12. Partnerschaftsmarkt

Red Baron attended the opening ceremony of the 12th Partnerschaftsmarkt on June 12 at the Platz der Alten Synagoge as an observer. At earlier editions, I was active at the joint booth of the Freiburg-Madison-Gesellschaft and the Carl-Schurz-Haus; this year, I passed the torch to younger generations after turning 91 three days earlier.

The weather was cold and rainy. Before Freiburg's Mayor Martin Horn welcomed dignitaries and guests on stage, the Big Band of the Deutsch-Französisches Gymnasium (German-French High School) set the tone. 

Patrick Seeger of the City of Freiburg took the "official" group photo showing the dignitaries who traveled to this year's Partnerschaftsmarkt. While on stage, they gave speeches of varying lengths on the history and the promising future of their partnerships.

Martin is the odd one surrounded by concentrated women's power (©Stadt Freiburg)

From left: Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor of Madison (USA), Jane Tyson, Mayor of Guildford (UK), Freiburg Mayor Martin Horn, Elisa Campoy Soler (City Councilor, Granada, Spain), and Emmanuelle Meunier (Deputy Mayor for International Relations, Besançon, France).

While waiting for the opening ceremony, Dick told Uwe and Helmut about warmer Partnerschaftsmärkte in the past. Indeed, Dick is documented in the 9th, 10th, and 11th editions. This man is indestructible.

Eventually, Mayor Martin Horn took the stage and opened the 12th Partnerschaftsmarkt in the presence of several representatives* from Freiburg's sister cities, who, despite the cold, rainy weather, were in good spirits.
*As for their names, consult the official group photo above.

 

Sheltered under an umbrella, visitors to the opening ceremony listened to the speeches, with Marathon Man (Who else?) Dick standing in the front row.

 

A veritable storm broke loose when Madison's Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway began to unfold her notes. She was firm in her statements. Even a nasty meteorological event cannot blow the friendship between Madison and Freiburg.

In the end, Martin Horn bid farewell to charming Ariane Hötzer. During the city's meetings with representatives from Freiburg's Partnerschaftsvereinen, Red Baron witnessed her expertise and competence in planning these Partnerschaftsmärkte. Goodbye, Ariane, and all the best for your well-deserved retirement.

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The following Saturday, the Partnerschaftsmarkt was bathed in sunlight. Visitors' faces couldn't have been more radiant as they watched the folkloric performances from the various sister cities on stage.

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FMG's Vice President, Frauke Feix, and newly elected President, Eberhard Fugmann, embrace Anke Wiedemann, Head of the International Affairs Team in Mayor Martin Horn's Office, at the Freiburg-Madison booth.

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As in the past, the FMG relied heavily on assistance from students of the Academic Year in Freiburg. Visitors at our booth were greeted with a burst of charm. Thank you, students, for your valuable help.

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And here comes the future. Eberhard's high school students are ready to take the American education challenge and become future FMG members.

For Sunday, Eberhard organized a trip for our visitors from Madison to Freiburg's local mountain, the Schauinsland.

Bringe mich hoch (Take me up high)(©VAG)

Breathtaking view of Freiburg and the Vosges mountains across the Rhine River in neighboring France

Before our group began the uphill walk to the Schauinsland lookout tower, Satya and Eberhard thanked everyone who had contributed to the success of this year's Partnerschaftsmarkt, while Anke carried the youngest participant.

Apotheose and obligation: the group photo (©FS)

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To wrap up the delegation's visit from Madison, the city of Freiburg invited our guests from overseas to dinner at the beer garden of the Kybfelsen restaurant.

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After those exciting but also exhausting days, a bit of fatigue began to set in.

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In the end, happy faces following another successful Partnerschaftsmarkt: Professor Charles James, president of the Madison Sister City Committee, Frauke, and Eberhard smile into the lens of a smartphone.

Charles sent me a couple of photos of the other activities the delegation from Madison went through during their official visit. Their coverage is not the subject of this blog, but one of Charles's photos caught my attention. 

©CJ

It shows Satya and Martin at the Mundenhof, Freiburg's "zoo", in front of the Bison enclosure. In 2018, the city took the representatives of the Partnerschaftsvereine on a walk to the Mundenhof and to the bison living there on a mini prairie.

Proudly, Satya presents the Mundenhof certificate of sponsorship by the City of Madison, Wisconsin, USA, for the Norton American Prairie Bison, while Martin holds firm to a fluffy bison, possibly thinking of his children.

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