European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 9, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I t  a a my ceramics continued from Page 5 comfortable for the passengers but probably did t do much for the expenses of the tour operator. However judging from the Way the cargo hold was crammed upon departure i m not sure the bus could have accommodated Many More shoppers As enthusiastic As this Bunch. Another potential problem for shoppers on full buses is the amount of time available for shopping because of the Way business is handled at these places. Much of this pottery is slightly flawed and prices Are based upon the Quality of the piece. Items Are rarely marked and a shopper has to wait for the manager to examine individual pieces and set a Price. One can waste a lot of precious time wailing to find out if you can afford to buy something or if you have enough Cash left to make another dash around the outlet. Because our group was relatively Small Maria the tour guide was Able to go beyond the Call of duty to satisfy one passenger. Just before we were ready to depart Nove one woman decided she d really like to go Back to Ancora and Purchase some Ceramic Flowers. No problem. Well no problem until we got Back to the factory and most of the bus passengers decided to re enter the outlet for one More Binge. It was Only noon As we re boarded the bus and headed to Bassano Del grappa. Most of the stores were closed but there was a full scale Street Market in Progress when we arrived. Some of the passengers purchased purses and other items at the Market. One woman even picked up a Beautiful Artichoke for the next Day s lunch. We had to miss Bassano s asparagus festival which was winding up that saturday night. By 3 30, we were on the bus and headed Back toward Germany for a 2 . Arrival in Mannheim above painted pottery left and unpainted pottery emerge from two kilns at Ancora. Below purchased ceramics end up in the bus cargo hold already crowded after one Stop. A set of Chimes in Bassano Del Crappa is part of decorations for the town s asparagus festival. At right Bassano s famous covered Bridge spans the Bronta River. S stripes Magazine june 9, 1994