il Giardino Romantico

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Village 曾是歐洲最大規模的outlet中心。目前也仍是英國最大規模的outlet中心。聚集了共145間商店，從運動知名品牌至昂貴的服裝、飾品、影音系統等全部都在這兒便宜出售。若是要以最划算的價格買回品質優良的商品，outlet絕對是最好的選擇。

This is Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Village.  Once being the largest outlet centre in Europe, it remains today as the largest outlet centre in the UK.  With a total of up to 145 stores, you can find here merchandise of all kinds, from sports wear to items with luxurious brand names.  From clothing to accessories, and even stereo systems, this is the best place to buy quality items at a bargaining price. 

這張圖片足以代表第一次到切斯特的印象。一個充滿古老文化風情的小鎮。雖然我又去了一次，但因為陪伴的人不同，即使去同一個地方也會有不同的收穫。何況，這一次看到的切斯特，跟上一次看到的切斯特，相信若是我不說，沒有人會相信是同一個切斯特。

不過在我開始寫不一樣的切斯特遊記之前，首先要澄清一下，上一次在【切斯特】城門沒有雞蛋糕只有甜甜圈一文中所張貼的照片誤導大家對於甜甜圈大小的誤會。

別跟部落格名稱搞混囉。這個是『羅馬花園』，而非『浪漫花園』。
Roman Garden 跟 Romantic Garden可是差很多的呢。

這不是一塊荒廢的空地。這是考古學家只挖出一半的羅馬露天劇場。歷史可以追溯到第一世紀。原本是拿來當作是軍隊訓練營。但後來也拿來鬥雞、鬥牛、及其他競技運動[當然包含大家所熟悉的角鬥]的場所。圖片右上方所見到的教堂即是『聖約翰聖洗者教堂』。

切斯特大教堂旁的雪花[Snowdrops]

我想愛上旅行的人都知道，往往在旅途中我們都會發現一些小小的意外驚喜。而這些小驚喜，才是旅途中最令人難忘的回憶。雖然切斯特遊記寫了這麼久，但在我腦海中依然清晰。當然也就是拜這些意料之外的小驚喜所賜。

切斯特最大的特色在於他的城牆。雖然壯觀度不比萬里長城，但對一個小鎮來說，已經算是很有看頭了。繞著城牆走一圈就可以將整個切斯特都看透透。城牆的歷史可以追溯到120A.D.，且是英國保存最完整的城牆。來到切斯特，如果剛好天氣還不錯，強力推薦繞著城牆走一圈，看看與大城市不同的英倫小鎮風貌，以及具有歷史性的觀光景點。

Although it is no Great Wall of China, Chester City Walls are spectacular in their own way.  For a small town like Chester, walking around the city walls is a great way to catch a glimpse of the most unique sights around the city.  The history of its oldest sections dates back to 120A.D., and it is the most complete walls preserved in the whole of the United Kingdom.  One's excursion to Chester cannot be complete without a walk around it, unless, of course, the weather is unfavourable.

切斯特在羅馬時期曾是羅馬軍隊的大本營。至今還能看到許多羅馬時期留下來的痕跡。切斯特大教堂在早期是以羅馬會堂開始成立的。當時是為了貢獻給聖保羅與聖彼得。在1093改建為聖本篤修會修道院。一直到亨利八世成立英國國教之後，此教堂才成立為英國國教教堂。教堂本身的建築物摻雜了諾曼式以及歌德式設計風。入教堂內部參觀的票價一共要£4。

Reminents of Roman influence is still ubiquitous in the city of Chester.  The cathedral started out as a Roman basilica, allegedly dedicated to St. Paul and St. Peter.  In 1093, a Benedictine monastery was built on the site.  During the reign of Henry VIII, it finally became a cathedral of the Church of England.  The building is a mixture of Norman and Gothic architecture.  Admission to see inside the cathedral costs £4. 

人算真的不如天算。那天在切斯特繞著城牆走，好巧不巧看到賽馬場。原本發文順序是想要在貼完城牆後再貼賽馬場，但最後會選在今天貼出，其實是因為發文的同時，我真的在賽馬場看賽馬！

This article was meant to be posted after I've shared Chester City Walls.  However, the timing works out well, since as I publish this article, I am actually at the race course, watching a horse race!

來到切斯特之前其實除了城牆跟另外一座大教堂，其餘的我們一點都沒有計畫。隨處走走的感覺真是不錯。話說，十四年沒見的朋友，還能這麼有默契。看見這座教堂，異口同聲的說想進去看看。其實外表看起來好像跟許多教堂大同小異。但每座教堂都要仔細觀察，才能發現其中的大不同。

We had very little plans for our time in Chester.  Basically, all we had planned to see was the Cathedral and the City Walls.  It was nice to stroll around a new city without a plan sometimes.  It was even nicer to have a long lost friend by your side.  It was amazing how much we still have in common, even after all these years.  We walked by the church, and decided to take a look inside almost simultaneously!  If you look at the church from the outside, each one looks pretty similar to one another.  Well, at least, some them may not look special from the outside, but it is usually the interior that is the most breathtaking!

記得剛來的那幾週，跟剛從切斯特大學畢業的同學聊到切斯特時她就提到有個『鐘』。當時聽的霧煞煞。她說得再多、再寫實、再仔細，沒看過就是少了那個感覺。她說，喜歡切斯特的原因是因為所有的人都會聚集在這個東門中下。就像是切斯特的心臟一樣，而這裡的人就像切斯特流著的血液。無論走到哪，最後還是會回到東門來。

Speaking of Chester, I recall one of the first conversations I had with a Chester graduate, who is now my course mate, about the city.  I had little clue, then, to what she was talking about.  No matter how precise her description was, there's always a piece missing from the puzzle when you don't get to see it with your own eyes.  She said to me, that one of the many reasons she loves Chester so much was because there's this clock tower in the center that brings people right back to it, no matter where they go.  I think, the clock is like the heart of the city, and the people are like blood, i.e. no matter where it flows off to, it always returns to the heart.

Chester是個什麼樣的地方？我來英國前沒聽說過這地方。但同學中竟然有三位在此混過大學三年。除了他們之外，每個去過的人也都說讚！不過因為我不了解，所以之前想去的慾望就大打折扣。這次其實是託了一位14年沒見面的法籍友人的福，才又得到了這難得的出遊機會。

What kind of a place is Chester?  I've never heard of the place prior to my arrival in the UK.  Interestingly enough, there are three mates in my MA who were Chester fellows.  On top of that, every single person who had been there had had only good things to say about the place.  Because I didn't 'know', it lessened my desire to visit before.  However, when a friend you had not seen in 14 years comes to visit you, you're bound to pick up surprises wherever you go!