到全美最大豪宅過聖誕America’s largest home sparkles with magic at Christmastime by Pamela Osment
On Christmas Eve in 1895, George Washington Vanderbilt of New York City unveiled his mountaintop masterpiece. This beautiful house had taken 1,000 men six years to construct. But what had inspired Vanderbilt to choose this remote location in the mountains near at Asheville, N.C., for his summer home and "little mountain escape"?
Where it began
In the 1800s, Vanderbilt's grandfather Cornelius amassed a fortune in the shipping and railroad business. By the turn of the century, the Vanderbilts were some of the world's richest people and faced some of the same privacy issues as today's celebrities.
This prompted George Vanderbilt to begin searching for a getaway - a place where he and his family could escape the ever-watchful press. While traveling in eastern North Carolina, Vanderbilt was captivated by the region's scenery. He chose a mountain of location there that would provide privacy and allow him to pursue hisinterests in art and horticulture.
A castle fit for a king
If Vanderbilt's Christmas Eve guests had expected a modest second home, they must have been amazed as they crossed his 120,000-acre estate. The carriages then delivered them to the 250-room French chateau equipped with a swimming pool, bowling alley and much more!
"A Vanderbilt Christmas Celebration"
Visitors today are equally awed by the beautiful estate-though it's smaller now at around 7,000 acres- and the palatial house with 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces.
An even more spectacular treat, though, awaits those who visit during the annual "Christmas at Biltmore" event. Known as one of the largest Christmas displays in the Southeast, the event boasts nearly 100 decorated Christmas trees and more than 1,000 wreaths and bows. Thirty thousand lights illuminate the Biltmore House and another 150,000 lights light up the estate. During the holiday event, thousands of ornaments also decorate the Biltmore House and its grounds.
People visiting at night are greeted on the front lawn by a 55-foot spruce tree covered with 32,000 lights. Inside, Christmas music, candles and glowing fireplaces provide a festive setting for guests viewing the thousands of decorations spread throughout the house. More than 300,000 people are expected to attend this year's display entitled. "A Vanderbilt Christmas Celebration," which started in November and runs until January 2, 2011.
Thanks to the Vanderbilts' dedication to preserving the Biltmore estate, people today - like the original guests 115 years ago - can still experience the famed Vanderbilt hospitality.
More Information:
Imagine you go to the Biltmore during the Christmas holiday season and take a tour of the estate. After experiencing so much Biltmore Christmas magic, you realize that you are inspired to decorate your own home in a similar style. But, where do you begin? You start by joining a free Biltmore holiday decorating seminar where Biltmore staff offer Christmas decorating tips and fresh ideas for your own home.
Grammar:
A place where he and his family could escape the ever-watchful press.
"ever-watchful" = "always watchful"
"ever" + "-"+"something = always something.
the ever-changing scenery=an always changing scenery.
an ever-growing problem =an always growing problem.
ever-charming countryside= always charming countryside.
Vocabulary Tips:
unveil-去掉面紗，即“首次展露或公開。 "un"-否定的字首veil-面紗。
*The remote tribe's wedding ceremony traditions were unveiled for the first time in National Geographic.
*The new hybrid car will be unveiled today at the car show.
turn of the century-the time is end of one century and start another new century. for example: Year 1999 cross the year 2000 is turn of the century. 世紀之交，指一個世紀的結束與另一個世紀的開始的期間。
*The king's death at the turn of the century began a new era in the kingdom.
*The empire collapsed at the turn of the century.
getaway(n)-a place, is a location. 度假的去處。
*Larry sees his cabin in the mountain as his favorite getaway.
*The resort was listed as one of the favorite getaways for the rich and famous.度假中心。度假勝地
getaway-短的假期。
*Alex and his wife had a weekend getaway by the lake. 在湖邊渡了一個周末假期。
awe-使敬畏，使驚嘆。害怕，敬畏
*The tourists were awed by the spectacular view of the Grand Canyon.
*I was awed by the singer's beautiful voice.
awe-害怕， 敬畏
*I'm in awe of my grandfather, even though I'm an adult now.
equally awe of -不論年代，來參觀的人，感受到相同的驚嘆。
illuminate-照亮，用燈裝飾。啓發。
*The neon lights illuminate the dark night of the city.
*The windows of the bookstore were illuminated with Christmas lights.
illuminate-啓發
*His instruction really helped me by illuminating the complicated issue.
hospitality-款待，接待，好客
*Eileen always treats her guests with great hospitality and makes them feel very welcome in her home. 尚好的款待。。。賓至如歸。
*I sent a bouquet of flowers to show my gratitude for the hostess' hospitality. 對女主人的熱情款待。
palatial (adj)- palace like, like king's palace. very palatial....
wreath and bows- wreath is come out as a round shape,made of branches. usually hang on the door or wall. bows-wide ribbon fold as a butterfly shape.
captivated by something- something was draw someone's attention.
horticulture-cultivate, culture of something relate to make things as flower, grass, trees, plants to grow.
Chat Room:
privacy-隱私
paparazzi"，狗仔隊，是複數名詞，不分多寡都可說"paparazzi"。
Paparazzo-一個狗仔.
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Thousands of ornaments decorate the Biltmore House and its grounds.
ground-地面
grounds- "ground" + "s" , 建築物周邊的庭院。動機，理由，基於。。,沉澱物.
These are private grounds.私人庭院
grounds-動機，理由，基於。。base on.., reason.
He resigned on the grounds of ill health.
grounds-沉澱物。
coffee grounds-咖啡渣
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