European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                For a different look at take the bus instead of the combing the catacombs and seeing the sewers by Linda White travel editor now that youve met its time to get better there is no place really off the beaten track everyone has a favorite Back and that secret place a Friend told you about Likely has been found out by More than a handful of other but there Are Many places that bus Tours usually skip and that have As much fascination As the giant the Montparnasse Tower not As famous and certainly not As pretty As the Eiffel this geometrical Structure is part of an office and shopping Complex that went up in the 1960s in a major Urban renewal when you Are in the you Arent looking at and you can see the Eiffel an express elevator runs to the 56th floor bar restaurant and to the 59th floor Terrace daily 10 it costs 21 francs about to go to the first 26 francs about to the unless it is a warm spend the five francs difference on Coffee or wine at the take a stroll around for a peek Over the a Bright coloured frieze around the top of the Wall helps you pick out the you can look Down at Busy Montparnasse railway station and into the cemetery where such luminaries As the poet the writer Guy de Maupassant and the Auto magnate Andre citroen Are even on hazy the delicate White confection of the Sacre Coeur is visible in the Rue Paradis it sounds like Paradise and so it is to anyone who loves Silver and the narrow Street is lined with shops Selling delectable not Only does one find the big names of France Cristole but also the imports from Luxembourg and if youre the prices Are if you Are Only the Baccarat and Louis firms have Small museums on this the canal Martin la panache autobus cruises not Only the Seine but the canal Martin everyday except monday and Bank holidays from the peaceful with its barges and looks like Little bit of you must Book through the quiz tour Telephone museum of popular arts and traditions it is Worth the trip out to the Bois de Boulogne on the Edge of the City for the Musee Des arts it traditions from funerals to bread boards to kitchens to drawing mountaineering to Archery All French life is collected and if youre tired of lifeless museum youll appreciate the imaginative displays of Folk cases full of the tools of daily life Are supplemented with slide shows of How those tools Are museum entry is 12 francs about pick up an English language brochure exhibits Are labelled in French few of the books at the museum shop Are in but there Are plenty of goo Quality reproduction museum pieces such As playing cards and decorative plates for the museum is open daily except tuesday 10 the Carnavale museum the history of Paris is traced in a conglomeration of everything from old inn signs to mementos of of the French despite the diversity of its the museum is Well planned and easy to it is open daily except mondays 10 admission is 10 francs just Over the sewers and the catacombs having seen Paris from the you can now descend into its part of the extensive network of sewers Are open to the Public 25 on wednesdays and the last saturday of the no Tours Are made during heavy when the sewers Are Likely to be after an introductory film earphones with commentary translated into several languages and a look at an historical there is an exploratory trip into several of the entry is on the left Bank at place de la at the Angle of qua Dorsay and Pont de the catacombs were once changed in 1785 to ossuary is depositories for millions of skeletons from the innocents and other cemeteries have been stacked against the forming a macabre sailboats can be rented for less than for children or stripes photo Linda White the Rue Paradis offers shop after shop of an International selection of Crystal and some of the Best sights in the metro Are the musicians playing tunes in the sailboats at the Luxembourg gardens Are fun on a sunny stripes photo Linda White non the catacombs at 2 place Denfert Cochereau Are open tuesday Friday 24 and saturday and sunday 911 and 24 the cemeteries each the cemeteries of Paris attract thousands of tourists who wish to leave a red Rose on the Graves of the famous or simply to Admire the Pere Lachaise is the and at the Gates there Are maps to the Graves of Edith Oscar Sarah Chopin and two dozen More this is also the site of the last stand of the Paris commune in at Dawn on May the 147 survivors of the Battle were shot at the federalists Wall in the Northeast their mass grave still attracts political Montparnasse is the resting place of Many writers at Montmartre Are the tombs of Stendhal and the american military where soldiers from both world wars Are is a bit out of the at Boulevard Washington in sur Esnes go by bus or the bus the metro is fast and easy to the bus is a bit More but when time is not a Factor it is a much better Way to see the same Paris sesame pass or tickets bought in a Carnet of 10 Are also Good for bus just remember not to punch the sesame ticket or it will not go through the metro automate the tourist office and bookstores have a bus guide for 28 francs about ask for be guide Paris bus in German and Spanish which gives detailed descriptions of All the its better than a tour because if you see something you want to simply get off the bus at the next Luxembourg gardens when the weather is take a stroll away from the traffic but still in the Middle of the the Luxembourg gardens Are a Delight for sitting in a change from the Hothouse effect of the  sidewalk but youll be thankful for the Glass when the wind and rain in the sit in the Green Metal chairs and sneer at the re faced joggers panting let the kids rent a Sailboat less than an hour and play in the close your reit your feet and plan your next visit to where to go for information How to get around Paris if you go on a group youll hit the High if youre on your you need to plan there is so much to see that you must pick and study the books there is no shortage of Paris when you pick up one or More of the local publications that tells you the current happenings passion is a monthly English language Magazine which includes a Calendar of events along with articles about the Paris Cost is 20 francs about Lofficial Des spectacles is published weekly and contains More extensive listings it is in French but Reading times and titles is not so it costs 2 francs about 20 the Paris tourist office publishes selection free every month in five it features one current event and lists it also gives tips for using Public sightseeing and another Handy tourist office publication is the English Booklet Paris which gives practical tips for hotels and getting around and opening hours for churches and shopping the tourist at 127 champs Elysee near the arc de Telephone has a plethora of brochures and can help with everything from hotel bookings to finding guided there Are also Branch offices at the railway the Paris Uso at 49 Rue Pierre Telephone is another place to go for assistance with hotel bookings or for hotels Are rated according to Price and Comfort by the tourist Paris has two youth Hostel organization plus Young budget several firms operate bus Tours of Paris and excursions into the surrounding their brochures Are available at the tourist at travel agencies and at most opening times for museums and monuments vary so Check before you Many of the museums offer free or reduce Price entry on wednesdays and the larger stores Are generally open to except sundays the smaller shops May close for lunch and stay open a bit Banks Are open week Days 9 to but close at noon the Day before Bank foreign Exchange offices Are open longer hours but charge More Linda White 10 Oropes Magazine april stripes Magazine 11