European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Enjoy Tours buses Fine a parking lot on an Early saturday morning in Mannheim Germany before taking off for various parts of Europe. A amps Joseph Owen by Effie Bathen staff writer Tracy Wing started his wild weekend on the French Riviera standing on a Seaside Bench and catching the Waves of the cute d Azur on videotape. With about $100 in his pocket the Friedberg Germany private first class was ready for a visit to Nice France at carnival time. A a a a a a a a a a Quot it s the Chance of a lifetime Quot said the 1st Arrond div Mechanic who had arrived in Europe Only a month earlier. Wing had booked the top Tours. Weekend bus trip through a local travel service. The $229 package included two nights at a posh hotel just off the famed promenade Des Langlais Light Continental breakfasts and a firsthand View of where the Rich and famous frolic. The rest was up to him. He found out that travellers on bus Tours need not fee like they need to be rescued by Oskar Schindler to have a Good time. Itineraries often allow people to customize their own Days activities even though they All arrive and depart on the same bus. Consider the weekend highlights of some of the travellers who All went to Nice on the same bus. A \ the bus picked Wing up at the Post s front Gate while Many of his Barracks buddies were watching video movies or on the Way to rent them. By the end of the weekend he had made a video of one of the world s classiest cities that he could watch Over and Over. One evening he joined a Small group at a restaurant for dinner. About 140 francs about $24 bought him a Fine French meal. It also earned him the right to Tell the folks Back Home in Spokane wash., that he dined on Chicken cordon Bleu and onion soup in the country that made them famous. Another evening he spent enjoying a carnival show then spraying French girls in the crowds with canned confetti. He spent so much on the silly strings of confetti he admitted that he did not have enough left to buy a ticket to Monte Carlo. But that did not matter he said. He would always us Tours a Little Effort gets you away from the crowds amps Effie bathed Judy and Steven Taylor head off on their own to explore Nice at carnival time while Tracy Wing keeps the tape rolling a amps Effie Bathon remember that carnival  Culibrk from Mannheim Germany made the same weekend bus tour into a different kind of seacoast sojourn. A she and a Friend booked the Nice tour to just get away from it All. The two department of defense dependents schools teachers had already travelled the Globe and been to dozens of countries. When the others on the bus were watching Flower parades they spent their time in shops had Quick meals like pizza and returned to their hotel room Early to watch the olympics on to. Sometimes they popped into bakeries to Sample tiny tarts or Strawberry custard. Pastries for a few dollars apiece. For Steven and Judy Taylor scheduled parades browsing through Antiques stores and a visit to a Monte Carlo Casino added a touch of class to their version of the weekend. So did room service. The v corps lieutenant colonel and his wife booked the bus trip because it was easier to have someone else do the planning and driving they explained. But even plans by the professionals sometimes go awry a scheduled visit to Grace Kelly s Tomb did not work out because services were being held in the Monte Carlo Cathedra when the bus a arrived. That evening however when Taylor asked the tour guide to recommend a Good seafood restaurant she easily made reservations at Chez Michel near the. Exclusive hotel Westminster. ,. The restaurant is often frequented by Many fish Loving celebrities and Beautiful people. She also negotiated a group Price for those who joined them. A the menu included wine tiny olives Anc an appetizer Platter of mussels in butter and oysters in a cheese and Champagne sauce. A delicately herded fish Stew a bouillabaisse is the word the French use to describe the experience. And for a dramatic dessert flamed crapes Suzette. They All proved that with a Little imagination and initiative package bus Tours Don t have to be predictable group affairs