Strasbourg

"In the City of Sylvia," a 2007 film by the Spanish writer and director José Luis Guerín, runs a mere 80 minutes and has almost no dialogue and the barest semblance of a plot. But from seemingly minimal means, Guerín fashions a gorgeous object and an endlessly suggestive experience: a love story, a city symphony, a surrealist fable and a self-reflexive meditation on the thrill and the danger of looking. A cult hit on the festival circuit — new to DVD May 24 from Cinema Guild — "Sylvia" follows the romantic quest of an unnamed young man over three days in the French city of Strasbourg.

THE BEST WAY TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE From LAX, Air France and Lufthansa offer connecting service (change of plane) to Strasbourg. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $574, excluding taxes and fees, until June 30. TELEPHONES To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 33 (country code for France), 3 (regional code) and the local number. WHAT TO DO Musée du Cristal de Saint-Louis/Cristalleries de Saint Louis, Rue Coëtlosquet, Saint-Louis-lès Bitche; 87-06-40-04, http://www.tourisme-lorraine.fr/fr/pageTouristique.asp?

At 11:30 p.m. on a recent Thursday, while this provincial town on the Franco-German frontier was closing its doors for the night, the European Parliament was still in session on the outskirts of town. There was nothing unusual about this midnight meeting, which Strasbourgers and members of the Parliament jokingly call the "Late Show."

"In the City of Sylvia," a 2007 film by the Spanish writer and director José Luis Guerín, runs a mere 80 minutes and has almost no dialogue and the barest semblance of a plot. But from seemingly minimal means, Guerín fashions a gorgeous object and an endlessly suggestive experience: a love story, a city symphony, a surrealist fable and a self-reflexive meditation on the thrill and the danger of looking. A cult hit on the festival circuit — new to DVD May 24 from Cinema Guild — "Sylvia" follows the romantic quest of an unnamed young man over three days in the French city of Strasbourg.

Mayor Joseph Klifa of Mulhouse issued a call to his citizens to crowd into the square beneath the ornate 16th-Century City Hall and welcome Premier Jacques Chirac to this industrial town of 115,000 in Alsace on the German border. But when the tall, smiling, hand-waving Chirac arrived Monday, no more than 500 townspeople stood in the square to greet him, including a score of Socialists who whistled and held up jeering signs.

West Germany has the most "successful" cities in Western Europe, according to a recent survey done for the European Economic Community. The study analyzed 103 metropolitan areas for livability and economic health and found that overall, West German cities ranked highest.

We were sitting in a cafe in Cassis, watching fishermen wander in and out of the restaurants along the old port. The air smelled of salt and licorice and the sun went skittering across the water. We had just finished the world's best ratatouille-- eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers and onions cooked slowly into a sort of hearty jam. Patricia Wells was taking notes. "I cook the vegetables separately, madame," said the proprietress, "and only combine them at the last minute."

The European Parliament, meeting in plenary session beginning next Monday, plans to discuss expansion of the European Union, formerly known as the European Community. A final decision may still be months away, but the proposal to add four new members to the 12-nation body--Finland, Austria, Norway, and Sweden--already has been the subject of negotiations and controversy on the continent.

Militant French farmers, opposed to international agricultural trade reforms pushed by the Bush Administration, hope to rally farmers from other European states to their cause in a massive demonstration today at the seat of the European Parliament. Protest organizers expect more than 50,000--including a strong showing from across the Rhine in Germany--to join them in opposing a Nov. 21 agreement between U.S. and European Community representatives on oilseed subsidies.

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport was upset in the final of the Strasbourg Open in France on Saturday by Claudine Schaul, who is ranked 66th and won her first WTA Tour title. Schaul won, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, beating a player who is ranked No. 4 and is a three-time Grand Slam tournament champion. On her way to the final of the clay-court tuneup for the French Open, she beat three seeded players -- No. 5 Tina Pisnik, No. 2 Ai Sugiyama and No. 4 Emilie Loit.

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport was upset in the final of the Strasbourg Open in France on Saturday by Claudine Schaul, who is ranked 66th and won her first WTA Tour title. Schaul won, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, beating a player who is ranked No. 4 and is a three-time Grand Slam tournament champion. On her way to the final of the clay-court tuneup for the French Open, she beat three seeded players -- No. 5 Tina Pisnik, No. 2 Ai Sugiyama and No. 4 Emilie Loit.

Four Algerians believed to belong to an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist cell were found guilty in a German court Monday of conspiracy to commit murder in a foiled plot to blow up a French Christmas market and cathedral in December 2000. The four men were handed prison sentences ranging from 10 to 12 years, capping a closely watched case that investigators considered important to understanding the workings of Al Qaeda throughout Europe.

One week after suffering her worst defeat of her tennis career, Steffi Graf appears to have regained her forehand stroke in the final tuneup for the French Open. Graf beat 15-year-old Mirjana Lucic of Croatia, 6-2, 7-5, Saturday in the final of the Strasbourg Open in France for her first victory of the year. Lucic lost for the first time in her second pro tournament.

In a country where Michelin stars are more important than Hollywood stars, there's been speculation for weeks in France on who would be the winners and losers in this year's most powerful guidebook awards. And the envelopes please. Antoine Westermann of Restaurant Buerehiesel in Strasbourg was the only chef elevated to three-star status last week--not unexpected considering the 47-year-old Alsatian chef (who mixes beer with ice cream) is highly rated by rival guidebook Gault-Millau.

The European Parliament, meeting in plenary session beginning next Monday, plans to discuss expansion of the European Union, formerly known as the European Community. A final decision may still be months away, but the proposal to add four new members to the 12-nation body--Finland, Austria, Norway, and Sweden--already has been the subject of negotiations and controversy on the continent.

Militant French farmers, opposed to international agricultural trade reforms pushed by the Bush Administration, hope to rally farmers from other European states to their cause in a massive demonstration today at the seat of the European Parliament. Protest organizers expect more than 50,000--including a strong showing from across the Rhine in Germany--to join them in opposing a Nov. 21 agreement between U.S. and European Community representatives on oilseed subsidies.

THE BEST WAY TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE From LAX, Air France and Lufthansa offer connecting service (change of plane) to Strasbourg. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $574, excluding taxes and fees, until June 30. TELEPHONES To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 33 (country code for France), 3 (regional code) and the local number. WHAT TO DO Musée du Cristal de Saint-Louis/Cristalleries de Saint Louis, Rue Coëtlosquet, Saint-Louis-lès Bitche; 87-06-40-04, http://www.tourisme-lorraine.fr/fr/pageTouristique.asp?

One week after suffering her worst defeat of her tennis career, Steffi Graf appears to have regained her forehand stroke in the final tuneup for the French Open. Graf beat 15-year-old Mirjana Lucic of Croatia, 6-2, 7-5, Saturday in the final of the Strasbourg Open in France for her first victory of the year. Lucic lost for the first time in her second pro tournament.

I'd miscalculated how long it would take me to drive from Paris east to Strasbourg. It's only about 300 miles, but on the way I stopped to taste champagne in Reims. By the time I reached Strasbourg, negotiated the narrow, one-way streets and found my hotel, it was already after 10 p.m. At that hour in most places in France, you need good luck to find anything to eat other than a soggy croque monsieur . It could have been very grim.