European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Shopping witha difference top the Interior of the British store in West Berlin. Lower photo the Entrance to the French shopping Center. By Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer you re a demanding shopper and your time in Berlin is limited As is your travel budget. The elegant shops on Berlin s Kurfurst Tendam Are exciting and trendy but overwhelm with their sheer number and expense. The City s charming second hand stores Are too far Flung to do them right. How does one compress a lot of International shopping into one afternoon and still be Able to pay the hotel Bill by shopping at the British and French military exchanges in Berlin of course. Reserve mornings or late afternoons Early evenings for shopping weekdays at l econ mat a French combination of the base Exchange and commissary plus a bit of the Kud amm. Take French francs or German Marks to spend there. If you re staying in the american sector plan to spend at least 30 minutes in route in a taxi to l econ mat located on Avenue Charles de Gaulle in the cite Foch a French housing area off of Hermsdorfer Strasse in the Wittenau District. The fabled French penchant for living Well is evident in goods stocked at stores in the l econ mat mall. Take for instance the commissary where the sheer variety and jewel like ripeness of colourful fresh produce could make a Strong Man weak at the Knees. If the produce in t enough to empty one s Wallet the Frozen food Section stocked with seafood pizza Escargot and Coquille St. Jacques might. Then there s the Fine Oriental food Section with salads styled a la Thailand Vietnam and Bali. And la Croissa Terie where shoppers pick up their evening bread or Baguette and fresh croissants and tastes. Naturally one will need to pick up something to spread on the bread Why not a Jar of crab Anchovy or lobster butter just around the Corner for Good buys on French designer perfumes from Yves St. Laurent and Christian dior among others wander into the perfumery a few doors Down. The latest Issue of Paris match French Vogue and Paris daily newspapers Are stocked in the newsstand along with recorded music by favorite French performers such As Johnny Hall Day and Yves Duteil. Shoppers intending to spend Beaucoup Bucks should t pass up the Chic furniture store Selling tasteful household goods for All occasions including leather items and Oriental cabinets. Spend the Early part of the afternoon at the British Exchange known As the Nasafi across from Theodor Heuss Platz near the Funk urm. On weekdays the Nasafi Exchange is open until 5 . Take Marks orb major credit card. Shop the Nasafi for a wide assortment of British made goods including China Candy recordings and Reading materials including newspapers such As the prestigious London times and the daily Mirror plus almost every Book Ever written by mystery goddess Agatha Christie spy master Len Deighton and Clive Barker Britain s answer to Stephen King. One particularly Happy find at the Nasafi for this traveler was a wide selection of English made overnight kits Complete with natural shampoos conditioners Bath oils toothpastes and body scrubs designed to pamper and spoil after a rough Day of sightseeing or on the Job pavement pounding. Contemporary music fans will appreciate the wide selection of cassettes albums singles and compact discs including the latest hits from Britain. Bric a Brac collectors May spend hours examining Royal Doulton figurines and David Winter cottages. Even if there s no room to store food items at your hotel a run through the Small commissary next door might net you a Small incredible edible to eat on the run or to take Home As a special treat. The brits infamous Steak and kidney pie one either loves it or hates it can be picked up there As can the equally famed meat pasties pronounced pahs tees. Various chutneys a colleague swears by the Branston s Pickle variety and marmalade also line the shelves. Liquor is sold at very reasonable prices in the British commissary. A popular Brand of peach schnapps for instance Sells for roughly 65 cents less at the current Exchange rate than in . Facilities. When shopping hours Are Over try a Little International entertainment by taking in a movie at Nasafi s Jerba Cinema or the movie theater at l econ mat. Both Heaters show . And British made movies although films generally Are dubbed into French for showing at the French theater. For information on store hours Call l econ mat at 030-4181346 or the Nasafi at 030-3095460. 10 tripe Magazine july 7, 1988