Sister Cities’ Market - Bringing the World Together

Behind his fogged-up glasses, Vitali Liberov’s eyes shine when he talks about his products. And Sotos Xognos can tell you volumes about the friendship between Greeks and Germans, the Aegean Sea and olives and honey. “Smell this soap. Mmmm, lavender …” says Katia Laisney, “And the onion soup – It’s so fantastically French”. The aroma of Spanish Christmas “Mantedacos” mingles with Nicaraguan coffee before the scent of Rumanian “Tuică” plum brandy wafts over.

“It’s like a global village here,” says Marion Dykes with a smile. “There’s a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.”

Ronny Laudenbach arrives with his baked goods from Gera. He represents a family of bakers who can look back proudly at a 210-year baking tradition. It’s mainly Thuringian Christmas stollen that’s in demand here, along with the marzipan stollen for which the bakery, now in the hands of the seventh generation, has created its own recipe.

There’s time for a little chat and a cup of South Tyrolean mulled wine at the booth of Klausen and Montan – after all, folks haven’t seen each other for a long time.

At the same time, volunteers are arranging goods in the booths of the partner associations from San Carlos, Córdoba and Sri Lanka. There’s Christa, who so fell in love with her sister city during an exchange visit, that she has taken time off to help in the booth. Lea, the youngest in the team, is looking forward to selling products, meeting colleagues in the other booths and greeting guests at the market.

In the conversations with visitors, it’s not only the products on offer that are in focus. “We’re often asked questions about our association, the situation in our partner country and its prospects for the future” sums up the former head of the Nablus Initiative, Paul Braune. “We’re always happy to provide information.”

Vitali Liberov nods in agreement: “Yes, I’m happy to talk about my country, the people there and the things that are important to them”.