCO executive Masayuki Ono told reporters on Tuesday.
TEPCO said on Wednesday that tests of seawater from a ditch near the leaking tank didn't show any significant increase in the amount of cesium-137 and other radioactive materials, suggesting that the highly radioactive water isn't directly reaching the ocean. However, the possibility remains that the contaminated water might be mixing into groundwater that flows through the plant site into the ocean. In mid-July, levels of radioactive cesium-137 and cesium-134 from monitoring wells inside the plant unexpectedly surged nearly 15-fold, a phenomenon that scientists have been unable to explain.
Ken Buesseler, a senior scientist as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts who has studied radiation leakage from the Fukushima plant, said he is concerned about the lack of data on levels of strontium-90 in the waters off Fukushima. He said that the groundwater now leaking into the Pacific—including, possibly, some contamination from leaking tanks—might now have much higher levels of that particular substance. Strontium-90 has potentially greater health risks than cesium isotopes because it becomes concentrated in the bones of fish and humans, he said.
'No Time to Waste'
The new problem further escalates the dilemma faced by TEPCO, which already has been struggling to find a way to deal with massive amounts of water contaminated with various radioactive substances at the site. When the company belatedly revealed last month the daily leakage of radioactive groundwater into the Pacific Ocean, a problem that outside scientists have long suspected, public confidence in TEPCO's ability to manage the cleanup threatened to erode further.
The development prompted Japanese government officials to step in and take a more direct role: The government announced last week that it is considering spending 50 billion yen ($410 million) to finance construction of a frozen soil barrier—also known as an ice wall—in an effort to block the groundwater from the plant from reaching the ocean. That technology has long been used in the mining and construction fields, and reportedly performed well in containing radioactive water in a U.S. government test project in the early 1990s, but has never been used on a large scale at a nuclear power plant.
"This leak is very serious," said Dr. Janette Sherman, an Alexandria, Virginia-based physician who specializes in radioactive and toxic exposure. Dr. Sherman, who edited an in-depth study of health effects on cleanup workers in the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union, said she is concerned that the cleanup crew at Fukushima Daiichi may face long-term health risks. She also raised the prospect of the radiation's as-yet unknown effects on fish and other marine life in the Pacific.
Buesseler said he was concerned that the high level of radiation from the leaking tank might just be a harbinger of what is to come if more of the other temporary tanks begin to fail. But he's even more worried by revelations of leaks and other problems at the plant, which lately have been coming with dismaying frequency. "There is still a lot of contamination at Fukushima—in the land, in the buildings, and now from these tanks," Buesseler said. "Every bit of news that we've been getting is that the [radioactivity] numbers are going up."
"I'm becoming less confident that [TEPCO] can contain the problem," he said.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority shares Buesseler's concern, warning that the latest leakage problem might be beyond TEPCO's ability to cope. "We should assume that what has happened once could happen again, and prepare for more," watchdog chairman Shunichi Tanaka told a news conference, BBC News reported. "We are in a situation where there is no time to waste."
admission - 承认（过失），入场
contamination - 污染，污浊
reactor - 原子炉，化学反应器
substance - 物质
equivalent - 相同的，等价的
Reuters - 路透社
nausea - 恶心
hazardous - 危险的
array - 列
deliberately - 故意地，慎重地
in an effort to do - 为。。。付出努力
meltdown - （原子炉）炉芯熔化
hazard - 危险
severely - 严重地，严厉地
weld - 焊接
improvised - 即兴的
augment - 增加
bolt - 用螺丝固定
The development comes on top of TEPCO's admission last month that an estimated 300 tons of radioactive groundwater, which picks up small amounts of contamination when it flows through the damaged reactor buildings, has been leaking into the Pacific Ocean every day.
The new storage tank leak presents a different and potentially more serious problem than the ongoing groundwater flow leaks. The water from the leaking tank is so heavily contaminated with strontium-90, cesium-137, and other radioactive substances that a person standing less than two feet away would receive, in an hour's time, a radiation dose equivalent to five times the acceptable exposure for nuclear workers, Reuters reported. Within ten hours, the exposed person would develop radiation sickness, with symptoms such as nausea and a drop in white blood cells.
A More Hazardous Leak
The latest leak comes from one of the massive array of 1,000 above-ground storage tanks built inside the plant by TEPCO, which store water that deliberately has been pumped into the damaged reactors in an effort to cool the nuclear fuel inside and prevent a meltdown. Such water is heavily contaminated and dangerous compared with the larger radioactive groundwater flow problem, which scientists say does not pose an immediate health hazard to humans (though it has made some types of fish from the area unsafe for consumption).
The Japanese government's Nuclear Regulation Authority is calling the leak a "serious accident" and wants to raise the official threat level from 1 to 3 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale—the highest level since the level 7 rating given when the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the facility.
While about two-thirds of Fukushima's storage tanks are welded steel vessels, the leaking tank is one of about 350 improvised temporary tanks that TEPCO has employed to augment its capacity. The temporary tanks are made of steel plates bolted together with plastic packing materials to seal the seams, and apparently are more vulnerable to leaks. A TEPCO official told The Japan Times, an English-language daily, that there have been four previous leaks in the temporary tanks. Unlike the previous ones, this leak somehow went undetected by plant workers for as long as a month. During that time, it leaked an estimated ten tons (about 2,400 gallons) of highly radioactive water per day.
