European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 7, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Travel tour 3 countries in 48 hours the easy Way Story and photo by John �. Smith staff writer touring three countries by bus in 48 hours is no easy oat but it can be done Wilh a 111 lie preparation .1 lot of patience and loads of Energy. I recently took enjoy Tours s79 weekend trip to Switzerland lit Rubienstein and Austria. Such overnight trips can be interesting informative and fun if you know what you re gelling into. The first Rule of thumb is to be prompt even though the buses usually Aren t. Tour guide usually do their Best to make sure everyone gels on the right bus but if you re late the buses will leave without you. On the Oiler hand Don t expect your bus i a be on Lime. For travellers on a bus Lour patience is More than a virtue it s a must. For the three country tour the bus was scheduled to pick us up from Darmstadt s dispensary parking lot at 10 , but in arrived Joboul a bait hour Lite. We arrived in Mannheim the Central starting place for several tour groups shortly after 11 ., but had to wait i Here for almost an hour for the three country tour bus to arrive when our bus finally came Nur Lour guide Sabine Krucker introduced herself checked off our names is we boarded the bus and assigned seats. Although bus hours Don t always have assigned seals Ktucker said in was necessary this trip to ensure that the several families on Board were Able to sit together. Assigned scats can cause one problem of bus Tours to Fiel even worse though. The quiet soul in search of relaxation has no Way to escape from the loud talkative people who inevitably seem to be on every tour. In my Case i was seated in front of two service members who came to be known on sky and the grumblings in our stomachs told us that Day had arrived. For such stomach rumblings it s always Wise to bring along some sandwiches and snacks. The. Buses do not Slop often and having food prevents any hunger pains from becoming unbearable. Soft drinks and Beer Are usually available on the buses for enjoy touts guide Sabine Krucker and Driver Ricky mute set out Lor another Lour. Around 75 cents or 1.50 Marks. Bringing food along also can help tourists Cut costs. Swit Erland Austria and Liechtenstein Are expensive especially in Tho tourist traps most Lour buses go in and picnic areas Are usually nearby. Our bus stopped at 7 . Saturday in Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein for breakfast. After the meal the group huddled at the Edge of the restaurant trying to escape the rain we were to face the entire Day. Only a few people had umbrellas i to rest of us got wet. To avoid the same mistake plan for weather changes by bringing an umbrella and Light jacket. Also prepare for temperature changes. Ono of the California boys wearing shorts and a Short sleeved shirt was comfortable until the temperature dropped overnight on the Way to Liechtenstein. By morning he was rubbing his legs to keep the circulation going ii does t get this cold in California he Kepi saying. For history and trivia buffs a bus tour is an excellent Opportunity to learn local folklore and proverbs. As our bus drove through the Countryside Krucker explained the legends surrounding the castles houses and mountainous areas we passed. And along with our Driver Ricky Mut in Krucker kept us entertained Wilh anecdotes and jokes. After we re boarded the bus after breakfast she looked around at the wet Heads and repeated an old German saying " when the Sun is shining the Angels Are travelling i think i must have a lot of devils on my  devils or no the rain continued and the fog became thick As we travelled up Inlo the mountains of Liechtenstein. As Mutic drove along the narrow winding mountainous roads the fog became so thick that he could scarcely see a car s length ahead. But Lour bus Drivers Are a determined lot and he continued to Speed along the winding roads causing our local Liechtenstein tour guide on her first Lour we later Learned to shriek in alarm every few minutes. By late morning saturday we. Were on our Way to Austria Wilh Lunes ranging from i Helwi iss and other songs from the Sutinis til music to the German drinking song tank. Trink Bride rain Trink filling the bus. We arrived in Fol Kirch Austria about Nonn and for 200 austrian schillings about $1.1poured and lunched in the 12lh-Century Castle Schattenburg. After lunch we checked into the hotel slept for a few hours in overcome our bus lag and Ihen discovered the nightlife of Fel Kirch. Most of the Lour group went to bars or discos or just strolled along the bubbles Lone streets. Make sure la ask your tour guide or hotel staff for tips to avoid wasting Lime they should know the City s entertain men options. We left for Sweln am Rhein Switzerland Early the next morning a quaint picturesque town on the Banks of the Rhine. Our next Slop was at Schaffhausen where we had lunch at the breathtaking Rhine Falls and then headed Back to Germany. After a few stops in the Black Forest we finished the drive Back to Mannheim Richer in knowledge but poorer in Marks dollars schillings and francs. One final lip because the tour goes through three countries visitors Are Likely to buy three limes As Many postcards and other regional souvenirs so plan your spending Money accordingly. The tour fliers list estimated expenditures so Check them carefully. We left Krucker and Mutic when we reached Mannheim about 10 . Sunday. Bolh had been almost constantly on the go for 48 hours making one wonder Why they continued their hectic schedules. Krucker explained. When my people Are Happy Al the end of the Lour i m Happy she said. I like this Job. Otherwise you cannot do  Overall the tour  an excellent one. Enabling us to Sample some of the culture and Roods of Switzerland Austria and Liechtenstein As Well As part of Germany in just two Days. It s not a party tour like one to Paris can be but for two Days of constantly viewing postcard like scenery the three country tour can t be beat. August 7, 1986 Tripet Magazine 17