European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps Jim Dort Elm newly renovated and freshly painted buildings stand next to untouched drab storefronts in Erfurt and elsewhere in Eastern  comes slowly to Eastern Germany by Crystal Laureano staff writer be patient when visiting former East Germany. While Many things have changed since reunification there is still much to be done in the Way of fixing up and cleaning up. Some businesses could use a few More lessons in efficiency customer service and on Western standards too. So a Little tolerance and appreciation for the things that have changed will go a Long Way when travelling East. / the much needed Road repairs Are Well under Way which translates into frequent and sometimes lengthy traffic backups. Try to find out where there is Road construction prior to your trip so that those areas can be avoided. The Good news is that Many roads have been improved in the last year or so and Esso stations that accept Gas coupons continue to crop up in Eastern Germany. There Are Esso stations in Eisenach and in Gotha just West of Erfurt or you can fill up in bad Hersfeldt. Most rest areas along the Way in former East Germany consist Only of a Bench or two. Public toilet facilities in the cities Are equally rare. You will probably have to rely on the facilities in restaurants and cafes. Air pollution is endemic in the East. Years of driving inefficient autos burning Coal for heat and gunk spewing from Industrial smokestacks have taken a toll on the environment. Asthma sufferers or those with other respiratory problems should be forewarned. Larger Industrial towns such As Eisenach or Erfurt tend to have More pollution than smaller towns like Weimar and Rural areas. As Thuringer is the Home of Thuringer bratwurst you can never go wrong when ordering that in a restaurant in Erfurt. But when ordering anything else it s hard to know what to expect in terms of Quality and service. Prices Are moderate if not Low compared to Western Germany. However several establishments visited during a recent trip were very Short staffed and the staff made no apologies for Long Waits to order or get food or drink. Several of Erfurt s Best restaurants were in buildings that have been reclaimed by West germans since the reunification and Are now closed according to Renate Klein at the City s tourist information office. A several new restaurants including an outdoor cafe at the City Hall Are scheduled to open this summer she said. The sight of italian pizzerias an italian cafe and a French restaurant in Erfurt a almost unheard of in the former East Germany a is a sign that new business is moving in. Tourists with a limited German vocabulary May have problems communicating in Eastern Germany. Russian was the mandatory second language taught in the schools and the third language was a Choice Between French and English. Those who Learned English rarely had a Chance to practice and have All but lost the skill. The Telephone system still in t reliable in the East. A correctly dialled Frankfurt area number was met five times with a recorded message to dial again. When calling within Erfurt the caller sometimes hears the phone ring but the person being called does t. Erfurt s Large Quot Western Standard Quot hotels Are very expensive ranging from 85 to 240 Marks about $55 $154 for a single room. The Best hotel in town had a very slow Check in system bouts of Brown water Low Shower pressure and no room service. However the breakfast included in the Price of the room was a virtual feast. There Are less expensive pensions but rooms Are limited and reservations must be Mack. Far in Advance. There Are several places to Camp in the area As Well. To say night life in Erfurt is very Low key is an overstatement. Most pubs or cafes close very Early a around 9 . Evening entertainment is available Only at the Large hotels. For a current list of hotels pensions and camping areas in the state of Thuringer write Thuringer  Wilhelm Pieck Strasse 18, Postrach 219, 0-501 0 Erfurt. You can also Call 0 161 -51 501 or fax your request to 0361 -61 475. If ailing from outside Germany be sure to add the country code. June 4, 7992 stripes Magazine 9