根据新发布的2012年旅游地排行榜，在飞往巴黎、马德里或罗马之前，美国的度假者应该先考虑去伯明翰旅行。
　　上周，《纽约时报》发表了“2012年一定要去的45个地方”，它将英国声名狼藉的第二大城市伯明翰排在第19位，位列维也纳、约旦、杜布罗夫尼克和南极洲之前，而意大利、西班牙和法国的首都则均未上榜。
　　此前，伯明翰在去年十月份被英国广播公司的餐饮杂志《Olive》评为英国“最美味的城市”。《纽约时报》着重提到了四个由当地厨师经营的餐馆：Lasan，Opus，Edmunds和Loves，还有三家米其林星级餐馆：Purnell’s，Simpsons和Turners of Harborne。报纸还提到了伯明翰著名的巴尔蒂三角区及其正统的烹饪遗产——伯明翰是泰福茶、雀嘜吉士粉和HP酱的原产地。
　　巴拿马位列《纽约时报》的旅游地排行之首。巴拿马因其喧嚣的夜生活、美妙的潜水运动及其新潮蓬勃的首都而获得推荐。
　　赫尔辛基是国际工业设计协会指定的2012年世界设计之都。缅甸在昂山素季去年收回她对独立旅行的反对后再次成为旅行者的目的地。这三个地方成为旅游地排行榜的前三名。
　　尼尔•拉米是“营销伯明翰”机构的总裁，他管理着《纽约时报》排行榜中所提到的伯明翰美食节。
　　他说：“伯明翰近些年通过展示城市突出的特性以及我们所提供的多样美食努力改善这座城市作为旅游目的地的名声。
　　“我们的米其林星级厨师和良好的用餐环境使伯明翰成为了烹饪中心。”
　　上榜的其他英国旅游目的地有：伦敦（排在第四位）、格拉斯哥（第12位）和威尔士（第31位）。
　　伦敦因其公共空间、购物中心以及乔治亚的建筑风格而受到推荐。《纽约时报》指出，来这座城市旅游的人首先要去新近翻修的查尔斯•狄更斯博物馆，然后进行华纳兄弟工作室之旅（邻近沃特福德）并在华道夫阿斯多里亚酒店住宿。
　　Before jetting off to Paris, Madrid or Rome, American holidaymakers should consider a trip to Birmingham, according to a new list of places to visit in 2012.
　　The New York Times' “45 Places to Go in 2012”, published last week, finds room for England’s much maligned second city at number 19, ahead of the likes of Vienna, Jordan, Dubrovnik and Antarctica, while the Italian, Spanish and French capitals missed out entirely.
　　Birmingham made the list after it was named Britain’s “foodiest town” by Olive, BBC’s food magazine, in October. The New York Times highlights four restaurants run by local chefs: Lasan, Opus, Edmunds and Loves, as well as three Michelin-starred establishments: Purnell’s, Simpsons and Turners of Harborne. It also mentions Birmingham’s famous Balti Triangle, and its no-nonsense culinary heritage – the city is the birthplace of Typhoo Tea, Bird’s Custard and HP Sauce.
　　Panama topped the New York Times list. The country is recommended for its raucous nightlife, good snorkelling and trendy, up-and-coming capital city.
　　Helsinki, designated the World Design Capital for 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, and Myanmar, now back on travellers’ itineraries after Aung San Suu Kyi withdrew her opposition to independent tourism last year, completed the top three.
　　Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham, which manages Birmingham Food Fest – noted in The New York Times listing - said:
　　“Birmingham has worked hard to improve its reputation as a visitor destination in recent years by showcasing amongst other attributes, our fantastic and diverse foodie offer.
　　“Our Michelin star chefs and fine dining restaurant scene have catapulted the city into the culinary spotlight."
　　Other British destinations to feature were London, at number four, Glasgow, at number 12, and Wales, at 31.
　　London is recommended for its public spaces, shopping centres and Georgian architecture. Visitors to the capital should head to the recently-renovated Charles Dickens Museum, take the Warner Brothers Studio Tour (on the edge of Watford), and stay at the Waldorf Astoria, according to the New York Times.
　　Vocabulary:
　　jet off to: 乘飞机去往……
　　holidaymaker: 假日游客
　　malign: 诽谤，中伤
　　establishment: 建立的机构；公司
　　no-nonsense: 正经的；严肃的
　　raucous: 喧闹的
　　snorkelling: 使用水下呼吸管潜游
　　up-and-coming: 崭露头角的
　　itinerary: 旅行计划
　　catapult: 猛投