Friday 24 August 2018

Round the world - via Varen


Walking at the river in Varen this morning we spotted a remarkable looking vehicle. It was a 1928 Paige Graham and belongs to the Zapp family from Argentina - actually the parents Candelaria and Herman are from Argentina, their four children were born in various countries during their round the world trip.
Having left home the first time 18 years ago to drive up to Alaska, they decided that their dream was to see the world and with the trusty Graham (and wonderfully generous help from people they met en route) they have been following that dream ever since. Drives around Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal, Africa have followed that original "Tres Americas" journey.
Financing themselves with a book, now in its 11th edition (English edition available) and selling pictures and art work along the way the family is now on its final stage - Europe. How did they end up in Varen? A local sometime resident Xavier Besnard saw their story and invited them to stay with him here - one of over 2500 people who have made the same offer in various parts of the world. After visiting southern Europe and north Africa they intend to head up to the Netherlands where they have arranged a passage to South America of a sailing cargo ship - the most ecological way of crossing the Atlantic.
A visit to their blog at www.sparkyourdream .net provides a wealth of photographs, biography and philosophy as well as a chance to buy their book or crowd fund the Atlantic crossing.
We fear Varen will not be the highlight of their trip, but it was fascinating to meet them and find out about their adventures.
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