European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The City Lour included a visit to a toy shop. Newcomer Lynn Davies was fascinated by the wooden toys. By Mary Neth staff writer Wiesbaden West Germany is a Champagne cily known Lor its elegance its Lovely old buildings its exclusive shops and lice shaded Parks it might seem that americans should be delighted to be stationed in the Lively spa City on the Rhine. But some members of the american military and their families spend whole hours in Wiesbaden and rarely stray from Little America there Are military wives who admit that except Lor trips to the commissary or Exchange they never leave their housing area apartments. They bemoan their loneliness and isolation and loll you that time spent overseas is Lime lost. They Are waiting Lor the Day when they can go Home Sybille Eckardt. The Wile of a Wiesbaden physician believes timidity is the Basic reason americans fail to enjoy new surrounding Eckard who is unabashedly pro american is a Volunteer at the local us. Her work earned her the title of Volunteer of the year in 1987, and she was named Volunteer of the month last december. Her Uso cooking classes have gained Quilo a following now she has cooked up something Quilo now _ special Wiesbaden hours Wiesbaden is the capital of the stale of Hesson in southwestern Germany it s on the Light Bank of the Rhine River at the Southern foot of the Taurus mountains West of Frankfurt am main and North of Mainz. It was known As a spa in roman limes and during the victorian period was particularly lamed Lor its 27 hot Saline Springs and mild climate. Famous Sites include the old town Hall 16tothe new town Hall 1887the Kaisor Friench Baths 1913. The greek Chapel 1855 and the Castle 1840 you wont however see those cily sights on Ono of Eckardt s free guided Tours. She confines them to a look at local stores. These Are not Power shopping trips along the Wilhelm Trasso. Noted for its exclusive ency shops. They Are practical Down to Earth excursions with tips on local transportation and on buying Small necessities clothing food and housewares in the City s big department stores and Small specially shops. The goal is to show newcomers How easy and enjoyable it can be to spend a morning browsing the local shops Eckard Hopes that following her downtown icebreaker the women will have the courage to Start going out on their own. Six women had met at the breezeway of the Amelia Earhart hotel for a recent morning s Lour. It was a Short walk to a nearby bus Stop. Germany is noted for its excellent Public transportation and the service in Wiesbaden is no exception. Eckardt showed the women How to read the bus schedule Purchase tickets irom the Street machine and then validate them in the puncher aboard the bus. A few blocks ride and the women were in the downtown pedestrian zone shopping District Connie charter whose husband Scott is an airman 1st class arrived in Germany two weeks ago. This was to be her first trip downtown Vonda Mccabe whose husband also is named Scott and also is an airman 1st class has been in Germany since december but still had qualms about local shopping. She hoped the morning would provide her saturday May 27, 1989 with some lips. This was also the goal of the other Lour women none of whom Are newcomers to the country. I come about every six months to visit my husband said Robernetta Bankstone. Rather than give up her Job As a computer Programmer in Paris calif., she and her husband. Dexter Kennedy a warrant officer Are conducting a Long distance marriage. Bankstone she goes by her Maiden name visits him. He visits her. Mary Braun whose husband is an army chief warrant officer 3, lived in Germany As a child and again in 1968. She arrived in Wiesbaden for this slay two weeks ago. Vanda Gatli and her daughter Lynn Davies also lived in Germany during the 60s. Davies Whoso husband. William is an army Captain went to school in Germany. My husband was also in ," explained Gatli we were stationed Here three times. The last time was from 1964 to 1966. Now Lynn is Back with her children before hitting the shops Eckhart gave the women a Pep talk. Many of Germany s shop owners and salespeople speak some English she told them when they Don to you will generally be Able to get by with gestures and a limited vocabulary. First Stop was a shop for infants and toddlers clothing. There was puzzlement Over the sizing tiny outfits sporting big sizing numbers on the labels but Ekhardt explained that children s clothing up to about american size 6, goes by the child s height in centimetres. An american size 3 is a German 98 a 4 is 104 a 5 is 110 and a 6 is 116. Clothing sizes Lor older children generally correspond to the age. Then in was on to several Small shops along the narrow streets of the old town a China por Zellan shop continued on Page 14 the stars and stripes Page 13