far far away downunder... 遠得要命又顛倒的地方: 英國行 / UK Trip

啊..., 可以說我不在家, 所以不能更新網誌嗎? (不知恥ing)

七月陪 Andy 返鄉探親, 大部份的時間都在英國南邊的 Someset County裡, 這裡說起來跟英國其他鄉下地方一樣, 一眼望不盡的農田, 成群的乳牛, 綿羊, 看不到來車的羊腸小徑, 似乎沒人住的寧靜村落, 但因為我待的時間夠久, 很多隱藏在麥田裡秘密都被我發覺了...

首先, 這裡有個英格蘭 (England) 最小的城市 - Wells (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/explore-somerset/towns-and-villages/wells-p500273), 事實上它只有小鎮的規模, 但因這裡有建於十二世紀的 Wells 大教堂 www.wellscathedral.org.uk ( 之前只有具城市規模的地方才能設大教堂(cathedral) ), 所以到現在它的編制還是 Wells市.

Wells 因美泉而得名, 行走街上, 可見街旁水道流水涓涓, 湧泉處就在主街上, 另外還有兩個湧泉口在主教宮殿 www.bishopspalacewells.co.uk 的美麗花園裡.

小小的城市裡, 有一個宏偉的大教堂, 美麗的主教宮殿和花園, 加上一個星期兩次的市集, 所以許多前往巴斯 (Bath) 觀光的旅客, 行有餘力, 也會繞到 Wells 參觀.

Wells 之外, Somerset County 裡還有 Cheddar 鎮, 很耳熟嗎? 它就是鼎鼎有名的切達起士 (Cheddars Cheese) 的發源地, 雖然現在全球各地的酪農都會生產 Cheddars Cheese, 但這個鎮還有一個不能複製的觀光重點 - 切達峽谷 (Cheddar Gorge), 車行峽谷中, 好似開了小叮噹隨意門, 開回花蓮太魯閣了, 當然這裡的峽谷是迷你版的 :-)

即使不特地安排觀光行程, 隨意開車於 Somerset 田園間, 偶遇地勢較高處, 停車眺望, 一幅幅恬靜如畫的鄉村景致隨即展現眼前.

參觀完歷史古鎮, 鄉村景觀, 是不是和我一樣快被催眠了呢? 讓我們來點熱血的行程吧! Somerst 裡有個叫 Street 的小鎮, 它是鞋商 Clacks 的總公司和設計中心所在地, Clacks 在 Street 設有大型 outlet 購物中心www.clarksvillage.co.uk , 裡面除了 Clack 的商品外, 還有許多英國和歐洲品牌精品店, 提供許多比市價優惠的商品, 是個讓人又愛又怕的地方… (問我如何自拔嗎? 當然就是有背後靈跟著, 讓妳不能盡興的逛, 就可早早結束購物行程了…)

另外時尚名牌 Mulberry 也是在 Somerset 的 SheptonMallet鎮誕生的, 雖然 Mulberry 已由國際時尚企業收購, 但原來的工作坊還是照常運作, 手工師傅還是數十年如一日地, 在小鎮裡一針一線的製作提包, 這裡另設有 Mulberry factory shop, 賣價約為市價的七, 八折.
Somerset不是英國的觀光重鎮, 但這塊被麥田, 牧場覆蓋的土地上, 卻隱藏著閃閃發光的寶石, 是塊耐人尋味的土地.

Well, I am not going to talk about Downunder, I am going to talk about “North”, the land with “correct” seasons. Me and Andy spent most of July in England, I was quite excited as I hadn’t been to England in the summer time before.

Somerset is the land where we spent most of our time, located in the South West of England, near the well known tourist town of Bath.

The majority of the land is used for farming and growing various kinds of crops, which is the same as other nearby counties, but I am pleased that I have spent my time in Somerset and long enough to be able to discover the hidden secrets of this farming land.

It’s a land with the smallest city in England – Wells (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/explore-somerset/towns-and-villages/wells-p500273), it’s a charming little town, a city with a remarkable Cathedral built in the 12^th century (www.wellscathedral.org.uk). Every time I walked by the splendid exterior I always slowed my pace, the city is also a place with 3 spring water sources right in downtown.

Another well known town in Somerset is Cheddar, where Cheddar Cheese originated from. Nowadays Cheddar Cheese can be produced in any dairy farm around the world, but there is another gem in Cheddar that can not be reproduced – The Cheddar Gorge. It cuts deeply down to the valley, with astonishing scenery when driving along the winding road at the bottom of valley.

In this lush and boundless farming land, you don’t actually need a travel plan, it’s effortless to get picturesque scenery when driving along the country roads, well, in the condition that you don’t find it frustrated in driving along narrow, winding, limited sight country roads.

If you find history and culture a bit overwhelming, Street and Shepton Mallet will be ideal towns to pay a visit.

Street is the headquarter and design center of the International Shoe company, Clark’s, who built a Factory Outlet Center in its home town. In the outlet center, Clark’s product is not the only option, there are many more shops with boutique products from the UK and around the world. www.clarksvillage.co.uk

One of the UK’s fashion icons is Mulberry, with its first hand bag actually being created in a little Somerset town, Shepton Mallet. Although it’s an international fashion label the factory still produces hand made handbags like they first created in this humble little town. There is a factory shop in Shepton Mallet which provides Mulberry goods at very appealing prices.

Isn’t it a surprise that an ordinary farming land would have so many hidden treasures!?

Wells 一隅, 當天有法式滾球慈善活動, 當天陽光燦爛 ,
典型的英國小鎮搖身變為南法鄉村
Wells Town Square, a charity event - Boules competition was taking place that day,
it was relaxing atmosphere with lots of sunshine, live music, food and drink...,
but the competitions were pretty tense...