Adventures in Dulwich / 得立奇之旅

上週在查報告資料時，發現坎貝爾附近的得立奇有家美術館，既然我無法征服倫敦高級地段，至少要把我們南區玩清楚一點，於是得立奇美術館就成為我這週的行程之一。

When I was collecting background information on my essay last week, I accidentally found  Dulwich Picture Gallery near Camberwell. Since I can't conquer the upper-class sections in London, I should at least tour around the southern area. Thus Dulwich Picture Gallery became one of my itineraries this week.

這種鐵道風情應該是南區特有的景色。

The railroad scene is typical of south London. 

我方向感極差，最近迷路的次數更是不勝枚舉，但總因此找到新的景點，一下公車過個馬路就是美術館，我偏偏走進另一邊，這是今天最美麗的意外之一。

I have an extremely terrible sense of direction, and lately I've got lost so often. However, I always end up finding new spots. I should have crossed the road right after getting off the bus because the gallery is right on the other side. It was fate that I walked into the park, but it was one of the most beautiful surprises today. 

我誤打誤撞走進了得立奇公園，不要看它位於住宅區，這個公園應該和大安公園差不多大。有些阿公阿媽帶著小孫子來散步，我想是我們家蔡女士和阿楷來，一定也會很開心。

I found myself in Dulwich Park by accident. It's located in the residential area, but it's almost as large as Da-an Park in Taipei. Some grandparents came for a walk with their grandchildren. I bet Mom and Kai would have fun if they were here. 

樹上棲息的是鳥兒不是巨大的果子喔！

The black dots on the branches were birds, not fruits! 

黑鳥冷到羽毛在風中飄‧‧‧

The black bird was freezing with its feather trembling in the wind... 

明明我應該要去倫敦以外的許多地方探訪，可是我身邊這麼多美好的所在，常常問到路人他們也不知道近在咫尺的景點，讓我覺得我得趁還在這裡時好好看倫敦。

I know well that there are so many cities and towns outside London I should visit, but there are numerous fantastic places around me. I often run into passers-by who have no idea of interesting spots in their neighborhoods, which makes me think I should take a really good look at London while I am still here. 

去了得立奇美術館被名畫薰陶一番之後，本想看看有個叫做水晶宮的地方，（回家查了之後才發現它並非我心裡想的，1851年於倫敦為世博會建造了一座鐵鑄和玻璃製成的水晶宮，位於海德公園，但現在水晶宮不過是個住宅區的名字。）還好太遠，天氣凍到不行，我走到一半就回頭，但沿路發現今日的第二個意外：得立奇中學。

Afterwards I spent part of the afternoon in the company of the famous paintings in Dulwich Picture Gallery. I meant to visit a place named Crystal Palace, but fortunately it is too far and the temperature was so low that I turned back halfway. (I looked up Crystal Palace after coming back. It was an iron-cast and plate-glass building constructed for the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. However, the name refers to a residential area in South London.) I thus discovered the second surprise of the day: Dulwich College. 

為什麼我會覺得這不是普通的中學呢？因為它的腹地很大，建築也很講究，和我家旁邊的公立學校排場完全不同。果然我好眼力，回家一查，得立奇中學創辦於1619年，是英國最大的私立中學男校，而且入學都要考試，現在在北京、上海、蘇州和首爾都有分校。

Why did it occur to me right away that it is no common college? Because it covers much land and the architecture of the school buildings are very classical, which are totally different from the public school near my place. After I looked it up, Dulwich College was founded in 1619. It is the largest independent (private) school for boys in the UK. Examinations are required to be admitted to the school. There are branch schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Seoul now. 

經過這一棟時，聽到孩子們嘻笑的聲音，我想應該是住宿生，能住在這麼美麗的房子裡很幸福，在冷天聽到他們青春的笑聲也很幸福，我不禁想到之前在西寶國小過夜的經驗。

When passing by this house, I heard children making happy noise. I guess it was the boarders. It's nice to live in such beautiful buildings, and it's even better to hear kids' laughter on a cold day. I couldn't help thinking of our trip to Si-bao Elementary School in Hualien two years ago. 

總是有那麼多時刻讓我覺得離家好近，因為有許多幾近重覆的經驗，台北倫敦，倫敦台北，之間的界線模糊了‧‧‧

There are so many moments when I feel home is actually close because my experiences in the two cities almost overlap. The boundary between Taipei and London, London and Taipei, blurs...