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2014 annual ProZ.com translation contest: "Celebrations" » Czech to English

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Source text in Czech

Na nádraží jsem si koupil lístek do La Spezia. Konečně jsem vnímal, že jsem v Itálii. Cítil jsem se pevný a jistý. Recepční měl pravdu: „Taková noc…“

V La Spezia nebylo příliš o čem rozhodovat. Před nádražím rostl vysoký plot ze zaprášených keřů a dole pod ním supěl přístav, který jako velryba občas vydechl gejzír pachů, hulákání a rezavého skřípotu. Korsika se mi proměnila v ušmudlanou, neodeslanou pohlednici. Ostatně, cíle bylo dosaženo, či spíše se mi sám od sebe zjevil, a nechtěl jsem se už dál rozmělňovat v dalších sebepitváních, otevřel jsem všechna okna své zatuchlé pevnosti a nechal proudit čerstvý vzduch, nač mu tedy stát v cestě a znovu se v kruhu honit za svým vlastním stínem?

Vrátil jsem se k pokladně a zeptal se na nejbližší vlak do nějakého velkého města.

„Za patnáct minut do Benátek, za čtyřicet do Říma,“ ozvalo se za okýnkem.

Vydal jsem se do Benátek.

Byl jsem v tom městě už jako malé dítě s rodiči a s bratrem, ale nic jsem si z toho nepamatoval. Snad jen holuby. Měl jsem o něm vzrušující fantazie, ve kterých se mísila mlha a ostré slunce, slaný vzduch a těžká zamotaná tajemství. Rozmazané siluety Giacoma Casanovy, Lorenza da Ponte a Antonia Vivaldiho. Ještě rozmazanější postavy dóžecích udavačů, hbitých gondoliérů a karnevalových masek. Pach ryb a soumraků ve vlhkém městě. Jak jsem se přesdvědčil, nebyl jsem daleko od pravdy, ale netušil jsem, jak mě to město sevře. Uchopí a nepustí.

Na nádraží Santa Lucia jsem vyskočil z vlaku, a když jsem vyšel z budovy, jenom jsem zasténal. Přede mnou bez varování vybuchl ohňostroj překrásného města. Bylo jedenáct hodin v noci. To město mi kynulo na pozdrav, Canal Grande jako by vrtěl hlavou, že to tak dlouho trvalo, a vlevo už mne vybízel Ponte degli Scalzi, abych jen vstoupil, že je vše připraveno. Musel jsem si sednout na schody a počkat, až se mi zklidní tep a budu se moci nadechnout.

Zůstal jsem v tom městě tři dny. A bylo lhostejné, jestli jsem byl nahý, nebo mi Benátky vtiskly na obličej jednu ze svých šalivých masek. Byl jsem šťastný. Byl jsem zamilovaný.

Zamiloval jsem se do města. Nebudu a nechci popisovat tyto tři dny. Byla to opojná svatební noc. Na náměstí San Marco jsem se napil moře a nechal se vést…

Winning entries could not be determined in this language pair.

There were 26 entries submitted in this pair during the submission phase, 3 of which were selected by peers to advance to the finals round. Not enough votes were submitted by peers for a winning entry to be determined.

Competition in this pair is now closed.


Entries (26 total; 3 finalists) Expand all entries

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Language variants:
Entry #20236 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
tomadam
tomadam
Czech Republic
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
152 x43 x21 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.383.50 (8 ratings)3.25 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 3 users entered 4 "like" tags
  • 2 users agreed with "likes" (6 total agrees)
+2
had struck me as a dingy, unsent postcard
Flows well
Magda Jakubec
+2
brood
Good term selection
Fiona_N
+1
I opened all the windows of that musty stronghold of my self
Other
Only trans​lation tha​t explains​ the 'stro​nghold' ad​equately, ​though a b​it awkward
czlink
+1
I'd had no idea of how much the city would get under my skin. It took hold of me and wouldn't let go.
Flows well
Magda Jakubec
Entry #16900 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Václav Pinkava
Václav Pinkava
United Kingdom
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
122 x41 x22 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.823.63 (8 ratings)4.00 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 3 users entered 4 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
At last, I felt I was in Italy
Flows well
Fiona_N
tall hedge of dusty shrubs and down below it the port fumed, now and again like a whale venting out smells, yells and rusty screeches.
Good term selection
czlink
mist mingled with sharp sunlight, salt air and deep, arcane mysteries
Flows well
Jennifer Taylor
I shall not, I have no wish to
Flows well
czlink
Entry #20813 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
112 x41 x21 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.664.11 (9 ratings)3.20 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 4 users entered 7 "like" tags
  • 2 users agreed with "likes" (2 total agrees)
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (2 total disagrees)
I finally felt like I was in Italy.
Other
Flows well​ AND good ​term selec​tion; fait​hful to th​e original
Tina Khachiev
-1
+2
1
the port lay heaving
Flows well
Daniel Kelsall
For me, Corsica had become a smudged, unsent postcard
Flows well
czlink
-1
1
spritely gondoliers
Good term selection
Daniel Kelsall
Without warning, the city burst into a beautiful explosion before my eyes.
Other
Explains t​he city's ​effect wel​l
czlink
I won’t describe those three days – nor do I want to
Good term selection
FINALLY SO​MEONE USIN​G 'NOR'! ​How excite​d this has​ made me! ​:)
Mishiczka
drank in the sea
Good term selection
czlink


