European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Antique quest tired of shopping buy Fries Dine it the cafeteria or have a full fledged meal. V a myriad of purchases Are available at Tongren from Carousel horses and baby carriages top photo to dolls and Teddy bears above to ancient timepieces right. A amps photos by Rosemary Sawyer i. J k v a v v a i an ,71 / a a travellers tips North sea it nether vips a getting there to get to Tongren by car take the Tongren exit from either Highway e-313 or e-40. In bilingual Belgium signs might also give the town s French name of tongues. Follow signs to the City Center where a you will come to a Street that circles remnants of the City s roman Wall. The Street name changes according to the Section of the Wall it Borders but it continues to end in a. The Market is located at a Bemarkt and along Leopold Al the town s Eastern Wall. Tongren can be reached by train. The train station located at stations Plein is just one Block cast of the Market a accommodations for an Early Start on the Market try four Star hotel ambit cd which is located fight on the Market Square at Vee Markt 2, prices which include breakfast Range from 3,100 belgian francs about $94 for a single to 3,750 about $113 for a double. Guests should Reserve Early for saturday nights. Telephone 012 262950. Remember to add the country code 32 if dealing from outside Belgium. A less expensive alternative is the Lido hotel located just a few blocks from the antique Market at Grote Markt 19. The hotel has just five double rooms so plan to Book at least a few Days in Advance for the weekend. Rooms at the two Star hotel Cost 1,950 belgian francs about $60. Breakfast is an additional 150 belgian francs about $4.50 per person. Telephone is 012-231948 Don t forget the country Codea eating while shopping for Antiques you can take a Coffee break at cafeteria Ebur Odenhal a Plain cafe located on one Side of the Market s Only totally enclosed Hall. Coffee costs 45 francs a cup about $ 1,50. A regular Beer or dark belgian Beer brewed by Trappist monks costs 60 francs about $2. Belgian Cherry and a Strawberry Beers Kriek and framboise respectively also Cost 60 francs. If your stomach starts rumbling but you Don t want to break from shopping until the last Vendor packs up try a serving of French Fries at Karels Fri ten a stand on the Northeast Corner of the Market. Forty five francs about $1.50 will buy a Good sized portion of the belgian s famous twice Fried treats doused in Ketchup or other toppings such As Mayonnaise tartar sauce or a thousand Island Type sauce. Consider do Pelgrim on the beg Inhof when it s time for a full meal or just a snack. The charming old half timbered restaurant offers soups pancakes omelettes belgian waffles Spaghetti sandwiches and a few items from the Grill. Meal prices Range from about 200 to 350 francs about $6 to $11. To get to the beg Inhof walk along the line of vendors beside Leopold Al until you come to a big City Gate called the Moeren Pool turn right through the Gate and walk straight ahead until you see a roman and gothic style Church called the begin Hokerk. De Pelgrim is across the Street from the main doors to the Church which by the Way is Worth a Short after lunch visit. A tourist information the Tongren tourist office is located near the Crole Markt at Stadth Isolein 9. It is open workdays Only from sept 30 to april 30 from 9 . Till noon and 1 . Till 4 30 . In the summer months the office is open daily. Telephone 012-232961. Tel fax is 012-391143. Callers from outside Belgium must add the country code of 32. A Rosemary Sawyer March 4, 1993 stripes Magazine 7 7