Editor: Kathryne Ogrod & Elsa Zhang
一路上车子走走停停，到达大理古城的时候，那里正是一片细雨绵绵，万家灯火的景象，漂亮的小城好像被可以装扮起来欢迎我们这些远方的来客。
几个当地人在古城宁静的街道上幽闲地散步，在这里人们永远是优雅祥和地走在东方人早就出的青石板上，从来不曾急促，而这里也是充满热情的。这里的姑娘们穿着简单朴素，素面朝天，展示着自信和不凡的品位。
狭长的街道两旁有许多小商铺，大多出售的是当地特产、一些玉器以及一些特别的染制品和独特的手工制品。在这里著名的小吃一条街上可以找到很多可口的食物，传统的中国米线、烧烤，不过那些钟情于食物的游客也会难免失望，毕竟这里所展现的全部是大理的特产，所以品种有限。
走着走着，我们看到几个二十岁上下的小姑娘围坐在井边，每个人手里都拿着一根铁丝，铁丝的一段插着大小不一的鱼，她们边吃边聊，每个人看上去都很开心的样子。闻着阵阵飘香，不禁让我想起在学校的时候和同学一起去春游，模仿电视上烤鱼的样子，但是效果却不是很好，于是大家也就失去了兴致。此时，看到这群小姑娘，那种似远似近的感觉让我无法言表。她们一只手烤鱼，另一只手往鱼上撒作料，还不时地相互轻声细语地说话。我问她们可不可以向她们买鱼，她们见我不是当地人，咯咯地笑起来，一个身穿蓝色衣服的女孩告诉我，先到里面做，等下她们会把鱼给我们送进去。
我们一边吃着烤鱼，喝着当地的米酒一边坐在临街的座位上欣赏美景感受这里的温情。这里可以把你拉回到自己最真实的一面，摒弃琐碎烦忧，甚至想在这里谈一场恋爱，现代人的恋爱模式只被浪漫和痛苦所定义。其实爱情始终保存着古典的韵味，想到这里，我不禁为现代人感到遗憾，他们的方式是那么的呆板。由此我不想离开大理了，想到最终要离开，一种哀怨的情绪把我包裹住了。
夜幕下的大理仿佛安静地沉睡在摇篮里。我漫步在街道上与这里告别。像今天这样的雨夜，总能听到大颗大颗的雨滴敲打屋顶的声音，宛如一曲经典的颂歌，带领游客追寻这里的点点真迹。
When I arrived in Dali, it was raining. The car is running then it stops; running then stops. When our car finally reaches the ancient city, the light in every house turned on as if to say: Welcome traveler.
The ancient city has a very serene street. Several local people are walking on it. It is hard to imagine someone walking fast on it because this is a place where everyone walks with grace, peace, and with a purpose. This is a place of both peace and enthusiasm. It is called the blue stone street and walking on it allows travelers to feel the special Eastern affection. The girls here dress simply and from their style they can show their confidence as well as their good taste. The local girls don’t like make-up. Their porcelain face suits everyone and there is no need for improvement. It is true and pure beauty.
There are many stores that line the narrow road. Local products are sold here as well as many different types of jade articles. A special form of dye is made here and it helps many to produce unique hand crafted products. There is a famous scenic road which is lined with many delicious places to eat. These shops make traditional Chinese Rice Thread and BBQ which are known all over China. It is a shame for someone good at eating because the special flavor is believed to be important for the traveler’s journey, but you can only find this flavor in Dali.
When arriving in the city, we see several girls gathered around a well; they are all about 20 years old. Each of them holds an iron thread with different size fish. They are talking and eating. Everyone looks very happy. I can smell the flavor of the fish and as I do, I remember a time when I was in school and several classmates went on spring break and, imitating the television, caught several fish to cook over an open fire. We cooked fish but they did not turn out very well. It may appear easy to catch fish and cook them but when you are eating fish that don’t taste very good and you neglected to bring any other food with you, the fun ends rather quickly. When I saw the beautiful girls cooking and laughing, I felt a far away feeling of sadness, but I also feel benevolence. The girls turn their fish with one hand and seasoning the fish with the other hand. Meanwhile, they are lightly whispering to each other. I ask if I may buy a fish from them. The girls giggle when they see we are not local people. A girl in a blue suit tells me to sit down and they will serve us the fish.
I choose two seats near the street while we eat the delicious fish and enjoy the local wine. This is a place filled with strong affection and romance. When you stay here you can come back to yourself and savor your experiences. You can cast away the trivial things in life and soak in what is truly important. People seem to think that falling in love is the way of modern people; that love can only be romantic with an overwhelming sense of sorrow and pain. But in reality, love has the classical emotional appeal of warmth and tenderness embedded in its core. As I ponder this, I can’t help but feel regret for the modern young people. Their method for loving is so stiff and cold. After my experience in this loving city, I do not wish to abandon Dali; when I think I finally need to go, sadness stains my heart.
Dali is silent cradled in the curtain of night. I am walking down the street and saying my goodbyes to the fairy-tale city. During the rainy season, like today, there are very large raindrops that fall on the roof. The sound is lovely and I regard the sound as a classical elegant song. Dali was made for us; made for the comfort of travelers who are seeking true beauty and peace.
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