Los Angeles 洛杉矶 L.A. is one of the most bizarre places on Earth, and it has an equally singular smell. The clear, alluring track of its scent is arresting. There's the ocean breeze from Santa Monica that can travel as far East as Silver Lake; a dry desert air that comes West over Downtown and South Central; the astringent balm of eucalyptus, pine, honeysuckle, and jasmine from the hills; and car exhaust from catalytic converters, which is, in its strange industrial way, beautiful. It's like the jolt of a drug: shifting, comforting, cool like a blanket. The lonely smell of the marine layer burns off and you get this flashy perfume of hot asphalt, engines, and sun block that you can find nowhere but in L.A. 洛杉矶是世界上最奇异的地方之一,它同样有一种奇特的气味。清晰、诱人的气味十分吸引人。从圣莫妮卡吹来的微风能够将气味带到很远的地方;从西部中心地区和南方中部地区沙漠的带来的干燥空气;从山上吹来桉树、松树和金银花的酸涩芳香,还有茉莉花的芬芳;从汽车的催化转换器中排除的废气,带有一种怪异的工业美感。如同一味五味陈杂的药:不断变换又带来舒适的感觉。你可以嗅到澎湃的海洋带来的孤独气息,以及热沥青、引擎和防晒乳液的混合的味道,除了洛杉矶,没有任何地方拥有这种味道。 |