European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday november 26, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 s4s Ken George a food Concession brightens up the marketplace at Darmstadt Germany a Christmas Market where a Host of Christmas gift ideas can be found. By the stars and stripes on the biggest shopping Day of the year air Force staff sgt. Jon Davis was one of the few who did t have to worry about beating everyone else to that special gift on the base Exchange shelf. Davis assigned to Raf Lakenheath England finished his Christmas shopping two months ago. I m not a procrastinator Davis said. I put everything on Laya Way. I keep it Here at the by for storage so my wife can t shake  other american shoppers across Europe descended on stores Friday to begin resume or finish off shopping for Holiday gifts. _. Most people interviewed in England said they had been doing most of their shopping on base because the Exchange rate had been so poor. At the end of october it Cost $1.68 per British Pound although the rate has been improving slowly since then. Even though the Exchange rate in the United kingdom was at $1.61 per British Pound Friday senior airman Marco san tos of Raf Lakenheath said he had been doing his shopping on base and off. It s like everything else he said. If you shop around you always find the Best buy either on base or on the  tech. Sgt. James Rutledge of Raf Mildenhall did some shopping at Lakenheath. He acknowledged the realities of Exchange shopping we say what we want and what s available dictates what we  Kandy Meyer a family member at Raf Lakenheath said she shopped on base in part because prices on the Economy were High. Because Meyer works a 40-hour week she finds that the Short hours kept by businesses in the United kingdom also make it difficult for her to shop on the Economy. In Naples Italy at the Navy s country store customers snapped up Little tikes 6 Volt cars castles slides and tree houses said supervisor Aldo Cerchia. Christmas ornaments also Are a mainstay of seasonal shopping there Cerchia said. New items this year included rocking and snoring or. And mrs. Artas stuffed Ani Mals that play Christmas tunes and musical Christmas tree lights. This year we have hundreds of differ ent kinds All very Beautiful he said. We have them for Sale every year but this year s selection is especially  Roger Church a Sailor from Naples knows his wife already has been secretly getting stuff for gifts. I be been looking for a few things in the Navy Exchange cat l we knew what we were looking for and went straight to the stores. Because. Now you see it tomorrow Youdon t.1 Kay Lowe Alog he added but she won t let me have any Money until the 15th of december Heidi Armendariz s family will celebrate a couple of special Days during the Holiday season with special gifts to match. The big Gest gift she and her husband have gotten for their year old son is a Trike said Armendariz who lives in Naples. He just Learned to walk so he should love it. My husband is also getting me a wedding ring set with a i Carat  in Hanau Germany the biggest shop Ping Day of the year at one of the largest exchanges in Europe got off to a slow Start. But volume rapidly picked up. So far it s not that bad. It is still pretty easy to move around in said Sherry Tucker of nearby Gellhausen who brought her two daughters along to shop for a family computer. A number of shoppers ventured out with a plan get to the Exchange Early and leave before it became too crowded. We knew what we were looking for and went straight to the stores said Kay Lowe who was shopping at Hanau. Because. Now you see it tomorrow you Don  and what gifts Are being bought traditionally cosmetics gift sets electrical appliances stereos camcorders and clothing Are the top Selling items said Hanau store manager Joe Reinhold. For youngsters Barbie dolls and the items from Disney s latest animated movie the lion King Are hot said Brett Buck Ley Hanau s sales and merchandising manager. Bicycles Are probably the hot test. They be been hot and the Power rangers Are  this Christmas will be the first in Ger Many for pfc. Chad wheelus and his wife Lisa of Fliege Horst Cavern near Hanau. It la be a Little different than Christmas in Georgia Chad wheelus said. One of the biggest gifts shoppers could give themselves Friday was the time and convenience offered by groups hoping to raise Money at gift wrapping Booths. Among the wrappers were family supports a Wayne v. Hall pfc. Chad wheelus of Fliege Horst Cavern near Hanau Germany shops for Christmas ornaments with his wife Lisa and 13-month-old son Brandon at the Post Exchange i Hanau on Friday. 8&s Marian Hamilton a shopper examines the wares at the Navy Exchange in Naples Italy on Friday. Group members from Hanau s 9th in it is a donation thing and we Don t227th aviation support. Have to wrap them ourselves  we had our presents Wanned Here for contributing to this report staff writers Wayne v. Hall Inge Nao our presents wrapped nere Lor Hanaumi Miu a. Marian Hamilton to Naples. Italy and convenience. It s really great said Lowe. Nancy l Tomer at Raf Uke Heath. England