European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Travel Europe 1992 on the rails Europe s trains such As this German intercity Roll Over ribbons of steel stretched across the continent. The Romance of the rails has captured Many a traveler.  five cities in 10 Days Europe the eur ail Way by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau Snow husky flakes driven by a hard wind fills the View from the window As the train slips away from Niernberg. It is Early Spring a Good time to travel South away to Spain perhaps from a Winter possessed of incredible staying Power. A first class eur Alpass Good for five Days of travel within a 15-Day period costs $280. Used wisely it can pay for itself one Day out of port. There Are limits however. It is not Good in several Eastern countries. Poland says Quot Nie Quot and Czechoslovakia say Quot be Quot to the pass but Hungary welcomes it. That leaves a lot of territory of course including All of Scandinavia. England and Scotland do not Honor eur ail passes but Ireland does. And the ferry ride to the Emerald Isle is covered by the pass. The first leg of this journey however will end 10 hours from Niernberg in Geneva Switzerland where John Calvin dominated during the reformation and the City became the Rome of the protestants. A tourist information office at the train station in Geneva makes hotel reservation for visitors who arrive without one. The Cost of this service is five francs about $3. Inside the North Entrance to a Park known As promenade Des bastions eight chess boards Are painted on the Concrete. At most of them two players Are engaged in a game of wits and strategy with pieces the size of fire hydrants. On this late afternoon the combatants Are two professorial looking men. Beards. Unruly hair. Glasses. One wears a constant smile the other a grim look of thoughtful consideration. Their game has attracted a crowd three deep while at other boards games go on unattended in the slanting rays of the Sun. Quot almost everybody plays Quot says a computer scientist from Pakistan named Khan. On a Nice summer Day eight games go on at once from Sun up to Sundown. There is no formal etiquette for giving up the Board. Two players can continue As Long As they like game after game. Quot normally people Are courteous. If you want to play you keep on playing Quot says Khan. The games Are fetching not so much for the strategy or skills on dip stay but for the surrounding scene. The crowd is not bashful about offering advice and one need not understand French to interpret the words and the accompanying pointed fingers. Quot you should move your Knight to the eur Alpass prices recently increased. Here Are the 1992 rates a is Days $430 a 21 Days $550 a one month $660 a two months $920� three months $1,150 other eural passes include the first class eur ail flex i pass. Five Days rail travel during a 15-Day period $280 a nine Days during 21 Days $450 a 14 Days during one month $610 eur ail save pass for two or More persons travelling together for 15 Days during certain seasons eur ail youth pass for persons under 26 a one month a two months the eur ail youth flex pass a 15 Days in two months $340 $470 $640 $420 countries honouring Eura impasses Are Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Luxembourg the Netherlands Norway a Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland. Eura impasses Are available through scheduled airlines travel offices overseas a amps Ron Jensen a amps front of that  Quot no no the Bishop is the  Quot quiet. It is my game. I am  the grim faced Man finally gives in. With a Quick flick of his wrist he admits defeat and walks away stopping at a nearby game where he quickly begins giant chess game in Geneva Switzerland. Offering advice. A a hotel train a new concept in train travel combining Long distance travel and hotel Comfort and privacy pulls out of Geneva at 11 . With a scheduled 4 travel Europe May 13, 1992