Meeting Gladis

by Benjamin Caraveo (Mexico)

A leap into the unknown New Zealand

It was a chilly fall dawn when I landed into Auckland International Airport; that was my first time in New Zealand, and in the continent. The flight was long flight from LAX, a little over 13 hours, but luckily I had enough quality sleep time, so I was quite ready to wander as soon as I have my backpack in hands. It was not only the first time I visited this side of the world; I would also be my initiation in campervan traveling, therefore driving a big van and navigating the right side of the road, so my feelings at that moment could be best described as frighteningly exiting. I had read that road tripping was the best way to visit the North Island, but I was truly amazed when I reached the Britz campervans facilities and I found out how well structured everything was there, it cannot even be compared to a car rental process in Switzerland (where I believe I had the most outstanding experience ever). In the most New Zealandic efficient and kind way I was quickly taken through the whole process and my van was delivered to me by Mia, the first Maori girl I met. She gave me the key of the white Mercedes Benz Sprinter, which would be named Gladis. A Diesel 7 meters long monster that would be my traveling companions for the following weeks. Mia told me everything about how to travel adequately in the kiwi roads, and she also suggested me to download CamperMate, an app that guides amateurs and expert equally through the road. I was surprised when I opened the app and found out how well the infrastructure for camping was built all around the country. I had had one surprise after another since I left the plane, definitely all the good things I heard from this place before arriving were falling short. Having all set and with my expectations rising quickly, it was time to hit the road. At first I was terrified with the adaptation process of driving such an enormous vehicle in the opposite side of the road where I usually drive back home, but it took me about fifty miles to feel like a fish in the water. Gladis had an 85-liter fridge, so the first place we headed was a supermarket, so we could stuff all that space with what we will later label as unnecessary instant microwaveable meals, due to the discovery of a fully functioning gas stove on the rear backside of Gladis, perfect for exterior cooking. After the grocery shopping I pulled over and opened a beer (strangely in New Zealand it is permitted to drink and drive, as long as the maximum alcohol in the blood levels are not reached). I grabbed my travel guide where I had already made some notes to see where should I be heading next. I knew that the jet lag was around the corner, so I decided to drive to a nearby town from where I could official start the trip the next day after a long night sleep in my full-size bed. I reached a camping site out of town after trying without success to park in the designated spots in the village, I found this spot with the app, thanks again Mia. It was then time to start cooking dinner, I made Patata Tortilla, a Spanish dish I learned to prepare last summer, and ate dinner with a much needed and deserved cup of red wine. It was a long day, and a long trip from home, because I never consider the plane naps as the end of a day so I was mentally ending a 30 something hour day. There I was, watching the Milky Way in the starriest night of my life, I thought there wouldn’t be a way in which that scene could be more amazing, until I sat there quietly and started to hear the noise of a waterfall far away. I was astonished and almost certain that there wouldn’t be a moment that could overmatch that one in the rest of the trip, but I was so wrong. That voyage was only beginning.