Dressed in what they call traditional European carpenter outfits, from left, Martin Buettel, Frank Durst, Martin Poth, Thomas Bombe and Mirko Schiechendick walk along Washington Street Tuesday. (Jenny Sevcik The Vicksburg Post)

[1/28/04]Tourists aren’t unusual in Vicksburg, but five, dressed alike and keeping alive a 500-year-old tradition, are a bit rare.

The five Germans in town for a day were dressed in traditional European carpenters’ costumes as they made their way from Los Angeles in an RV they bought for their cross-country journey.

Their goal is to visit as many places as they can before returning to their homes, where they work as carpenters.

“It’s to learn about different cultures and see other types of buildings,” said Martin Poth, one of the travelers who has already been away from home for two years.

The five met while on their own individual trips and decided to travel to the United States together.

They are following a tradition in which carpenters, upon completing their apprenticeships, have to travel away from home for three years and one day.

Poth said their unusual garb, including leather pants and wool vests, makes it easy to find others participating in the tradition.

“Germany is much smaller than America, so it’s not difficult to find each other,” he said.

The group started traveling in Europe before coming to America three weeks ago. Behind them are cities and towns in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana. New Orleans was on the agenda today.

Each carries with him a small book that he gets stamped in each city. In Vicksburg, they were greeted by city and county officials who stamped the books with the official seal.

The towns they visit aren’t based on any research or travel agency, but by looking at maps and picking places along a route.

“We needed a bridge to cross the river,” Poth said, as the reason for a day in Vicksburg.