世界文化之非洲城市（42）——约翰内斯堡

鹰击长空

　　我走遍世界，却唯独没有去过非洲。然而，当你初步了解了非洲之后才知道，非洲不是你想象中的荒蛮之地，非洲也有美丽的风景、可爱的动物和艳丽的花朵，通过阅读这些英语短文，可以细细的品味非洲的美丽。

　　" Err .. so , where are the guys with the guns ?" may be your first thought on arriving in Johannesburg . Whilst Johannesburg has a fearsome reputation and people like speaking about how many times they ' ve been killed there , in reality it ' s not too frightening .

　　For most people the closest sign of the potential violence are the bricked up walls hiding beautiful residential houses , with electric fences and razor wire above them and a sign indicating " armed response ".

　　Johannesburg represents the spirit of South Africa , and in some ways a visit to the country is not complete without an introduction to the city .

　　It is the capital of Gauteng province and the largest city in the country ; and is endearingly known to locals as Joburg , Jozi or Egoli ( place of Gold ).

　　Indeed , mine dumps are never far away , rubbing shoulders with the fruits of its labour - shiny modern skyscrapers intermingled with 19th century architecture , Indian bazaars & African muti - shops ( where traditional healers dispense advice & traditional medicine ).

　　Johannesburg is the largest city in the world not situated on a lake , navigable river or by the coast ( the only reason that it was born because of gold ). It is home to Africa ' s tallest building , the Carlton Centre .

　　Top 10 things to do in Johannesburg

　　Visit " Mrs Ples " and " Little Foot "( ancestors ), at the Sterkfontein Caves at the Cradle of Humanity , Maropeng . Combine this with a visit to the Origins Centre at Wits University , where you can view exhibits of Khoisan and Rock Art that gives the background to the origin.

　　Pet the lion cubs at the Rhino & Lion Park and visit the Elephant Sanctuary near the of humans .

　　Hartebeespoort Dam .

　　Tour of Soweto ( cycle , drive or walk ), including seeing the Hector Petersen memorial and museum , sampling a grilled sheep ' s head , locally known as a " smiley ", bungee jumping from the Orlando Towers and eating at Wandie ' s restaurant in Dube .

　　The Hector Pieterson museum focuses solely on the 1976 Soweto uprising , when police opened fire on school children and killed many , including the 12- year - old Hector Petersen .

　　The Apartheid Museum which you enter through either the whites or the non - whites entrance . And pop by Constitution Hill , the site of the Old Fort Prison Complex , where Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were detained .

　　View the city from the top of the Carlton Centre or via a Helicopter trip .

　　Gold Reef City amusement park , which is built on an old gold mine , with one of the rides dropping you from the top below ground level down into the shaft .

　　Shopping or theatre . Shopping at Rosebank Rooftop Market ( open Sundays ). Enjoying the drama at the People ' s theatre

　　Nature Reserve or Watch a game of rugby at Ellis Park or watch cricket at the Wanderers Play a round of golf at Houghton Golf Club or break in your hiking boots at the Suikerbosrand Cricket Ground or watch football at Soccer City , South Africa ' s largest stadium .

　　Walk through the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens on the West Rand . Hot Air Ballooning at the Hartbeespoort Dam .

　　"呃...那些带枪的人在哪里？“可能是你抵达约翰内斯堡的第一个想法。尽管约翰内斯堡有着可怕的名声，人们喜欢谈论自己在那里被杀的次数，但实际上并不那么可怕。

　　对大多数人来说，暴力事件最接近的迹象是那些用砖起来的高墙里隐藏着漂亮的住宅，高墙上还有电栅栏和铁丝网，上面还有“武装回击”的标志牌。

　　约翰内斯堡代表了南非的精神，在某些方面，如果不对这座城市进行介绍，那么游览这个国家就不算完整。

　　它是豪登省的首府，也是该国最大的城市；当地人亲切地称它为约堡、约齐或伊格力（黄金之地）。

　　事实上，矿渣堆放地离得并不遥远，像是与那些劳动的果实如闪亮的摩天大厦、19世纪风格的建筑、印度集市和非洲多功能商店（传统治疗师提供建议和传统药物的地方）交织在一起。

　　约翰内斯堡是世界上最大的城市，它不坐落在湖泊、通航河流或海岸边（发现黄金是它诞生的唯一原因）。这里是非洲最高建筑卡尔顿中心的所在地。

　　约翰内斯堡最值得做的10件事

　　在马罗佩格人类摇篮的斯特克方丹洞穴，参观“普莱斯夫人”和“小脚怪”（人类祖先）。再加上对威茨大学人类起源中心的访问，在那里，你可以观看科伊桑和岩石艺术的展览，这些展览提供了人类起源的背景情况。

　　你还可以参观离得不远的犀牛和狮子公园，参观大象保护区。

　　游览索韦托（骑自行车、开车或步行），包括参观赫克托·彼得森纪念馆和博物馆，品尝当地人称之为“笑脸”的烤羊头，从奥兰多塔蹦极，在杜贝的Wandie's餐厅用餐。

　　赫克托·彼得森博物馆只关注1976年索韦托起义，当时警察向学生开枪，造成多人死亡，其中包括12岁的赫克托·彼得森。

　　种族隔离博物馆，你可以从白人入口或非白人入口进入。在宪法山，旧堡监狱大楼所在地，圣雄甘地和纳尔逊·曼德拉曾被关押在这里。

　　从卡尔顿中心的顶部或乘坐直升机观看这座城市。

　　金礁城游乐园，建在一个古老的金矿上，其中一个游乐设施可以将你从与地面相同高度的矿井顶部扔到竖井里。

　　购物或去剧院。在玫瑰岸屋顶市场（周日开放）购物。享受人民剧院上演的戏剧。

　　去自然保护区，或在埃利斯公园观看橄榄球比赛，或在流浪者俱乐部观看板球比赛，或在霍顿高尔夫俱乐部打一场高尔夫球，或穿上登山靴在苏克博斯兰德板球场打板球，或在南非最大的体育场足球城观看足球赛。

　　漫步在西兰德的沃尔特·西苏鲁国家植物园。

　　在哈特比斯波特大坝乘热气球。