Zanzibar (3)

We returned to Stone Town, and my friends left. I stayed longer to explore Stone Town's big old houses. Hundreds of years ago, the city had been a huge trading port for slaves and ivory. All shipments going east to the Indian Ocean stopped in Stone Town.

At that time, the city was rich, and wealthy people built big houses with beautiful doors. But then it became illegal to trade slaves and ivory.

Stone Town is a magical place for picture taking. Old doors with ornate designs still mark the entryways to all of the houses. The narrow streets are filled with shops selling paintings, jewelry, spices, etc. I also visited a museum in Stone Town that used to be the royal palace. I learned how Zanzibar had been influenced by the Kingdom of Oman until the 1960s. That is why the people look like they are from North Africa.

Zanzibar - a magical place with friendly people, good food, and fun activities. I am very glad that I went!


Grammar Gym
"Old doors with ornate designs still mark the entryways to all of the houses."
mark = "to characterize"
A huge painting marks the wall in the lobby of the museum.
An old fountain marks the center of the village square.

Info Cloud
"The narrow streets are filled with shops selling paintings, jewelry, spices, etc."
狹窄的街道二旁都是商店, 販賣圖畫,珠寶, 香料, 等...
本文句子提到的 jewelry 和 jewel 有什麼不同?
jewelry n.[noncount] [不可數的集合名詞] 戒指 項鍊 手鐲
decorative objects (such as rings, necklaces, and earrings) that people wear on their body 
jewel :  gem寶石 diamond 鑽石 ruby 紅寶石 emerald 綠寶石 amethyst 紫水晶 opal 淡白石
a valuable stone (such as a ruby or diamond) that has been cut and polished
穿戴在身上用 wear
鑲嵌在裝飾品上的寶石用 setting

Language Lab
slave n.
1. someone who is legally owned by another person and is forced to work for that person without pay 奴隸 苦工
The slaves were traded openly in the marketplace.
奴隸被公然的在巿場上買賣
2. disapproving : a person who is strongly influenced and controlled by something — + to or of
奴隸般受控制的人; 擺脫不了某種習慣(或影響)的人[(+to/of)]
Tanya is a slave to fashion. She spends most of her income on clothing.
Tanya 深受流行趨勢所影響, 她大部份的收入都花在買衣服

ivory n.
1. a hard white substance that forms the tusks of elephants and other animals 象牙
Trading ivory is illegal.買賣象牙是違法的
These exquisite ivory carvings cost the collector a fortune.
這些精緻的象牙雕刻品讓這位收藏家鎖費不資
2. a slightly yellowish white color 象牙色 乳白色
The ivory paint really made the kitchen brighter.
這個象牙白的油漆真的讓廚房的顏色更明亮
3. a piano key - usually plural
To tickle the ivories is to play the piano.
* tickle the ivories 彈鋼琴

magical adj. very pleasant or exciting 神奇的, 迷人的
The magical moment of love at first sight is the theme of many love stories.
一見鐘情的神奇時刻是許多愛情故事的主題
magic n. having the power to make impossible things happen; involving the skill of doing tricks that seem to be impossible 魔術
The ship disappeared in the fog like magic.

ornate adj.
/oɚˈneɪt/
1: covered with decorations : covered with fancy patterns and shapes 裝飾華麗的
The hotel's ornate decorations attract many customers.
這間旅館的華麗裝飾吸引了許多客人
The architect is famous for his ornate styles.
這位建築師以華麗的風格著稱
2: using many fancy words
an ornate writing style

ornament n.
a small, fancy object that is put on something else to make it more attractive
Christmas ornaments [=small balls, figures, etc., that are hung on a Christmas tree for decoration]

entryway n.
a place for entering something

palace n.
the official home of a king, queen, president, etc.

mansion n.
a large and impressive house : the large house of a wealthy person

wealthy adj. rich
having a lot of money and possessions


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