20101222 Christmas at the Biltmore House (1)

Christmas at the Biltmore House

America's largest home sparkles with magic at Christmastime

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 neart 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 ous 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!

un- 否定

veil n. 面紗

unveil v. 首次展露或公開

=> 去掉面紗，即首次展露或公開

eg: The remote tribe's wedding ceremony traditions were unveiled for the first time in National Geographic.

=> 這個偏遠部落的傳統在世界地理雜誌中第一次展現給世人

eg: The new hybrid car will be unveiled today at the car show.

=> 這種新型使用兩種燃料的車展中首次公開

turn of the century 世紀之交

the time is end of one century and start another new century.

=> Year 1999 cross the year 2000 is turn of the century.

=> 指一個世紀的結束與另一個世紀的開始的時代。

eg: The king's death at the turn of the century bagan a new era in the kingdom.

=> 在世紀之交時，國王的去世開始了這個王國的新世代

eg: The empire collapsed at the turn of the century.

=> 這個帝國在世紀之交時瓦解了

getaway n. 休閒度假的去處

eg: Larry sees his cabin in the mountain as his favorite getaway.

=> Larry認為他山上度假小木屋是他最喜歡的忙裡偷閒的地方

eg: The resort was listed as one of the favorite gataways for the rich and famous.

=> 這家度假中心被列為富豪名人最愛的度假勝地之一

getaway n. 短的假期

eg: Alex and his wife had a weekend getaway by the lake.

//== Chat room ==//

privacy n. 隱私

paparazzi n. 狗仔隊(複數)

=> 集合名詞

=> 一般稱狗仔隊都是說paparazzi，不分多寡

paparazzo n. 一個狗仔