关于英国旅游之坎特伯雷

　Home to approximately 135,000 people, Canterbury is in the south-east of England in the county of Kent. It's a small city with an historic centre around the world famous cathedral. It's also a place where 'old meets contemporary' as Canterbury is home to two universities. The student population is very large, with a high proportion from overseas.

　　We asked Anita Selwood, a former student and current inhabitant, what it is like to live there.

　　How has it changed in the last five years?

　　'The biggest change has probably been the building of the Whitefriars shopping centre and the demolishing of some extremely ugly post war buildings to make way for it. Also, very sadly small family run businesses and shops catering for the needs of local people have disappeared from the city centre and have been replaced by chain stores.'

　　Why do you live there and what do you like about it?

　　'It offers most things a city can, but at the same time is small and manageable. There are many beautiful historic buildings, parks and quiet areas and a very large pedestrian shopping area where you can forget about cars and pollution. Kent is known as the Garden of England because of all the fruit grown there. This is very apparent when you travel outside Canterbury in spring - beautiful blossom everywhere.'

　　How is it influenced by visitors and inhabitants?

　　'It's a popular tourist centre. A favourite destination for a day trip for tourists based in London and French school children. The historic sites and tourist destinations are too numerous to mention. The downside of that is that the whole city centre caters for tourists, rather than inhabitants. Shop rents are also so high that only chains can afford shop/restaurant space. Many French stallholders travel to all the local markets bringing French goods, particularly food.'

　　What non-British cultures do you notice?

　　'Food - many restaurants, all types and nationalities. One food shop out of the city centre on way to the university caters particularly for students from South-east Asia. The University of Kent calls itself the 'European' university with a campus the other side of the Channel too.'

　　Why not try and visit Canterbury for an interesting and varied tourist destination?

　　British Council

　　坎特伯雷位于英格兰东南部的肯特郡，人口约为135,000。坎特伯雷是一座小城，城中心有著名的坎特伯雷大教堂。这个古今交汇融合的城市面积虽不大，但却有两所大学。学生的人数众多，其中外国留学生占很大比例。

　　Anita Selwood曾经在坎特伯雷上学，现在成了那里的居民。我们问了她住在坎特伯雷有何感受。

　　最近五年中，坎特伯雷发生了哪些变化?

　　“最大的变化大概就是修建了Whitefriars购物中心，而且为了修建这个购物中心，拆掉了一些战后建造的奇丑无比的房屋。另外，以前城中心有不少私人开的小店铺，卖一些当地居民需要的东西，但是现在都没有了，取而代之的是一些大的连锁店。”

　　你为什么选择住在坎特伯雷，你喜欢这里的什么?

　　“坎特伯雷是个小城，管理有序，而且应该有的东西这里都有。这里有许多美丽的历史建筑，公园和安静的区域，还有一个很大的商业步行街，没有车辆，没有污染。肯特被誉为‘英格兰花园’，因为这里到处都是果树。春天，走在坎特伯雷的郊外，仿佛置身于花的海洋。”

　　游客和当地居民对坎特伯雷有何影响?

　　“坎特伯雷是著名的旅游胜地，是伦敦人和法国的小学生们一日游的最佳去处。这里的历史遗产和旅游名胜数不胜数。然而，不好的一面是整个市中心都在迎合游客的需求，并不适合居住。店铺的租金很高，只有那些连锁店才负担得起。许多法国的小摊贩在当地集市上兜售法国货，尤其是法国的食品。”

　　你有没有注意到哪些非英国的文化因素?

　　“吃的东西!这里有许多餐馆，各个国家的，不同风味的都有。市中心到大学的路上有一家食品的商店特别为东南亚学生提供饮食服务。肯特大学有一个校区在法国境内，因此自称为‘欧洲校区’。”

　　百闻不如一见，何不来坎特伯雷看一看呢?