Travelling for the first time to Germany and Poland as a member of the Sister Cities’ delegation, Suzanne Nann described the visit as a “fresh and amazing” adventure.

For trip organizer, Christine Colley, it was her third time to Dierdorf, Germany, but her first to Zamosc, Poland.

“It was a wonderful experience for me to share these points of interest with the folks,” said Colley. She grew up near Dierdorf and returns annually to visit family there. She last visited Dierdorf two years ago.

In addition to Colley and Nann, the small delegation included Elizabeth and Bogumil Horschem, Ruby Moreno and Bev Tall. They met Carol Carroll, president of the Sister Cities Committee, in Dierdorf. The Horschems celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary during the trip. Each participant paid their own travel expenses.

The small group flew on the maiden Condor Airlines flight from Phoenix to Stuttgart, Germany, leaving May 18 and returning June 1.

Dierforf dignitaries decorated homes with American flags and toasted them at a champagne reception after the 12-1/2-hour flight. Dierdorf’s population is about 6,000.

The group spent its first night in a small country hotel of about 10 rooms, all occupied by the Americans.

“We didn’t miss a beat,” said Colley, leading the group to Cologne on the second day. They toured the old town, visited the famed twin-spired cathedral and panorama observatory for a view of the city and Rhine River.

A tour of Wartburg castle, a preserved Middle Age fortress and Thurijgia to see half-timbered houses involved another day before moving on to Dresden, a rebuilt city after being nearly totally destroyed during the war.

On the other hand, Krakow, Poland was never damaged during the war. No visit to Krakow is complete without visiting the Wieliczka salt mines, a 700-year-old underground labyrinth of wall carvings, 12 scenes from the New Testament, chandeliers and grottos.

The Zamosc City Council honored the group at a session and dinner. They also toured a synagogue and attended a dinner and theater performance of the “Legend of Swedish Table.”

The trip ended with an overnight in Warsaw and flight the next day to Frankfurt and on to Phoenix.

Nann said Zamosc residents who met previous Fountain Hills visitors “were so excited to meet new people.”

“They wanted us to see everything in a few days,” she said. “It’s hard to describe it all. It was so cool.”

The friendliness of their hosts impressed the delegation, said Colley. “They were warm and outgoing,” she added.

Colley said her colleagues appreciated interacting one-on-one with the people rather than as American tourists passing through on a tour bus.

Other designated Sister Cities for Fountain Hills are Kasterlee, Belgium, and Concepcion de Ataco, El Salvador.