European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Czechs Crystal and chandeliers file the statue of religious a reformer Jan Hus in Wenceslas Square is another of Prague s attractions. A demonstration enlivened the midday shopping Rush in Prague s old town area. Continued from Page 7 a. To got us in. We got in. A a we d Boon read the menu aboard the bus and the 1 selection sounded reasonable for the Price but most apparently misunderstood. When a waiter proffered a tray of cheeses and meats to. Go with the bread on the table Many assumed it was the appetizer and selected a Light helping. It turned out we d chosen our main course by accepting the cheese and a meat. And seconds weren t on the menu. Of Well. We had come to shop. Four of us set out through the cobblestones pedestrian zone to see what we could see and buy what we could buy before our scheduled rendezvous Back at the bus at 1 . By 9 a.m., most stores Are open a those that plan to open that Day anyhow. A a. The two prime benefits of a midweek tour Are that the stores Don t close at 1 ., As they do on saturday and the fabled lines Don t exist for the most part. The maps weren t that great so we rambled through the Large old town Square and in and out of Small Side streets on our treasure Hunt. A the first find of the Day was Garnet jewelry at a Tuzes a state run duty free outlet where one pays in hard currency a in our Case dollars Marks or visa cards. An attractive Garnet ring can be had there for As Little As about $12. The women s rings featured Small delicate groupings of stones in a 14-Carat, Gold plated Silver setting. The men s rings had larger stones. Each person in our foursome bought at least one. Hours passed quickly As we window shopped leather jackets for $178. Crystal and Street vendors everywhere. Two stores that looked most promising for tasteful Quality Crystal and China were closed apparently it s not uncommon for shopkeepers to capriciously decide they d a rather do something else on a Given Day we found a store along a main pedestrian thoroughfare that specialized in chandeliers sparkling and dazzling enough for the Trumps but at Middle class prices the equivalent of $192 and $232 for Large incredibly ornate models that would definitely look out of place in base housing and $510 for a humongous Centrepiece that deserved display Only in a ballroom. A few from our tour wandered in about the same time showing of the silk scarves they d found for about $5 50 each and the Glass beads that had Cost Only a couple of dollars. Aida Roberts decided to think about a certain chandelier and our group moneyed off again to look for Kotva the bar like russian department store. A Bloo Magdale a it Ain t. We never found the inexpensive Gold chains. We did however find the Crystal and China floor where Gaudy vases arid glassware sets Cost a pittance i fell prey to Crystal fever myself and chose a vase with a lacquered Oriental design that allowed the czech. Made Bohemia Crystal itself to peek out Only at the Bottom thirteen Bucks another of our foursome also got the fever. Tony Blauert a social worker from Minnesota who was visiting a Cousin in Germany picked out a Small Crystal vase or two adorned with Flowers. Ltd 11 had Sooj shopping Quot Blauert said of Prague it that was secondary at first. That changed once i got the scant half hour left before the 1 . Rendezvous a owed us time to catch a demonstration that appeared to have something to do with the czech state of Moravia although none of the marchers spoke enough English to explain what was going on.  managed to pop a i3 handicrafts store. Roberts however decided she wanted her chandelier and returned to the. Lighting store to Lay her Money Down. Via s Vars Mcclude Linen table runners and lace tablecloths  jugs and Wicker items. I bought a Jug and a Linen table runner for about $8. Not Content to save Money for the Crystal store i returned to the Street and from a Vendor bought a wooden Marionette in the image of King Henry Viii for 30 German Marks about $18. The Price in czech Money Vas 600 crowns or nearly $21.50, meaning that i saved about $4 by paying with my Cache of German Money. Stripes Magazine May 23, 1991