European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 2, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A limited amount of Street parking making navigating its streets a Challenge. It also must contend with the necessary evil of Monument restoration and Upkeep a the Prince Bishops Palace is currently surrounded by cranes and partially covered by scaffolding and mesh screens. Seeing the City is not cheap. Most museums charge Entrance fees of 50 belgian francs about $1.50 for adults and 20 francs for children under 10. There s a fair amount of Graffiti marring some buildings and tourist attractions and a Large electronic sign in the City Center warns pedestrians to be mindful of pickpockets. But even with its bad Points Liege is a great town with a great location. It s near Many americans stationed in Germany Belgium and the Netherlands and its proximity to the ardennes Countryside and Small villages of Eastern Belgium make it a Good place to explore. One of these places is spa a health resort about 20 Miles Southeast of Liege. It has been around since the romans and was rediscovered in the Middle Ages but its greatest period of popularity and splendor was in the 18th Century. Its name has come to mean any place with curative Waters and health Baths. Most of the town s activities Center around its Baths and Casino on place Royale. Also Worth visiting is the museum with a collection of Small inlaid and painted boxes that were considered the ultimate in spa souvenirs during its Chic Days. The Casino on the place Royale is one of spa s main attractions. A woman pauses for a drink in the lobby of spa s largest Bath House. 34.5 left the ornate ceiling of spa s largest Bath. Above numbered signs Mark i amp go s tourist routes. Hard headed Francis the Peoples hero to some he s a puppet to others a legend but to All who live in Liege Tchant Chocs or Francis to those who speak English is a hero and Symbol of the town. Visitors to Liege will find Francis All Over the place a on signs hotel key rings museums and More than a few store windows. He s the Marionette with the dirty Miner s clothes Black Cap red Scarf and cookie duster Mustache who is said to represent the strengths and failings of the people of i amp be. History says Francis arrived in i amp be in the form of a puppet around 1860 and became a popular character in local theater for his comical boasting and sentimental heart. But legend has it different. In her Book the legend of Tchant Ches Liege author Jean Bosly says Francis was an orphan who eventually became a right hand Man to emperor Charlemagne and his Nephew Roland. According to Bosly Francis was born in the outre Meuse District of Lidge in 760. Fed a diet of Gin dipped biscuits and smoke dried Herrings As an infant he was eternally thirsty but the offer of water made him rebellious. I be was also prone to mishaps. Legend has it that during his christening Francis was pushed against the baptismal font so hard that his nose swelled to a monstrous size. Later he swallowed a piece of a Horseshoe which lodged in his Throat permanently so that he could not look up or Down but Only sideways. This forced him to lie on his belly to look at the floor and on his Back to look at the sky. Francis Odd looks and bad Luck were overcome by his fighting spirit. He became popular with the outre Meuse people and was befriended by Charlemagne after standing up for Roland during a Chance meeting. It is said he accompanied Charlemagne during Battles in Spain where he fought with no weapon but his own thick Skull. Quot he spits in his hands catches the adversary on his shoulders and bang right on his stomach he gives him a head knocking As a result of which the adversary is sent with broken ribs to another world Quot Bosly wrote. It was after the Battle of Ronce Vaux where Francis was said to have broken the ribs of 3,000 enemy troops that tragedy struck. Roland sent the yawning Francis to bed Early and with the Loyal bodyguard asleep Roland was killed. Francis returned to li6ge after helping avenge Roland s death and remained in the emperor s court until he died at age 40 from influenza. The author said he is buried in place de i Yser in the heart of the outre Meuse. While Francis May have lived in legend Only there is an actual place de i Yser in the outre Meuse. There visitors will find a statue of a woman dressed in Coal Miner s clothes whom sculptor Joseph Zomers meant to personify the Walloon people of Belgium. In the female Coal Miner s hand raised like a Torch of Liberty is Francis. A John Millar april 2, 1992 stripes Magazine 5