Published: March 21, 2008 09:48 pm            

Two groups from sister city visit Cullman

By David Lazenby

davidl@cullmantimes.com

There is nothing unusual about a group of visitors from Frankweiler, Germany visiting Cullman. After all the European burg is Cullman’s sister city.

However, it’s not every day that two groups from Frankweiler show up to tour Cullman on the same day.

On Friday, Elaine Fuller, director of the Cullman County Museum, was surprised when a second group of visitors from the hometown of Col. John G. Cullmann showed up.

“We’ve had seven visitors from our sister city today,” she said.

Cullman and Frankweiler formed a permanent partnership in 1987, stimulating visits between the two towns. “It’s kind of a cultural exchange,” Fuller said.

The first family to visit Cullman Friday, Hubert, Gabi and Anna Mardian, were in the United States to visit a family member who is at Fort Rucker where the Germany Army member is receiving training.

“It’s very different from Germany,” said Klaus Fiendel as he interpreted for one of his travelmates, Jochen Richter, who were in Cullman with their wives, Carola Fiendel and Petra Richter.

Klaus said one of those differences has to do with size. “The cities are all really long,” he said adding, the width of their streets and the size of the vehicles navigating them are also larger than they are in Germany.

Differences were also found during dining experiences. However, the German guests said they have enjoyed American cuisine so far.

They also said they enjoyed the hospitality of their guests, praising the “warm and friendly” nature of those they encountered in Cullman.

        

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