CNN 2011-03-31

It is spring break and in any normal year, the beaches of Acapulco, Mexico will be crowded with American tourists, American college students. But not this year. The fear of drug violence in Acapulco is keeping tourists away. CNN's Rafael Romo reports.

After a series of gruesome murders last year, American and British authorities¹ issued warnings to travelers about Acapulco. 18 bodies were found near Acapulco last November in a shallow² grave³ and what appears to be a massacre⁴ by a drug cartel.

Everywhere you go in Aculpulco, especially in tourist areas, you see signs like this one that says "Habla de Aca," Speak well of Aca, short for Acapulco. It is a new campaign spearheaded by the Tourism industry. But it is hard to do that when the violence is speaking so loudly. 15 headless bodies were found outside a mall in January. There were more than 1,000 violent deaths in Acapulco in 2010. Marking a steady increase over the last three years. With more than 300 deaths so far this year, Acapulco is on pace to break last year's record.

This is not a violence against tourism. Any tourist who come here, they'll never see violence. Any person who come in, they will never see any problem against an attack, against anybody personally.

Brian Rullan owns Paladium, one of the hottest nightclubs in town. He used to see hundreds of spring breakers every night in previous years. Now it is only a handful⁵.

Yes, it's totally safe.

But these four young Americans from the midwest say people are missing⁶ out.

My mom actually came to Mexico a couple of weeks ago. As they were rewarded, everyone kept telling us how safe it was. So it was no problem coming here. Once we got here, everyone felt so safe.

Acapulco officials say last year they still received about nine million tourists. A number they expect will increase by 300,000 in 2011.

Acapulco is standing⁷ on its feet. And Acapulco is greater than its problems.

Mayor⁸ Anorve points to the fact that world-class events like the international diving championship and the Guiness record-breaking event were still held here this year. Rafael Romo, CNN, Acapulco, Mexico.

1 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 shallow   

adj.浅的，肤浅的，浅显易懂的；n.(pl.)浅滩，浅处；v.变浅

参考例句：

• The dish is too shallow to serve soup in.盘子太浅，盛不了汤。
• His analysis was always shallow.他的分析总是很肤浅的。

3 grave   

n.墓穴，坟墓，雕刻工，抑音；adj.庄重的，严肃的，重大的，低沉的；vt.雕刻

参考例句：

• Marriage is the grave of love.婚姻是爱情的坟墓。
• This is a very grave matter indeed.这问题的确非常严重。

4 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

5 handful   

n.一把；少量，少数，一小撮

参考例句：

• We invited 30 people, but only a handful came.我们邀请了30人，但是只到了几个人。
• He pulled out a handful of coins from his pocket.他从口袋里掏出一把硬币。

6 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 mayor   

n.市长

参考例句：

• The new mayor said he would clean the city up.新市长说，他要整顿本市。
• The mayor hurried into his office,brushing off the reporters.市长赶快走进办公室，拒不接见记者。