20110318 The Culture of Curacao (2)

Here I find the Jewish quarter and synagogue, the oldest in the Caribbean;

synagogue n. 猶太會堂/猶太教堂

=> a building in which Jewish people worship and study their religion

At the Old Market, people sit at long, communal tables and eat baked whole snapper, fried plantains, goat stew and the other traditional foods of Curacao.

communal adj. 共享的/共有的/共用的

eg: Because of germs, people are not always eager to eat or drink from communal bowl or cup.

The Queen Emma is a pontoon bridge for pedestrians.

pontoon n. 浮橋

=> a small flat boat or a mental structure of s similar shape used especially to form or support a temporary floating bridge

But when a freighter or cruise ship approaches, the bridge operator fires up the engine, and like a truck driver, steers the Punda end of the bridge a full 90 degrees to the opposite shore so that the length of the bridge is snug up against the Otrobanda side, leaving plenty of room for the ship to pass.

fire up 發動(機器/引擎等)/激發

eg: When the pilot fires up the engine, I know we'll be takign off very soon.

snug adv. 緊貼地/緊密地

eg: The TV stand fits snug up against the wall