European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Travel Europe 1992 on the Buss amps photos by Ron Mckinney Sandy Young films a Budapest scene from a tour boat on the Danube River. From left Rich Young and Phil and Karen Reed take in a Prague Vendor s . Continued from Page 37 hire a tourist guide. In a group they Are like children a she said. Day three consisted of a morning tour of the old City with a local guide followed by an afternoon trip to Karlstein a rather Dull medieval Castle Bare of furnishings. That evening we All dined at a Prague restaurant that featured live Quot traditional music although a few american numbers were played. While most group members opted to take the Side trips Judy Bicknell and the Youngs a chaplain maj Rich wife Sandy and son Kelly a ventured into Prague on their own. Others on the tour As they sheepishly admitted were less adventurous. And that left them with Only the afternoon of Day four to shop in downtown Prague. The morning of Day four was spent at Teresie Stadt a world War ii concentration Camp that lacks the dramatic punch of a Dachau or Buchenwald. In the afternoon we were on our own. Day five began with an 8 56 . Departure. The itinerary called for a late afternoon arrival in Budapest Hungary. The majority of passengers were puzzled about the late Start noting that it left Little Hope of seeing Budapest that Day. Furthermore on the drive to Budapest Stein Nissel warned that the final morning of shopping in Budapest would have to be cancelled. With just one Driver a four hour break would be necessary and she suggested it should be in Salzburg Austria. Being in a newly democratic nation Stein Nissel asked for a show of hands. The majority wanted to stay in Budapest As the top Tours brochure advertised but if we had to leave the passengers wanted to Stop in Vienna not Salzburg. An hour later Stein Nissel announced the decision. We would Stop in Salzburg. Democracy it seemed had not yet matured. We arrived at our hotel at 5 26 . Anticipating a Brief tour of Budapest. Half an hour later Stein Nissel gave up trying to find the local guide who was supposed to be waiting for us. We decided to have dinner at the hotel and Call it a free night. We Learned later that the local guide had waited four hours then gone Home this time the hotel lived up to its Billing indoor swimming Pool fitness room masseuse restaurant bar and disco rooms with radios and stocked refrigerators and even some with televisions. In Budapest some people wanted More time just to hang out at the Rege hotel the morning of Day six began with a one hour tour of the pest Side of the City divided by the Danube River. We met again at 5 . For a one hour riverboat tour and dinner. It was about this time that Stein Nissel managed to come up with a second Driver who would meet us at Munich. That meant we had our morning in Budapest although it pretty much consisted of another whirlwind tour this time of the Buda Side. At 11 07 . On Day seven we pulled away from our parking spot just below the Church. We would now begin the Long haul Back to Germany. About 13 hours later we stopped at the Munich train station to pick up the second Driver. By 12 23 ., we were on the Road again. We arrived at the Karlsruhe commissary at 4 14 ., 17 hours out of Budapest. None of us was fully prepared for what was to happen next or More precisely what was not to happen. The Karlsruhe commissary was the dreaded Transfer Point. And it was our Fate to arrive there four hours Early. Several passengers told the new bus Driver that they had to use the bathroom which had been locked for some time. Bicknell for one said the Driver responded by saying that he had gone to the bathroom at 5 . The previous Day and he could t understand How anyone else had to go now. He refused to unlock the door and would not drive to a restroom. An hour later someone decided to Rouse Stein Nissel but even she could t convince the bus Driver to take pity on the unhappy masses. Instead she had to Wake up Vogelgesang the original Driver. Quot i was ready to Call a taxi a said Bicknell in her heavy texan drawl. Quot and i could just imagine what the taxi Driver would think when he asked me where i wanted to go and i said the bathroom a by 6 04 ., relieved and somewhat refreshed we returned to the commissary. Within 15 minutes talk was buzzing throughout the bus that the Transfer was t to take place until 8 . Another on the spot decision sent us to the snack bar where we weary passengers munched on Good of american breakfasts. By 8 32 we had switched buses in Karlsruhe and were on our Way Home. At 10 25 ., nearly 24 hours after getting on the bus in Budapest i was dropped off at the Darmstadt dispensary. I had yet one last wait before a colleague could give me a ride Back to work. Most of the experienced passengers described this As an atypical tour a More problems than most a and said it would have no bearing on their future plans. Glitches or not several group members planned to be on another bus tour within 14 hours. Haydee Miranda on vacation from Secaucus n.j., planned to Stop in at her sister s apartment in Frankfurt in time to Nap and a Shower before leaving on a four country tour that evening. Quot i did not come Here to see my sister a Miranda said laughing. Quot i came Here to travel. She just happens to be  38 travel Europe May 13, 1992