Looking Out From a New Summit
從新的最高點眺望紐約市
By David W. Dunlap

With a step-right-up showmanship that does credit to the memory of P. T. Barnum, Legends Hospitality has lifted the curtain on its three-level, $32-a-head observatory near the top of 1 World Trade Center.
以令人聯想起美國馬戲大王P. T. 巴諾姆出場噱頭的姿態，傳奇服務公司為他們的觀景台揭幕，它位於世界貿易中心一號大樓接近頂端處，有三層樓，每人票價32美元。

Everything about the design of One World Observatory and the publicity campaign leading up to its May 29 opening was meant to whet the public’s anticipation of a trip that might otherwise be difficult – if not impossible – for some people to make, either because of the cost or because of the emotional trauma that clings to the site of the September 11 attacks.
與「世界一號觀景台」設計有關的一切，以及5月29日開幕前的宣傳活動，全是為了激起民眾的期待，但這趟旅程對某些人而言可能很難，甚或不可能成行，理由可能是票價高，或者911恐攻發生地仍縈繞不去的情緒創傷。

Before the opening David W. Checketts, the chairman and chief executive of Legends, gave tours to news organizations, including one during heavy fog, making it impossible to verify the observatory’s “See Forever” motto.
開幕前，傳奇董事長兼執行長大衛．查凱茲提供媒體參觀，包括有次大霧瀰漫，讓人無法驗證觀景台「看見永遠」的標語。

But the windows in the new tower clearly offer far wider panoramas than those of the old trade center observatory, which were divided into deep, narrow bays between columns. And an interactive mobile tablet, rentable for $15, makes orientation easy no matter the weather, as the screen clearly depicts and annotates whatever part of the skyline one is facing.
不過，新塔樓的窗戶可清楚提供視野寬廣許多的全景，不似舊世貿中心的觀景台被柱子分割成一些深且窄的區塊。此外，遊客可以15美元租一台互動式行動平板電腦，無論天氣如何都可讓導覽變得輕鬆容易。電腦螢幕會清楚描繪和解說你正面對的任何一部分天際線。

Acrophobes should be warned about the 4-meter-diameter. “sky portal,” which looks as if it is suspended over the streets below. The portal’s glass floor is actually looking down on two dozen high-definition screens carrying a live feed from cameras mounted at the base of the building’s spire. But the illusion is unnervingly convincing.
必須提醒懼高的人，這裡有個直徑4公尺的「天門」，看來就像懸吊在街道上方。其實，從「天門」的玻璃地板向下看見的，是24個高解析度螢幕，播放著由架設在建築尖塔底座的攝影機拍攝的現場街景。不過，這個幻景逼真到讓人發毛。

And it does not seem far-fetched to predict that the bar seats facing the Hudson River on the 101st floor may soon be among the most coveted in New York, though Steve Cuozzo, the restaurant critic at The New York Post, has complained that one cannot dine or drink there without paying the admission fee, because the 60-seat steakhouse and the more casual 100-seat cafe and bar and grill are within the observatory.
如此預測並不牽強：101樓面對哈德遜河的高腳座位很快就成為全紐約最夯的座位。不過紐約郵報的餐廳評論家史蒂夫．庫歐佐抱怨，不付入場費就無法在那裡用餐和喝飲料，因為60座的牛排館，和較為休閒式的100座咖啡、酒吧、燒烤店全在觀景台內。

Legends will not disclose the cost of the project. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which selected Legends as the operator, expects to receive about $875 million over the 15-year contract term, said Erica Dumas, a spokeswoman.
傳奇公司不會公布整項計畫的成本。選中傳奇負責營運的是紐約-紐澤西港務局，該局發言人艾莉卡．杜馬斯說，港務局預期在簽約的15年間可獲8億7500萬美元收入。

Mr. Checketts said he expected annual attendance to run from three million to four million visitors. Though its primary audience is tourists, Legends has evidently paid attention to ever-attentive and critical New Yorkers. Visitors will see a panorama of Lower Manhattan’s history on their 48-second elevator ride to the observatory.
查凱茲說，他預計每年有三、四百萬遊客。雖然觀景台的主要觀眾是遊客，傳奇明顯也對永遠在注意和批評的紐約人付出關注。遊客搭電梯上觀景台的48秒間可看到曼哈坦下城歷史的全景。

Aesthetically, the observatory is appropriately understated, given that the show is on the outside. The walls are of white-oak veneer and the floors are in black terrazzo, with enormous and helpful compass points inlaid at each corner. Calming music plays in the background.
觀景台在美學上呈現的是適度的低調，考慮到外面的景觀才是主秀。牆壁是白橡木皮板，地板是黑磨石磚，各角落都設有巨大且有用，顯示方向與位置的方位點。周遭流瀉著舒緩的樂音。

The 102nd floor, by far the most restrained, is principally to serve as rented event space. The main public observation area is on the 100th floor. Visitors may stay as long as they wish, Mr. Checketts said. But of course, they cannot leave without passing through the gift shop. The most expensive souvenir is a $200 crystal model of 1 World Trade Center.
第102樓是最內斂的一樓，主要作為出租活動場地。民眾觀景區主要在100樓。查凱茲說，遊客想待多久都行，不過，當然，他們離開時定會經過禮品店。最貴的紀念品是標價200美元的世貿中心一號大樓水晶模型。

While waiting to board the five elevators, visitors will see and hear the voices and faces of those who built the skyscraper, including Steven Plate, the director of World Trade Center construction for the Port Authority. “You look out, and on a clear day, you can actually see the curvature of the Earth,” Mr. Plate says, adding with a laugh, “So, other than that, there’s nothing to see.”
在等待搭乘五座專用電梯時，遊客會聽到和見到這棟摩天大褸建造者的聲音和面孔，包括替港務局建造世貿中心的負責人史蒂芬．普雷特。普雷特說：「你可以往外眺望，在晴朗的日子裡，真可看見彎曲的地平線。」接著他發笑說：「所以，除此之外，沒啥可看的。」

In truth, one has to be quite a bit higher than 386 meters to discern the curvature of the Earth. But One World Observatory is about showmanship, after all.
真相是，要比386公尺高相當多才看得見彎曲的地平線。這倒也無妨，反正「世界一號觀景台」原本就跟噱頭有關。

原文參照：
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/21/nyregion/at-the-world-trade-center-a-view-from-the-summit-of-lower-manhattan.html

2015-06-09聯合報/G5版/UNITED DAILY NEWS 王麗娟譯 原文參見紐時週報十一版右