European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 18, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Worth a special journey stories by Frances Ann Burns United press International arrived in arle3. Franco in the Early morning Jitter a 16-hour journey from  i staggered into the old City and caught a Yiirs glimpse of the roman Arena up a narrow Street with centuries old buildings on either Side. I thought. I m going 1o Tae this place " i was right the Michel Green guide to Provence gives Aries three stars Worth a special journey although no single sight or Monument in the cily gets More than two worm a Delour and most gel one or none. Ailes. On a Tow Hill beside the Rhone River about -10 Miles from the Mediterranean and an overnight train in from Paris looks much As it did in roman limes when Arsalus was one of the major centers in Gaul. The City has nothing to rival the roman theater in Orange the Only one in Europe to retain ils stage Wall or the Palace of the Popes in Avignon but Many o the great monuments of Provence Are a Short ride away. The City s buildings Many roofed with roman style Brick tiles huddle together for Protection against the mistral wind. In the old City some streets Are closed to cars and the others Are too narrow for big trucks buses or fast driving the get lined race do forum is still the place to hang out. Although two columns in a Wall Are the Only reminder of ils roman origin 1 he Arena is now used Lur bullfights and the theater of concerts Provence a feast in the summer is looked with tourists but real people also live Theio going about choir business. Tho Day i visited Uzos living medieval town according to Michel Farmers were playing Boule. A game similar to bowls near the Cathedral and studying an outdoor agricultural equipment show. The area around Aries was shaped by Sun wind and water or the Lack of it. Tho Fields Are crossed by windbreaks rows of lines or Slakes set in the ground to protect crops from the mistral the fierce wind Hal blows Down the Rhone Valley from Renqun Vainous Central France. The Large farmhouses surrounded by Olive Groves and Fields of vines resemble the roman Villas that once dotted the Countryside. Aries is also a Gateway to the Ca Margue a Hal Marshland known Lor its bulls horses and guardians Provencal cowboys. The main Light of Aries include the Arena and theater. The remains of the roman and medieval cemetery in the Al scamps Iha romanesque Church of is. Trophim the Muse on Arlatex with exhibits on Provencal life and a stuffed Bull and two Small museums featuring Pagan and Christian Sarcophagi. Aries continues to Al Kracl artists following in the Steps of Vincent Van Gogh who lived there Lor a year. Pablo Picasso also loved the City and showed his admiration by donating a collection of 57 drawings to the Musee Rattu. During my stay i look in two or three sights a Day while doing some serious eating and cafe Silling i sat on roman stones in the healer eating pain compleat peaches and an herded cheese that tasted of the Provencal Countryside. I watched Small salamanders scamper while French tourists declaimed Racine from the stage. I also explored the Countryside by bus. I sing the Pont do card and the Ca Margue in stes Mario de la Mer. I enjoyed an hour Long boat Lour on the Petit Rhone Complete with Small children carrying on in several languages. Is. Remy about 18 Miles from Aries across a Mountain Range features the ruins of the gallic greek and Gallo roman City of Glannum on Iha Mountainside by a sacred Spring. For "1 Claudius fans there is a Monument in memory of Augustus s grandsons end for admirers of Van Gogh the monastery of St. Paul a Mausolene where he spent much of the last year of his life before his suicide in 1890. I hiked across Les Al Pilles from is. Remy to Iho medieval Lorl Ress toys of Las Baux enjoying the silence the wind and the views of the surrounding Plains and Hills including 6,000-loot Mont Ven Loux. On an expedition to Aries roman Aqueduct a3 Kilometre hike from the Village of Fonvielle i was forced to Sheller from a rare rainstorm picnicking under one of the roman Arches. Between showers i explored the Aqueduct on a rail through an Olive Grove and Vera Tow Ridge to the ruins of a roman flour Mill. On my last Day in Provence. I took the 40