European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Travel Europe space a a continued from Page 57t it. Extension Cephas tells me. Quot i should have had them put me on Mel or something. I Don t think i m going to pet out of Here on just regular leave not with the backlog they have . I also run into Fisher and from a trip that included a bullfight in Seville Day trips to Cadiz Santa Maria and Chi Piona and a stay in a luxury hotel in. Downtown Rota. Our flight eventually lifts off. The Fisher Dickerson duo take the last two seats on the flight that would eventually land them Back Home at Rhem main. Cephas is left behind. When the plane touches Down it is on Sicily Lush warm and sweetly scented from acres of Orange Trees. Mount Etna rises above a closely populated Island whose beaches at Taormina Are a popular Haven for Sun starved North europeans. The Hilltop City about an hour s ride from Simonella has a Well preserved Creek theater with a Superb View. Bright Blue Ocean meets yellow Beach under rolling Green Hills and beyond them craggy mountains. As i sit in the Sunshine eating smoked swordfish Clam soup and other local specialities i cannot help but smile at mount Etna rises out of the morning Mist above Taormina Sicily. The fact that it Cost me less to Fly Here than i m spending on this lunch. My tour of Southern Europe ends on the following sunday with a Daylong journey by air that begins with a Roomy Navy c-9 out of Simonella. There Are More than 15 empty seats on this civilian mail Carrier destined for Adana Turkey. When we land at Busy in Ciurlik a we find out that the authorities Are not letting anyone off base who does not have orders for leaves me and my fellow space a travellers stuck for a Long afternoon at the terminal highlighted by the Arsenio Hall show. a a /�v7 a for the traveler with a Devil May care attitude who is Able to Overlook the inconveniences that come with the Mac system flying space a adds up to one thing great savings. Money in your pocket that can be spent on a ticket to see a bullfight in Seville or a Renca car to explore the sicilian seacoast. Not All Mac flights Are bad and not All Waits Are forever. Some pilots Are Happy to let you spend a few minutes gazing at the a scenery below from the cockpit and the luxurious c-9 medevac planes have More leg room and seat space than their civilian counterparts. A a a a a a a a. A a a most planes usually have a pot of fresh. Coffee and a Jug of juice on Board. Box lunches Are available and for the Price a $2 50 a can t be beat. For an airline whose main Job is to carry cargo Mac does pretty Well. All of these observations Are made easily Back in the office where the. Memory of the five hour wait in the in Ciurlik a terminal is slowly fading. The. Recollection of the furious dash made by foot bus and thumbed ride in Rota to make the 7 40 . Showtime for a flight a Only to be told upon arriving that the Showtime had been moved to noon a now causes a slight smile although at the time it was a struggle to stay courteous and the time in Iraklion when i sat on the a Tarmac in a medevac plane for More than one hour watching the smokers climb the Walls with nicotine craving is becoming. Only a humorous footnote to a trip that was the Best and cheapest experience of two years of european travel mag tips for the Reader who is at this moment a delay aircraft problem or act of cod your space a Wanna be the Best advice is this flight will still Only Cost a ten spot accept the unexpected wait a sign up immediately after you get of some More and remember that no one the plane. Forced you to take this cheap flight. While you Are in the restroom or getting for those who Are contemplating a trip a hamburger at the terminal snack bar using Mac plan to be very flexible. Here your be Lovy passengers May. Be snatching ire few Mort tips., . Pho into Quot. Stay in a certain area for Only a few Days a make sure your leave orders should go directly to the sign up the countries you want to go to As Well As. Counter upon arrival and request your those you May not want to stay in but May next flight whether it is to another. Have to divert to. Destination or Back Home. For longer stays. You Are. Allowed to sign up for five. Start inquiring about flights at Leas three destinations at the terminal but your leave Days prior to your desired departure Date. Form can reflect an almost unlimited. Keep in mind that you Are retained for 30 amount of destinations. Too Many people Days on the sign up roster at the terminal decide at the terminal that they will take a where you sign up. Hop to Mildenhall England for example and when you fill out your leave a without having that destination on their request lorm give yourself a Cushion of leave extra Days beyond what you really when signing up for your Llight. Sign up need. First for tiie destination you want allowed a a waiting is a big part of Mac travel. By four More in the same Genera part of sometimes you gel right on a Llight but the world. This Way if your Rota flight gets that is the exception not the Rule. A. Cancelled you Are already on the list for a remember that if you Are not on official destination that May have a flight later that orders you won t he Able to get a room in Day or Early the next for where you want a base billeting facility. Unless you like to go. Sleeping on chairs Heck with the each flight costs $10. It you Start out at passenger information counter by Rhein main with Rota As your destination Telephone before you Are dropped Oft at even though you May land in Simonella the terminal. A and Naples with an overnight stay. Even it you think o two hour prior somewhere in Between because of a flight Showtime is a Little extreme be prompt even Early. Many times planes will Load on the plane while you the terminal. And take off Early. You will be Wise to carry a Backpack with the essentials. Bring a , tape player with personal items such As Toothbrush a headphones hand held game or chewing gum Good for changes in something else yourself during Altitude aspirin and towelettes. Use. Those terminal and in flight Waits. Bring identification tags with your full address on a College textbooks cram a bit on language All your Luggage a. A a. For the country you Are visiting keep a a a buy currency for your destination in. Diary of your trip experiences. \ Advance. A a a a a a a a / for the flights you will be taking on the a. Some base Money changing facilities card planes Penlight or clip on. Will Cash checks Only from people who Are boo Light is a Good idea for use in Reading assigned there. Buying travellers checks in a As the overhead lights on these lights Are the currency for the country you Are dim and obstructed by pipes and other. Visiting is a smart idea because you Cari. Equipment. Snack packs Candy bars and Cash these in Many places. Dried fruit tossed into your Backpack will a every terminal has Quot mag Grams Quot 7 7 come in Handy not Only during lights but available for that base plus others. These a also during sightseeing trips. Fliers Are valuable for their abundance of 7 a a dress warmly even in Midsummer Telephone numbers for base facilities As. Cargo planes Are draft and it is cold at. Well As help in finding local Chi song Altitude. Earplugs Are usually on. Accommodations. Ask for one at the Board for use during the flight but it is still passenger service counter. A. A Good idea to locale some while you Are a talk to your fellow Mac travellers. Ask still in the terminal. About your destination you May find a leave the Kitchen sink at Home. Pack. A someone who has travelled there before. A a a a a. Most of the time some advice from. A \ you Are allowed two pieces of checked someone who has been there is Worth. Aggll0 at 66 pounds maximum each,.As More than a dozen Glossy promotion fliers. Well As one hand carried piece. But Don t. A Check your local stars and stripes feel you have to Max out on your weight Bookstore for the Book military living s allowance. If your flight gets diverted to a temporary military lodging around the dil Lerent destination than you had planned world $9.95. This is a comprehensive on and the baggage has been packed onto listing of inexpensive lodging facilities pallets your checked bags will be Silling available from Athens to Tokyo. A , 58 stars and stripes travel Europe May 22, 190.1
