Scotland is a unique and austere place, laden with history, where you can find aristocratic palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes. It has some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, a living testimony of a proud and splendid past.
In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today, what forged the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains. Beautiful and unspoiled, it was difficult to farm. The Scots subdued the environment with simple spades and strong arms.
The history of this ancient struggle, and its people's ancient love affair with the hard land, is enclosed within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here.
From coastal Aberdeen in towards the interior of the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses, which are witnesses of continual revolts against the dominion of neighboring England in Scottish history.
Perhaps the most uplifting moment for Scottish autonomy is the one experienced inside this ancient abbey of Arbroath, where, in 1320; the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, to whom cinema has dedicated the wonderful film Braveheart, the winner of five Oscars. ( to be continued)
中文：
苏格兰是一个独特的地方，历史的厚重感随处可见。豪门望族的府第与城堡历历在目，以及穿着传统服装的仪仗队。这些全欧洲最美丽的城市，诉说着苏格兰昔日的荣耀与光芒。
想体验和发现真正今日的苏格兰，追寻这里民族精神的源泉，就得去北部的格兰扁山区。格兰扁山区景色怡人，决无污染，曾一度不适合耕作，苏格兰人硬是凭着简单的锄头、铁锹和他们的双手征服了生存环境。
苏格兰先民的艰苦劳作史以及他们自古对这片贫瘠土地的眷恋，在安格斯民俗博物馆里一览无余。从这里展出的平常物品中，你能够感受到那种典型的往日乡间气氛。
有一条古堡之路从沿海的阿伯丁一直蜿蜒到格兰扁山区深处。沿途很多昔日的要塞，都是苏格兰在历史上不断反抗英格兰统治的见证。
苏格兰争取自治的过程中最大快人心的时刻莫过于1320年，在古老的阿布罗斯修道院，在罗伯特·布鲁斯国王的鼓动下庆贺《独立宣言》的签订。布鲁斯采纳了传奇英雄威廉·华莱士所献的计策，完成了自治大业，这个故事后来被改编成精彩的电影《勇敢的心》，并获五项奥斯卡大奖。（待续）
相关单词：austere
austere解释：adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的
austere例句：
His way of life is rather austere.他的生活方式相当简朴。
The room was furnished in austere style.这间屋子的陈设都很简单朴素。
相关单词：laden
laden解释：adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的
laden例句：
He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。
相关单词：testimony
testimony解释：n.证词；见证，证明
testimony例句：
The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
相关单词：subdued
subdued解释：adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
subdued例句：
He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
相关单词：coastal
coastal解释：adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的
coastal例句：
The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
相关单词：fortresses
fortresses解释：堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 )
fortresses例句：
They will establish impregnable fortresses. 他们将建造坚不可摧的城堡。
Indra smashed through Vritra ninety-nine fortresses, and then came upon the dragon. 因陀罗摧毁了维他的九十九座城堡，然后与维他交手。 来自神话部分
相关单词：dominion
dominion解释：n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图
dominion例句：
Alexander held dominion over a vast area.亚历山大曾统治过辽阔的地域。
In the affluent society,the authorities are hardly forced to justify their dominion.在富裕社会里，当局几乎无需证明其统治之合理。
相关单词：celebrated
celebrated解释：adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
celebrated例句：
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
相关单词：drawn
drawn解释：v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
drawn例句：
All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
相关单词：dedicated
dedicated解释：adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的
dedicated例句：
He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。
