N

The Dan Hotels
are pleased to announce
the June 15th, 1996
opening of the

DAN PEARL
HOTEL
JERUSALEM

Foreign Airports:
Part Of The Adventure

RUTH ROVNER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Ideally located in the center of Jerusalem
near Jaffa Gate and the old city.

PHO TO BY RU TH ROVNER

• BEAUTIFUL ROOMS
• FAMILY SUITES (4 BEDS AND A KITCHENETTE)
• LUXURIOUS DELUXE & PRESIDENTIAL SUITES
• INDOOR SWIMMING POOL
• HEALTH CLUB WITH SAUNA & JACUZZI
• ELEGANT LOBBY - LOUNGE
• RESTAURANT & COFFEE SHOP
• MIKVA & SYNAGOGUE

There are many boutiques at the Frankfurt airport.

I

Meeting Rooms for Conferences & Simchas
Accommodating up to 500 people

OUR INAUGURAL OFFER

1 NIGHT FREE

INCLUDING BREAKFAST FOR GUESTS
STAYING AT LEAST 5 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS (4 + 1)
umriED PERIOD UNTIL JULY 25TH ONLY!

RESERVE NOW!

For information and reservations,
please call your travel agent or

Israel Hotel Representatives

(212) 752-6120 or outside New York
State Toll Free: 800-223-7773/4
or FAX: (212) 759-7495
INTERNET SITE: www.danhotels.co.il
E-MAIL: danhtls©danhotels.co.il

..Cotek, Kw.ctet

The
American
Legion

t was my final day in Frank-
furt. My plane was scheduled
to depart in early afternoon,
so I still had a half day. There
wasn't enough time for extended
touring or sightseeing, yet I did
find a way to make good use of
the time I had.
I saw several interesting ex-
hibits, browsed in varied stores,
admired striking modern archi-.
tecture. and enjoyed a cos-
mopolitan atmosphere with
people from all over the world.
And I did all this in just one place
— the Frankfurt airport.
It is a virtual city in itself, and
one that offers a number of at-
tractions to those who view it as
part of the travel adventure.
Indeed, as I discovered that
day — and on several trips since
then — time flies at a foreign air-
port when you're enjoying the
scene and not just waiting for
your plane to take off.
In fact, some people come
specifically to enjoy the scene.
The Frankfurt airport, according
to an Associated Press report, is
Germany's second largest tourist
attraction, drawing more than
1 million tourists per year. And
that's in addition to the 32.5 mil-
lion passengers who arrive or de-
part each year.
Its attractions include an ob-
servation deck where visitors can
watch planes land and take off,
a gallery with changing exhibits,
and a wide array of shops selling
everything from designer clothes
to souvenirs. Moreover, these
stores are open in the evenings
and on Sundays, when other
stores are closed.
A major hotel is Also part of the
airport complex: the Sheraton
Frankfurt hotel, which is direct-
ly connected to the airport by an
upper level walkway. With 1050
luxury rooms, this is the largest
business hotel in Western Europe

and was voted Best Airport Ho-
tel in the World by Business
Traveler magazine. With five
restaurants, a garden-style cafe,
even art displays on the lobby lev-
el, it's an interesting place to vis-
it in its own right.
For hotel guests, there's also
the advantage of convenience.
For instance, since I had stayed
overnight at the Sheraton, on de-
parture day I simply checked my
luggage with the bell captain and
went off to explore the airport
world.
I began on the observation
deck where people stood by the
window watching planes take off
I'd heard about people who come
to airports just to see planes take
off and arrive; now I understood
it better. The close-up view of
sleek, silvery jets soaring through
the sky was dramatic indeed, es-
pecially from this ideal vantage
point.
Next I explored the airport
gallery, also on the upper level.
Just like a museum, it features
changing exhibits. The one I saw
focused on the arts and crafts of
Colombia, with all the objects at-
tractively displayed.
Before going down, I paused to
take in the sight of the busy ter-
minal below. Its design is strik-
ingly modern: an expansive space
with abundant light because of
the atrium style. Also dramatic
is the sturdy model of the Spirit
of St. Louis which hangs sus-
pended from the ceiling.
Below that, passengers were
hurrying by. They wore every
type of attire, from short shorts
to full length Indian saris. Some
carried lightweight carry-on bags;
others pushed overloaded lug-
gage carts. In the center of the
terminal was the huge board list-
ing all the flights, with yellow
lights flickering next to the ones
ready to board — a visual re-