European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Czechs Crys Taland chandelier shopping for bargains in Prague by Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer so you want to go to Prague to buy a chandelier. Army sgt. Aida Roberts began fidgeting when the tour bus pulled up to the czech Side of Czechoslovakia s Border with Germany. / Quot i m getting nervous Quot Roberts confided As a uniformed czech official strode Over to the bus and ordered it to Stop. A a. A Roberts thoughts a and those of the 30 or so other passengers on the bus a focused on the precious cargo in the Luggage hold.below.,. A a and Well they  it. Roberts   $217 for a Crystal chandelier that afternoon in a Prague store. But she could end up paying three times that amount at the Border in Export taxes a the rate set for these elegant Light fixtures if the guard spots it among he suitcases and boxes that filled the hold. Or she might have to pay a 30 percent tax on any of her other purchases above the czech equivalent of $20. But Only if the guard examines the Luggage and packages in the hold. That Quot if Quot is a big part of the Quot Winner take All Quot Gamble that shoppers make when they buy a ticket to ride on the whirlwind buying sprees to Prague the czechoslovakian a capital. As far As confirmed bargain Hunters Are concerned Prague lives up to its nickname As the Golden City. But it could also be known As Quot crystals r  and other shoppers from throughout Germany recently took a midweek Prague shopping express with top Tours. A for $79 per person a shopper gets picked up at his or her Community in the evening is whisked to Prague for a Day of shopping and then is returned Home in the dead of evening a or crack of Dawn if the bus is late As ours was a. A a a a a a a a. A on this particular tour shoppers also were offered the options of buying bottles of soviet Champagne through the tour guide partaking in an overpriced breakfast. Costing about $7 per person at a Prague hotel and supping in Masse at a local brewery for $10 a head. According to a show of hands As the bus drove toward Czechoslovakia Only one of the 30 people aboard had visited Prague before. Gabi our tour guide offered to change dollars and German Marks into czech crowns or Koruna at 28