15 years of life on the open road –in a car from 1928
Yorkshire stop for family travelling in vintage style
THE IDEA of starting a whole new life in which every day is an adventure is more than just a pipe dream for one couple.
Fifteen years since leaving their home in Argentina, and having visited every continent in the world in a car that is now 89 years old, Candelaria and Herman Zapp’s incredible journey has brought them to Yorkshire for the first time.
They departed their homeland as a young married couple, gave up their jobs and their house, and despite plenty of advice not to go through with their plans, the pair have seen the world – from Egypt’s pyramids and the Amazon rainforest to Mount Everest and a tour of Australia – and they have had four children along the way, all born in different countries.
Their epic mission to fulfil what is a shared lifelong dream has brought them to York, where they are staying with fellow Argentinian Florencia Clifford, owner of the Partisan cafe in Micklegate.
Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, Mrs Zapp, 47, said: “We really like York. We like this kind of town.”
Mrs Zapp first met her husband, who is now 49, when she was eight years old, and he 10.
Both shared a life-long yearning to travel and they started dating at 14, before marrying nine years later. After putting on hold their wanderlust for six more years they recognised that they were using their jobs, their lack of money and the house they were building as excuses, out of fear of leaving everything behind.
“People said we were crazy but we felt there was something very big missing,” she said.
“Our plan was to travel from Argentina to Alaska but we didn’t manage to come back.
“After six months we had only made it as far as Ecuador. We didn’t realise that people would be so nice and we started staying at people’s homes.
“I started painting with watercolours and learned framing, and started selling my pictures. Then, in Columbia, we started writing our book.”
Book sales took off and, coupled with the generosity of strangers, they have managed the cost of continuing their adventure.
“We have spent more than 2,000 nights in family homes. We have learned about different cultures, food, music, about what people do for a living – it is the best part of the journey.”
Life on the road is not always easy, but Mrs Zapp said the challenges make them stronger.
Bar a stop in Morocco and Brazil, Europe is the last leg of a journey that has taken them to around 100 countries, across South and North America, Asia, Australia and Africa.
“In one year from now we will be back in Argentina,” Mrs Zapp said.
“The next adventure will be how to live in one place.”
To sustain their quest, the couple have published a book about their first four years on the road, called Spark Your Dream, and they will be outside the Partisan with their 1928 Graham Paige automobile to meet people between 1pm and 5pm today. Copies of their book will be available to buy.
The Zapps have arrived in England from Spain and are heading north to Scotland.
Read the extended article online at www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
People said we were crazy but there was something very big missing. Candelaria Zapp, on the decision to leave Argentina 15 years ago.