长途旅行的人常常需要决定，他们更愿意走陆路、海路还是空路。
People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air.
几乎没有人能真正享受在火车上连坐数小时的滋味。
Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours.
火车车厢很快就会变得拥挤憋闷。
Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy.
要让自己忘掉正在旅途中几乎是不可能的。
It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey.
读书只是部分解决之道，因为车轮碾过铁轨那单调的节奏很快就会催你入睡。
Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lull you to sleep.
白天，睡眠断断续续，时睡时醒。
During the day, sleep comes in snatches.
到了晚上，当你真的想要入睡时，却往往难以做到。
At night, when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so.
即便你幸运地订到了卧铺，也要花半宿盯着天花板上那盏小蓝灯发呆，或是摸摸索索地找票准备查票。
If you are lucky enough to get a sleeper, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find your ticket for inspection.
最终，你抵达目的地时几乎已精疲力竭。
Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.
长途驾车旅行甚至更令人不快，因为就连读书都根本不可能。
Long car journeys are even less pleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read.
在高速公路上，你至少可以相当安全地高速行驶；但往往，旅程中的大部分时间都是在服务站稀少、车流拥挤的普通公路上度过的。
On motorways you can, at least, travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on roads with few service stations and too much traffic.
相比之下，轮渡旅行或游轮旅行提供了种类繁多的文明享受。
By comparison, ferry trips or cruises offer a great variety of civilized comforts.
你可以在宽阔的甲板上伸展双腿、做游戏、结交有趣的人，享受美食——当然，前提是海面风平浪静。
You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, meet interesting people and enjoy good food--always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm.
如果海面并不平静，而你又容易晕船，那么没有任何一种交通方式会比这更糟糕了。
If it is not, and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse.
即使在理想的天气条件下出行，海上旅行也要花费很长时间。
Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys take a long time.
愿意为了乘船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期时间的人相对较少。
Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of travelling by sea.
飞机有危险的名声，就连久经旅途的人也会被吓到。
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them.
飞机还有一个缺点，就是它是一种昂贵的交通方式。
They also have the disadvantage of being an expensive form of transport.
但在速度和舒适度方面，没有任何交通方式能与之媲美。
But nothing can match them for speed and comfort.
在三万英尺的高空，远在云层之上，以每小时五百多英里的速度飞行，是一种令人振奋的体验。
Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience.
你无需想方设法转移对旅途的注意力，因为飞机很快就能把你送达目的地。
You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly.
你只需几个小时，便可以舒舒服服地靠在宽大的扶手椅里享受飞行。
For a few hours, you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight.
真正追求逃避现实的人，在某些航班上甚至可以看电影、品香槟。
The real escapist can watch a film and sip champagne on some services.
但即使没有这些精致服务，也有很多东西让你保持忙碌。
But even when such refinements are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
飞机为你提供了一幅对世界不同寻常、令人叹为观止的视角。
An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world.
你毫不费力地翱翔于高山峻谷之上。
You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys.
你真正看清了大地的轮廓。
You really see the shape of the land.
如果地面景色被遮住了，你还可以欣赏连绵不断的云海平原那壮观的景象，它延展在你面前绵延数英里，而阳光则在澄澈的天空中灿烂地照耀。
If the landscape is hidden from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky.
旅途如此平稳，以至于没有任何东西妨碍你读书或睡觉。
The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping.
无论你决定如何打发时间，有一点是确定的：你抵达目的地时将精神饱满、衣履整洁。
However you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled.
你不必花接下来的几天时间从漫长而艰辛的旅途中恢复过来。
You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.