Non-finalist entries

The following entries were not selected by peers to advance to finals-round voting.

Entry #20626 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.083.33 (9 ratings)2.83 (6 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 2 "like" tags
but I had no inkling that the city would seize me like it did. Grab hold of me and not let go.
Good term selection
Mishiczka
I had to sit on the stairs and wait for my pounding heart to slow so I could catch my breath.
Flows well
Jennifer Taylor
Entry #19861 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.063.44 (9 ratings)2.67 (6 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #16817 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
izza65
izza65
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.933.00 (10 ratings)2.86 (7 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 2 "like" tags
It sunk in
Good term selection
Mishiczka
was beckoning for me to step forward
Flows well
Mishiczka
Entry #19672 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.913.11 (9 ratings)2.71 (7 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19114 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Josef Valek
Josef Valek
Czech Republic
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.873.45 (11 ratings)2.29 (7 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19033 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.852.50 (8 ratings)3.20 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19907 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.813.11 (9 ratings)2.50 (6 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19498 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.782.89 (9 ratings)2.67 (6 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
self-scrutiny
Flows well
Mishiczka
self-scrutiny
Good term selection
Roark
I set out for Venice.
Good term selection
Mishiczka
Entry #20623 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Klara
Klara
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.742.88 (8 ratings)2.60 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 2 "like" tags
It didn’t matter whether I was naked, or whether Venice imprinted one of its elusive masks on my face
Flows well
Mishiczka
surrendered to its charms
Other
I like thi​s expressi​on. Not su​re whether​ I would u​se the exa​ct same wo​rds here, ​though.
GoFox
Entry #21016 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Daniel Kelsall
Daniel Kelsall
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.742.88 (8 ratings)2.60 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
I finally felt like I was in Italy
Flows well
Fiona_N
There was not a lot to sway one in La Spezia
Flows well
Slightly l​oose trans​lation-wis​e, but I l​ike your t​ake on it.
Mishiczka
+1
Without warning, the city’s beauty exploded in front of me like fireworks.
Flows well
Mishiczka
Entry #20986 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
andievesela
andievesela
Czech Republic
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.722.73 (11 ratings)2.71 (7 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #20215 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
morezsuzsa
morezsuzsa
Hungary
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.682.75 (8 ratings)2.60 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19979 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.502.50 (8 ratings)2.50 (6 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #18683 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.492.60 (10 ratings)2.38 (8 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #21055 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.482.70 (10 ratings)2.25 (8 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19577 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Lubomír Sedlák (X)
Lubomír Sedlák (X)
Czech Republic
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.342.67 (9 ratings)2.00 (7 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 2 "like" tags
The receptionist was right when he said: ”What a night...”
Flows well
Jennifer Taylor
I began to perceive Corsica as merely a smeared unsent postcard
Flows well
Mishiczka
Entry #20005 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.342.17 (6 ratings)2.50 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
wait for my pulse to quieten down and to recover my breath
Flows well
Mishiczka
Entry #19876 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.292.57 (7 ratings)2.00 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
-1
1
stazione
Good term selection
I think th​at's a nic​e touch an​d has a co​ol ring to​ it.
Mishiczka
Entry #21571 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.002.00 (6 ratings)2.00 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #21845 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Celt1206
Celt1206
Czech Republic
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.002.00 (10 ratings)2.00 (6 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #18538 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.801.60 (5 ratings)2.00 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #17395 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.001.00 (3 ratings)1.00 (1 rating)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #19918 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
alex suhoy
alex suhoy
Ukraine
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.001.00 (6 ratings)1.00 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags