European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Travel Europe 1992 Madrid one of europe1? greatest museums is Here. The Prado is Home to More than 5,000 paintings an unbelievable number of them masterpieces. Most interesting Are the works of Spanish painters Al Greco Diego Velazquez and Francisco de Goya. A personal tour in English from a knowledgeable guide is available for 3,000 pesetas about $30, per hour. Expensive but Worth it. The Royal Palace built in the 18th Century As a Home for King Felipe a is a luxurious Palace that now hosts Only an occasional Royal gathering. Cardens and Art galleries Are included in the guided Tours. The world s largest candelabra is Here in one of the Palace s 2,000 rooms. Another is the Calhau Cate built in 1495 to celebrate French military Success. The Tiv train makes a Short trip of the ground Between Bordeaux and Paris. The 350 Miles Are covered in barely three hours and that includes two stops. The track is new and the train of great velocity lives up to its name. When the train arrives in mid afternoon Paris is in its shirtsleeves. Springtime. April in Paris. Suffering from an illness that he could not shake Napoleon dictated his will in March 1821 Quot i wish my ashes to rest on the Banks of the Seine in the midst of the French people whom i have loved so much a not far from the Seine Napoleon lies in a Marble sarcophagus. He rests inside a coffin that is inside a larger coffin that is inside a larger. And so on. Six in All. The emperor is entombed in the manner of a russian matrix ska doll. The Tomb is beneath the dome of the Church of the hotel Des invalids. It is a grand Tomb surrounded by 12 silently staring statues of White Marble. Bordeaux this ancient City on the Garonne River is very walkable. You can spend a Day wandering among Beautiful architecture and even More Beautiful  most impressive is St. Andrews Cathedral begun in the 13th Century but not completed until the 15th Century. The Center aisle is 403 feet Long and the ceiling above it is 75 feet High. Even a visitor jaded toward the great cathedrals of Europe will be glad to walk through this edifice. Paris Paris is Well Paris. First time visitors must see the Eiffel Tower and a trip to the top is Worth a bit of a wait. The View from atop this 103-year old Structure is a Good Way to get the Lay the City of Light. But Paris must be experienced from the sidewalk cafes along the champs d Elysses. A Glass of wine on a sunny afternoon turns one into a Hemingway or a Fitzgerald expatriates tuned in to one of the world s Best cities. Geneva c3 Geneva this is the City of John Calvin and his Church cathedrals de St. Pierre is a Good place to begin a visit. Climb the stairs of the North Tower for a commanding View of the City including the Lake. Boats give visitors a unique View of the City and the surrounding mountains. Many different Tours Are found at Lakeside. Take your pick. The Voltaire Institute and museum is housed in the Home where the author lived from 1755 to 1763. Many of his manuscripts and letters Are on display. Since this is known As an International City a visitor should see Why. The european Headquarters of the United nations is Here and Tours take in rooms where treaties that affect peace in the world were discussed and signed. Across the Street is the International red Cross museum which tells the Story of the humanitarian organization in pictures film clips and words.  8&s Ron Jenson Napoleon s Marble sarcophagus rests Fop a Granite Pedestal. The coffin and its covering rest on a Pedestal of Green Granite placed on a floor mosaic that depicts some of Napoleon s greatest victories. It is a Serene place Cool and reverential. People talk in whispers As if afraid of disturbing the emperor. A ticket is required to share this space. A metro ride away is be Pere Lachaise the marvelous cemetery that contains the remains of some of the greatest names of French a and world a culture Chopin Proust Gertrude Stein Oscar Wilde. But follow the crowd and you will end up at the grave of Jim Morrison Lead Singer of the doors a Rock band that burned brightly for a time at the end of the 1960s. On this sunny thursday afternoon perhaps 80 people Are at Morrison s modest grave which is squeezed in among those of people lost to history but somewhat near the one belonging to Moliere. The visitors Many of them born following Morrison s death in 1970, drink wine smoke dope and listen to music w Hile basking in the ambience of a Man who abused alcohol and drugs and died in a Paris Bathtub. Sitting on a nearby grave in the sunlight is a parisian wearing a Green Felt hat and a continued on Page 8 a amps Ron Jensen Bordeaux France is a town Worth walking. May 13, 1992 travel Europe 7