European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 5, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Europe is still a bargain the americans Are Here Story and photos by Linda White travel editor this is the year of the great american trip to Paris is London is Sutof therway villages Are netting the spill the Dollar is dropping in the Middle of it but few tourists seem to have Europe is still a a Quick Survey in Central Germany turned up a mix of backpacking students and tour plus a Large number of Kinfolk visiting military personnel based Heidelberg Castle always a big draw re sounded with the voices of resolutely pressing trying to Herd their groups which tended to straggle at the the american groups made a Quick run through the wine cellar to take a look at the giant wine barrel the French and iraqis Lin gered to Sample its better without the confided Philip Rob left and Julie Hagens get advice about trains from Rudie Van a member of the american youth symphonic band 1985 he was on his third trip to i like but i fell in love with he another member of the Anne Marie Bur was in Europe for the first we were told to allow per Day for but i think we have never spent More than she we tour in the morning and shop in the Payne said he was buying Tennis a bargain in a group of four texans browsing in a souvenir shop seemed surprised when asked if the falling Dollar was affecting their we haunt said the Frankfurt International Airport is a main Gateway american tour groups crowd the courtyard at Heidelberg for american and Robert Lewis and and Freddie Johnson of were at the ticket ready to head Home after almost three weeks in they were enthusiastic about their a visit to the Johnsons Cheryl whose husband is stationed at she arranged we had a full itinerary every said they toured in Ger Belgium and the Netherlands and had nothing but Praise for their tour the most interesting was the most exciting was said Freddie a history and the most informational was How the dutch have reclaimed their Johnson voted for Amsterdam As the most adding that the food was delicious and the people always in going Home and pull out my social studies Book and find out what i should have Learned in High said Lewis who preferred Windsor Castle it was they were All impressed by the fact that Europe is Safe people were walking in the Forest you dont have to be afraid and All agreed they would like to this was my first said Freddie i would like to learn More of the language and come across town at the railway Rob and Julie Hagens had just arrived from he is a teacher and she a College student from they were backpacking for two weeks with a Ive been to Paris and i want to see it she i also want to see the castles on the they agreed that the Dollar decline would have Little effect on their Well still do what we planned to theres not much we can do about the Exchange they said they save Money by sleeping on the european tourist offices and travel agents had been gearing up for the americans since word of the Strong Dollar began to spread last hotels were booked extra transatlantic flights were very travellers were advised to plan shoulder season trips France and Italy Are the most popular spots in that but record numbers of americans Are fanning out to Yugoslavia and Hungary where prices Are even lower than in the hard currency August 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13