2010/02/17

Valentines couples get hitched at Mandela’s prison 情侶們在囚禁曼德拉的監獄締結連理

◎魏國金

South African icon Nelson Mandela’s former prison Robben Island held its tenth annual Valentine’s Day wedding ceremony in which 25 couples tied the knot.

囚禁南非偶像曼德拉 的前羅本島監獄,舉行其第10屆情人節婚禮,有25對新人結婚。

Dressed in wedding finery, the group travelled by ferry to the island 12 kilometres off Cape Town where they exchanged wedding vows and rings days after South Africa marked Mandela’s 20th year as a free man.

穿著結婚禮服的新人,搭乘渡輪抵達開普敦外12公里處的羅本島,在 南非紀念曼德拉重獲自由20年後數天,他們在此地互換結婚誓言與戒指。

Sonia Sauls, 49, and Charmaine Weber, 34, whom organisers said were the annual event’s first same-sex newly weds, were among those to say "I do" in the small island chapel.

49 歲的邵爾斯與34歲的韋伯是當中在這座小島教堂內說「我願意」的一對新人,主辦單位表示,她們是這個年度活動的第一對同性新婚夫妻。

One of South Africa’s major tourist sites, the island has hosted the annual Valentine’s Day event since 2000 with couples taking their vows in succession.

作為南非主要觀光據點之一的羅本島,從2000年起舉辦這個情人節年度活動,佳偶們在此相繼立下他們的誓言。

"Many people don’t see it as a prison," said home affairs official Chris Samaai. "They see Robben Island for the history part and, especially this year that marks the release of ex-president Mandela 20 years back, it’s very significant."

「許多人不把它當監獄看,」內政官員撒瑪伊說,「他們將羅本島看作是歷史的部分,特別今 年是前總統曼德拉獲釋20年的紀念,意義十分重大。」

South Africa’s first democratic leader, Mandela spent most of his 27 years on Robben Island and was released from a prison outside Cape Town in 1990. "Mandela succeeded in changing this country," said Afrikaans-speaking bridegroom Johannes Visser, 27.

曼 德拉是南非第一位民主領袖,他在羅本島度過了27年繫獄生活的多數時光,並在1990年於開普敦郊外的一座監獄獲釋。「曼德拉成功地改變了這個國家。」 27歲說著一口南非荷語的新郎威瑟說。

Robben Island was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1999.

羅本島於1999年被聯合國宣布為世界遺產據點。

新 聞辭典

get hitched︰與tie the knot同指結婚。hitch有套住、繫住、鉤住之意,hitch a ride(lift)指搭便車。

take(make) a vow︰發誓、立誓。例句︰When people get married, they take a vow of loyalty to each other forever.(當人們結婚時,他們發誓要永遠忠於彼此。)

in succession︰接連的、陸續的。例句︰He has been awarded first prize for three years in succession.(他已連續3年獲得一等獎。)

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