A TripEvery year New Zealanders living in London can be seen loading up Kombi vans and hea

A Trip

Every year New Zealanders living in London can be seen loading up Kombi vans and heading off to experience the “classic European holiday”. The trip usually starts in the north of France, after crossing the channel from Dover in England to Calais, driving down through France, over the Pyrenees into Spain, west into Portugal and then across the Continent to Italy and often beyond.

There are numerous reasons young New Zealanders take this rite of passage—as well as seeing all the fantastic sights and tasting the delights of Europe’s food and wine, it’s relatively inexpensive. The Kombi is transport and accommodation all in one, cutting down significantly on costs.

There is just one problem. As the Kombis become “antique”, these trips are usually punctuated with numerous roadside sessions as the van sits idle, in no hurry to start, while you swelter in the hot sun. But do not let this deter you. Travelling Europe in your own vehicle means no public transport schedules to cramp your style, the ability to explore the quaint, off-the-beaten-track villages where the “real” locals live, freedom to not have to book accommodation in advance—you can nearly always get a campsite and can load your vehicle with cheap, fantastic regional wines and souvenirs. With these bonuses in mind, here are some suggestions for planning the great Europe road adventure. The key to a pleasurable driving experience is a good navigator and a driver with a cool head. If you do not feel relaxed driving around New Zealand’s cities and highways, then you probably will not enjoy driving around Europe. As Co-pilot to the driver, you need to read (and understand) maps, look out for turn offs—and keep the music playing. Language is not a big problem once a few essential terms are mastered. The biggest challenge is in the cities, where traffic can be chaotic and elaborate one-way systems and narrow, cobbled alleyways can make finding your destination hard work. It can be easier to leave the vehicle on the outskirts of town or in a camping ground and use public transport. This also avoids paying for costly parking.

According to the passage, the trip usually starts in______.

A．France

B．England

C．Spain

D．Italy