European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 12, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 launched Byton Nauroth Nuernberg Bureau it s hard to repress a feeling of Awe when standing near the Monument that Marks the spot at Palos de la Frontera Spain where Christophe Columbus launched his three ships into  the stench of the Landfill that creeps up to the Edge of its Low Walls the Monument is a place at which to wonder. It s a Small Monument and incomplete. Its circular arrangement is slightly larger than a circus Ting. Where Light poles should be capped wires Dangle from the Concrete. And trash Lills the places reserved or Lowers. Two Concrete Points of a disjointed Star wedge their Way upward one toward Europe the other toward the americas. A plaque is fastened to each. The plaque lacing East bears the Date of the Columbus expedition s departure in the Nina the Pinta and the Santa Maria Al 3 de Agosto 1492." it commemorates the naval and air forces of Argentina Colombia Chile Guatemala Nicaragua Peru and Uruguay which financed the 10-year-old Structure. The Point of the Star facing the Tinto River and the West is crusted with Salt and bears the Date of the Monument s dedication Al 12 de octobre 1975," the anniversary of the Dale of discovery. The  Hulk of a fishing boat rest the River s tidal Basin and across from the Small unkempt site on the other Side of a rotting pier b goes nowhere the tourist port of Huelva Dis Appe the Haze. A trunk battered by use. Lies at the foot of a garbage. It is evocative of the treasure chests Lac with South american Gold bound or Spain the payoff of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella s investment in Columbus. There Are no crowds Here. The tourists tend to town where a statue costumed in clothing of thl Peers Over the main Square. One would assume Columbus on his Pedestal. But no it is a Monum dedicated in 1945 to a local dignitary. And Thost ignores its ageless history in favor o a More not name not Columbus but Generalissimo franc Plaza. It in t the kind of place one would use Asab drawing card for a Spanish vacation but if you la travelling the southwestern coast of Light Cadiz to Huelva it s Worth a Stop to feel Theta nudge those Little particles of memory tucked somewhere in your brain. Right where your second Grado teacher left the Ferdinand s sos Del Keyhole of the Catholic King the Monument to Columbus at Palos de la front Eta Spain. On a Hill overlooking a winding Mountain Road and a Convent in the Valley the future King Ferdinand once trod the narrow streets of sos Del Rey Catolico a aragonese town in northeastern Spain. It is the Birthplace of the King who would marry Isabella of Castile and join the two provinces. Ferdinand is remembered for giving Columbus the Benefit of the doubt but he is not so often remembered Lor initiating the Spanish inquisition perhaps Western history s most lasting image of religious persecution. Today the Home of the Catholic King draws busloads of tourists who squeeze through thestil and climb to the Castle Tower where an ancient b shares space Wilh a modern television Antenna. The Antenna probably does t know much Tell Bell could sing what tales could it Tell of the Chw of the King whose realm encompasses the Enow Western hemisphere of today the town of sos Del Rey is about 80 Miles port of Zaragoza on route c 1 27, just South of the yes Reservoir. Tony Nau Page 14 the stars and stripes saturday