Delft / 台夫特

這次來荷蘭沒有太多目標，但我一定要去台夫特，因為之前讀了「戴珍珠耳環的女孩」，這是畫家維梅爾的故鄉，我很想來看看他生活的地方。

I don't have many ambitions on the trip to Holland, but I insist on going to Delft. We read the novel Girl with a Pearl Earring before, and Delft is the place where the story takes place. I want very much to take a look at his hometown. 

腳踏車的數量很驚人，應該有很多人最後是找不到自己的腳踏車。

Isn't that an amazing sight of the sea of bikes? I bet many people lose tracks of their bikes in the end. 

台夫特位於荷蘭南部，也是以運河出名，和阿姆斯特丹比起來，這裡的運河比較迷你。

Delft is in South Holland, also known for canals. Compared with those in Amsterdam, the canals here are smaller in size. 

建於十四世紀末到十五世紀末的新教堂，葬有荷蘭王室。

New Church built from the end of the 14th century to the 15 century. Inside is the burial vault of the Dutch royal family. 

我進去試吃青醬口味的起司，有一點點鹹。

I go in to sample the pesto flavor of cheese, which is sort of salty. 

台夫特也以青色陶瓷聞名，其實是受到十七世紀從中國進口的陶瓷影響。

Delft is also known for its blue ceramic products. In fact, they are styled upon the porcelains imported from China in the 17th century. 

我和老闆聊起天來，他一聽我是台灣人，問我台灣是不是到處都可以在海邊游泳，我答：是可以啦，但很危險。他問：有鯊魚嗎？我答：沒有啦，不過泳技不好不是很危險嗎？他不解地說：這裡每個人游泳都像魚一樣！

I start a chat with the shop owner. Upon hearing that I come from Taiwan, he asks me if we can swim everywhere in the sea. I reply, "Well, you can, but it's dangerous." He then goes on to ask, "Are there sharks?" I answer, "No, but if you are not very good at swimming, isn't it dangerous?" Not understanding my concern, he says, "Here everyone swims like fish!" 

東門的春天景致。

The wonderful scenery of the Eastern Gate. 

要離開台夫特之前才找到維梅爾的住家和工作室！

We do not find Vermeer's residence and studio right before we leave Delft. 

就是為了這張圖而來的，不過維梅爾美術館都是複製圖。

This is why I travel all the way from Amsterdam. However, the paintings in the Vermeer Museum are all digital prints. 

台夫特畫派著重居家景象和人們的日常生活，維梅爾很喜歡女人讀信的畫面，還有畫中角色和觀者眼神的接觸。

The Delft school is famous for domestic images and people's daily lives. Vermeer has a lot of paintings in which women read letters. He also paints characters whose eyes stare into those of the viewer. 

這是維梅爾的畫室，也就是戴珍珠耳環的少女小說裡，葛麗特和維梅爾工作的地方。

This is Vermeer's studio, where the girl with a pearl earring Griet work together with Vermeer in the novel. 

台夫特是很寧靜的城市，雖然阿姆斯特丹很美，但旅客多到走在路上很難不撞到人。

Unlike Amsterdam, Delft is a very serene place. Though the former is very beautiful, there are so many tourists that it's almost impossible not to bump into people when walking on the roads. 

我們也曬曬太陽，來頓悠閒的午餐。

We also have a very leisurely lunch like the locals under the sun. 

午後在街上閒晃，遇見了來幼稚園接孩子們的爸爸媽媽，小朋友們也有自己的腳踏車喔！

We stroll in the afternoon, running into parents that pick up their kids in front of the kindergarten. Children have their own bikes as well. 

這種卡車特別好用，我們還看到裡面載六到八個孩童的幼稚園園車！

This kind of cart is especially useful. We even spot a young man drop off kids with his cart, which can accommodate at least 6 kids! 

大家乖乖等橋合起來！

Everyone waits for the drawbridge to close. 

練習划船的小帥哥們。

Cute boys practice rowing the boat...