In early December I went for a conference for 3 days in a town called Bendigo about 160 km north of Melbourne. There wasn't much time outside the conference to do touristy things, but thankfully I managed to use the very limited time after the conference on the first day for a quick stroll in town.
12月初我去了墨爾本以北約160公里的市鎮（套用國內用語可算是維多利亞州二線城市）本迪戈Bendigo三天出席學術會議，來也匆匆，去也匆匆，會議以外觀光的時間不多，幸好酒店（沒入住主辦單位安排的酒店，到入住時才知道是汽車旅館）位處市中心，趁第一天開會後有空趕快逛一逛。It helps that the motel where I stayed was centrally located. I started my quick tour from the Queen Elizabeth Oval directly opposite to my motel. The large block letters on the gate felt somewhat poignant in the year of the Queen's death.
旅館對面正好是伊利莎伯女皇運動場，適逢今年女皇駕崩，見到閘門上的大字，不免令人有點懷緬之意。
The oval was next to the arts precinct of Bendigo, and since the venues were already closed in the evening, I was left to view the architecture of and artwork near those buildings.
球場毗鄰市內的藝術區，由於已是黃昏休館時間，所以只可望望各館的建築和附近的藝術裝置。
Behind the arts precinct was an large expanse of greenery called Rosalind Park. With the many tall trees, a pleasant temperature of 23 degrees and tranquil ambience thanks to the lack of visitors, it made for a comfortable and relaxing evening walk.
藝術區後面是「市肺」Rosalind Park，裡面高樹處處，綠油油的，而且遊人稀少，在氣温23度下閒遊挺舒服和優悠。
The Poppet Head Lookout viewing tower was erected at the highest point in Rosalind Park and allowed an unobstructed panoramic view of the whole of Bendigo town centre.
公園最高點建了個「觀光塔」，爬到頂部可一覽無遺盡收本迪戈市區風景。
Some places in Bendigo bear some resemblance to Europe. One such spot is the southern edge of Bendigo where the Bendigo Military Museum and Bendigo Visitor Centre are located. The classical architecture and the square in front of the military museum are reminiscent of public squares in the old town parts of many European cities.
本迪戈有數處地方，景色跟歐洲有幾分相似。首先是公園南沿的軍事博物館和遊客中心，建築帶有古典氣息，再加上博物館前的空地，有點像歐洲的舊城區廣場。
Not far from that area is the Alexandra fountain. With some older style buildings in the background from certain perspectives, I almost thought that I had temporarily travelled to Madrid where there were plenty of fountains in the middle of the streets scattered across the city!
離上址不遠有個位於街中心的Alexandra噴水池，剛好有個角度的背景是比較古老的房子，令我想起西班牙馬德里散佈市內的古典噴水池。
The town hall also boasts of classical architecture, and I had the fortune of enjoying a breakfast against this backdrop on my second day in Bendigo. The café did make good coffee and breakfast!
市政廳的建築也有古典味，我在本迪戈的第二天，早上坐在對面的咖啡店的室外吃早餐，望着市政廳，又有點去了歐洲的感覺。（這家店的咖啡和早餐還不錯。）
That breakfast and the one on the following day gave me the impression that men in Bendigo must have plenty of time at hand as I happened to be dining with tables with large numbers of men who were also rather talkative. I envy their leisure and attitude to life!
連續兩天在外面叫早餐，給我最大的感覺是，本迪戈的男人應該很是空閒，剛巧兩天都遇到坐滿一桌的男人不停地聊天，俗語說三個女人一個墟，到了本迪戈要改成男人呢！
My second breakfast in Bendigo was so good that I decided to buy some olive bread rolls back to Melbourne for my wife to try. I certainly didn't expect to bring any 'souvenirs' back home from this conference trip! I also liked the 'flying saucer' look of this bakery.
我在本迪戈第三天早上光顧的麵包店，不只外形像飛碟夠獨特，而且麵包水準好得我餐後都買了幾個橄欖麵包帶回墨爾本與太太分享，想不到此行會買到「手信」回家。
This trip to Bendigo is clearly too short and rushed, and I certainly hope to revisit this place for a holiday!
這次去本迪戈太匆忙了，希望將來有機會抱着更輕鬆的心情再好好遊一次。
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