13,000-Mile Tour By Schoolteacher Couple

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 12

13,000-Mile Tour By Schoolteacher Couple

yyiTH their car bearing I smudges of red oxide paint which marks the evidence of a crash in Greece, Mr and Mrs Brian Smart returned to Christchurch this week at the end of a 13,000-mile car tour which took them through 27 countries. Both are schoolteachers, and left New Zealand just over two years ago. After teaching in England fqr a year, Mr Smart decided to make the return trip to New Zealand a practical lesson in geography—a subject in which he

specialises. In Dublin, the couple purchased a second-hand Volkswagen in January of last year, and began on travels which were to take them into practically every country in Europe with free movement for tourists. First Tour The first tour the couple undertook was through France, Spain, and Portugal. Mr Smart recalls how the horn on the car was damaged, and great difficulties were experienced in trying to shift meandering Spaniards from

the path of the car. They returned to London and another tour was planned through northern Europe. Mr and Mrs Smart covered 7000 miles on this leg, seeing Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Back in London once more, Mr and Mrs Smart cast their attentions back to New Zealand, and made the decision to attempt an overland trip from France to Colombo. Setting out three months ago. the couple drove through Italy and Jugoslavia to Greece.

was m Greece that the car hit an unlighted trench dug in i the road, and although the vehicle turned over on to its side, neither Mr and Mrs Smart, nor two Australian passengers were hurt. At present a court case .for damages is proceeding in Greece against the contractors, said Mr Smart this week. Mrs Smart admits she ' was frightened when the car started a riot in Teheran. They arrived in the city bn a Friday which was a Moslem holiday. The sight of the car proved too much for the inquisitive inhabitants. Mrs Smart was left to guard the car, since in that country, windscreen wipers, door handles, and any detachable object quickly disappears. {lnterested Crowd A crowd quickly gathered around the car, and Mrs Smart was the focus of a thousand eyes as a long queue was formed and Moslems shuffled past the car. The crowd became so thick that the police took a hand, and leather belts were wielded as they tried to get the traffic moving. A riot which broke out at a cinema close by when the full house sign went up added to the confusion. Mr and Mrs Smart found the overland route quite well patronised by tourists. Several Englishmen had converted an old Smithfield meat waggon and had reached India safely, and about six other parties reached Colombo before them. “The washboard roads through Persia are -terribly punishing, and speeds are reduced to about 20 miles an hour,” said Mb Smart. Only in Turkey was the greeting not friendly. Even young children picked up stones to throw at the bar, but Mr Smart assumes that their objections were against “the monied few who can afford cars” rather than against the nationality of the tourists. Mr and Mrs Smart have assessed that the trip back to New Zealand cost them about £250 each, but this had meant “roughing it” on much, of the journey.