Exude might work rather well here. According to the WordReference dictionary, it's one possible meaning of respirer, and seems to fit.

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Note added at 42 mins (2004-05-08 10:10:44 GMT)
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What about something like absorb? Absorb suggests something being soaked up, which might be what they\'re getting at here.

Or something along those lines. "respirer" here is not used literally (I'm sure the urban intensity of B.A. is not actually a great place to breathe!!!), but in the associated sense of "inspire" (= to inhale also, as well as "arouse, prompt", etc.).

Take in, infuse itself with, etc. or quite simply "breathe in", depending on how literally you have dealt with "puiser" and "s'abreuver" which I would have seen as as much a problem as "inspirer", if not more.

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Note added at 43 mins (2004-05-08 10:11:19 GMT)
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... << as \"respirer\" >>, I mean.

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Note added at 55 mins (2004-05-08 10:23:52 GMT)
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I agree with Rowan that the sentence COULD be taken to imply input AND output, but on the strength of the sentence we have been given, that would be illogical.

Also (1), while \"respirer\" DOES mean both breathe IN and breathe OUT, when your doctor is listening to your lungs, what does he say? \"Respirez\". Which of course you are doing anyway, otherwise you went to the doctor MUCH too late, so what he means is \"Breathe in\".

Also (2), you have to distinguish between intransitive and transitive uses of the word. Intransitively it does mean \"Aspirer et rejeter l\'air pour renouveler l\'oxygène de l\'organisme\", but transitively it is \"Absorber par les voies respiratoires: Respirer un air corrumpu ...\" (but aren\'t your musicians PLAYING an air????) where the sense is more monodirectional.

I think it is about breathing or feeling the air of the city

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Note added at 1 hr 4 mins (2004-05-08 10:32:27 GMT)
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Agree with Bouth - it looks to be more about inspiration, than just breathing

just another definistion of exude

is enough........

He drew on his pipe as he told the children a story.
He drew on the intensity of urban life to fire his imagination.
They draw on a certain spirituality in their musings.
This music draws on the intensity of the city of BA

simplify....to draw inspiration from the intensity is correct but too heavy...lighten up the text is my motton

inhale the intensity

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Note added at 4 hrs 58 mins (2004-05-08 14:26:44 GMT)
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Hotel Europa Splendid, Hotel Europa Splendid, Inhale the city\'s spirit and explore the magnificent landscape while enjoying a stay at our hotel. ...
www.reservations.bookhostels.com/ abacaxis.net/findabed.php?ChosenCountry=Italy&ChosenCity=Merano

... sense of the word. On a recent morning there, I leave the elegantly restored Hotel Florida ready to inhale the city. I\'m in Habana ...
www.erichiss.com/style365_havanajournal.html

in a nutshell think can do fine and leave you the other terms for rest of the text

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Note added at 10 hrs 44 mins (2004-05-08 20:12:26 GMT)
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cf Jane\'s answer, different words but EXACTLY same feeling and idea... never overdo if possible, a little less is better to my mind than a bit too much!!!!