TEPCO hasn't yet found the precise leakage spot or spots on the faulty tank, which according to Reuters is located just 550 yards from the ocean. But the company said that workers have pumped all of the water from inside a small concrete containment area where the leaking tank is located. In the event of rain, they plan to continue running the pump, which they say is powerful enough to keep rainwater from flowing out of the containment.
"We apologize again for creating anxiety among the public," TEPCO executive Masayuki Ono told reporters on Tuesday.
TEPCO said on Wednesday that tests of seawater from a ditch near the leaking tank didn't show any significant increase in the amount of cesium-137 and other radioactive materials, suggesting that the highly radioactive water isn't directly reaching the ocean. However, the possibility remains that the contaminated water might be mixing into groundwater that flows through the plant site into the ocean. In mid-July, levels of radioactive cesium-137 and cesium-134 from monitoring wells inside the plant unexpectedly surged nearly 15-fold, a phenomenon that scientists have been unable to explain.
Ken Buesseler, a senior scientist as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts who has studied radiation leakage from the Fukushima plant, said he is concerned about the lack of data on levels of strontium-90 in the waters off Fukushima. He said that the groundwater now leaking into the Pacific—including, possibly, some contamination from leaking tanks—might now have much higher levels of that particular substance. Strontium-90 has potentially greater health risks than cesium isotopes because it becomes concentrated in the bones of fish and humans, he said.
'No Time to Waste'
The new problem further escalates the dilemma faced by TEPCO, which already has been struggling to find a way to deal with massive amounts of water contaminated with various radioactive substances at the site. When the company belatedly revealed last month the daily leakage of radioactive groundwater into the Pacific Ocean, a problem that outside scientists have long suspected, public confidence in TEPCO's ability to manage the cleanup threatened to erode further.
The development prompted Japanese government officials to step in and take a more direct role: The government announced last week that it is considering spending 50 billion yen ($410 million) to finance construction of a frozen soil barrier—also known as an ice wall—in an effort to block the groundwater from the plant from reaching the ocean. That technology has long been used in the mining and construction fields, and reportedly performed well in containing radioactive water in a U.S. government test project in the early 1990s, but has never been used on a large scale at a nuclear power plant.
"This leak is very serious," said Dr. Janette Sherman, an Alexandria, Virginia-based physician who specializes in radioactive and toxic exposure. Dr. Sherman, who edited an in-depth study of health effects on cleanup workers in the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union, said she is concerned that the cleanup crew at Fukushima Daiichi may face long-term health risks. She also raised the prospect of the radiation's as-yet unknown effects on fish and other marine life in the Pacific.
Buesseler said he was concerned that the high level of radiation from the leaking tank might just be a harbinger of what is to come if more of the other temporary tanks begin to fail. But he's even more worried by revelations of leaks and other problems at the plant, which lately have been coming with dismaying frequency. "There is still a lot of contamination at Fukushima—in the land, in the buildings, and now from these tanks," Buesseler said. "Every bit of news that we've been getting is that the [radioactivity] numbers are going up."
"I'm becoming less confident that [TEPCO] can contain the problem," he said.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority shares Buesseler's concern, warning that the latest leakage problem might be beyond TEPCO's ability to cope. "We should assume that what has happened once could happen again, and prepare for more," watchdog chairman Shunichi Tanaka told a news conference, BBC News reported. "We are in a situation where there is no time to waste."
admission - 承认（过失），入场
contamination - 污染，污浊
reactor - 原子炉，化学反应器
substance - 物质
equivalent - 相同的，等价的
Reuters - 路透社
nausea - 恶心
hazardous - 危险的
array - 列
deliberately - 故意地，慎重地
in an effort to do - 为。。。付出努力
meltdown - （原子炉）炉芯熔化
hazard - 危险
severely - 严重地，严厉地
weld - 焊接
improvised - 即兴的
augment - 增加
bolt - 用螺丝固定
seal - 封印，密封
seam - 缝合线
vulnerable - 易受攻击的，弱的
undetected - 未被查出的
leakage - 泄露，泄露量
faulty - 有缺陷的
containment - 封锁
in the event of - 万一出现。。。情况
anxiety - 不安
executive - 经营者；行政的，执行的
ditch - 排水沟
surge - 波动
isotope - 同位素
escalate - 阶段性扩大
dilemma - 窘境
belatedly - 迟地
suspect - 感觉到
erode - 侵蚀
prompt - 鼓励，敦促
step in - 介入
prospect - 预想
harbinger - 前兆
revelation - 发觉
dismay - 使人恐慌
cope - 对抗
seam - 缝合线
vulnerable - 易受攻击的，弱的
undetected - 未被查出的
leakage - 泄露，泄露量
faulty - 有缺陷的
containment - 封锁
in the event of - 万一出现。。。情况
anxiety - 不安
executive - 经营者；行政的，执行的
ditch - 排水沟
surge - 波动
isotope - 同位素
escalate - 阶段性扩大
dilemma - 窘境
belatedly - 迟地
suspect - 感觉到
erode - 侵蚀
prompt - 鼓励，敦促
step in - 介入
prospect - 预想
harbinger - 前兆
revelation - 发觉
dismay - 使人恐慌
cope - 对抗
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