European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 18, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse The e ardennes ardennes one Happy camper lands a 12-Inch Rainbow Trout near Bastogne. Is Ken Goorge food or the Battle of the Waistband bulge if you re counting calories or cholesterol and travelling to Belgium take along a bag lunch. Hotel breakfasts will Likely include thin slices of smoked Belgium Ham cheese maybe soaked in Beer half a stick of butter croissants baked with the other half and Coffee with thick Cream. A a Cooks that speak French. Lunch perhaps at a Fri Terie or Little French Fry stand can also pump up the Low density lipids. The menu will Likely include a bowl of Fries meat and chunks of fat Fried and soda or a Beer both possibly fruit Flavoured. About 300 or 400 belgian francs about $9 to $12 for the pleasure and gravel parking lot. Note ice often comes with soft drinks but not water. About $1.50 a pop. This is a Welcome treat for people used to paying $3 or $4 for a Small lukewarm cola in Germany for dinner expect the elegance and courses of a Fine French meal,.but with pickles. In Small eateries the pickles come on top of greens in the classier spots they turn up a separate plate. ,. In Small cafes three course specials Cost about 500 belgian francs about $15. In nicer restaurants expect to pay at least 1,000 belgian francs about $30 for the same meal. You la Likely get pickles in either Case. Accommodations expect Small old Europe style hotels in the ardennes. If Agatha Christie s detective Hercule Poirot were real he would be checked in Down the Hall. Accommodations Are charming or challenging depending upon whether your bathroom is in your room or Down the Hall. In towns like la Roche Bastogne and Houff Alize rooms with showers run about $50 to $100 per couple per chalet hotel on the Hillside above la Roche in Ardenne is about the Ritz Iest hotel in town for about $40 per person. That includes television Shower minibar and Balcony with a View of the Castle ruins and a ghost that haunts it at 10 30 promptly each summer night. Getting there to reach the belgian ardennes from Central Germany today is As Tricky As it was in world War ii since major highways do not Lead East West. Consider a Northern or Southern route. From the South approach the Region the Way Patton tanks did from Arlon take f i or e5 a hi8hway 4 via Bastogne. From the North take e-40 via Cologne and Aachen to e-42 to Almedy and St. Vim. J from Brussels Belgium take e-411 to Highway 921 to Bastogne. R Tours information for driving Tours to historic Sites Are available at the tourist office san. Bastogne and la Roche in Ardenne parking towns like. Bastogne have ample parking costing about 60 cents an hour. Park the car Hunt f Down the Street put cd the machine and the ticket in window i highways belgian expressways Are so Well lit at might that the belgians like to brag that they Are visible from the Moon history buffs. Unlike the Normandy France 50th anniversary Celebration of a Day the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the bulge is not regionally coordinated. Villages in the ardennes Only have information for their area. On a recent visit the information centers at trois Ponts and St. Vith did not have information in English. However a woman in the trois Ponts Center guided us to an american memorial in the Day Park. Military history buffs May get a Little frustrated if they do not speak French. The la Roche Central information Center has a Beautiful packet on exploring the Region but not in English. A Best bets for information on travel and commemorative events include Bastogne information Center at Mcauliffe square061-212711. La Roche in Ardenne Central tourist information Center at place do Marche 15.telephone 084-411342. Henri Chapelle american military cemetery at tour Belgium near Reupen. Telephone 087-oo7173. .,.," to Call from outside the country dial your International Access code and the country code 32 and drop the first 0, outdoors for information about outdoor activities each town has brochures on camping kayaking hiking and Parks for children. In la Roche in Ardenne four person paddle boats rent for 500 belgian francs about $15 per hour. Kayaks rent for 150 belgian francs about $4.50 per hour. Mountain bikes Cost 600 about$18 fora 10 stripes Magazine August 18f 1994
