A Non-English-Speaking Couple's European Trip

A couple of retirees in Shanghai who don't speak English or know anything about Europe have paid a visit to five countries on the continent for nearly three months.

What's more, they only spent about 50,000 yuan, or just over 6,600 US dollars, in total. Recently, they published a book about the trip, dedicating it to all parents and their children.

Our Shanghai correspondent Chen Simeng has the details.

REPORTER: Sixty-five-year-old Yang Jun was a designer before he retired. His younger wife, Zhang Ying, also appreciates the arts. In October of 2003, they decided to visit five countries in Europe: Italy, France, Monaco, Spain and Portugal, to enjoy the region's fine arts.

"We were just your average tourists, retirees and parents who love traveling. What we have always loved and wanted to pursue is out there waiting for us. Why not go experience it on our own?"

For the trip's success, they prepared for a total of six months in advance, engaging in physical exercise and learning how to use a computer.

They collected detailed information on the countries they wanted to visit and made a thick notebook, including the transportation information and telephone numbers of all the Chinese embassies and consulates in the area.

The biggest challenge for them was language. They worked out a way to get by, writing down some survival phrases used in the five countries and the names of tourism attractions and railway stations in Chinese pronunciation.

How did they make it when they had to communicate with locals?

"We used body language. We showed them the places we wanted to go on a map."

"One day in a Turkish restaurant, we wanted to order a kind of burger. We couldn't speak their language when asked what to choose from the menu. So I took a small piece of paper on their table and drew a chicken and a head of cattle. The problem was settled at once."

Over the 83-day trip, the couple only spent 50,000 yuan. They booked a one-euro air ticket from Barcelona to Paris and a Eurail pass for two people online before they left China. In addition, they carried an electric thermos flask with them to have tea ready whenever they wanted and chose to stay at hostels whenever possible.

Yang Jun and Zhang Ying returned to Shanghai in July 2004 and began to write their travel experiences on their blog. The book of these essays was published early this year. The happy couple say they want to encourage people, both young and old, to pursue their dreams.

At present, the couple of travel-lovers are planning their second trip to Europe.

For China Drive, I'm Chen Simeng