Despite the cold weather, tropical parrots, such as the Ring-necked Parakeet, have taken up residence in some German cities. Ornithologists suppose that they descended from escaped pets.
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

Das Ding vor Ort

Colorful disks fly over the castle of Karlsruhe, hit a garbage can and are cheered on by a few guys… Welcome to disk golf Karlsruhe!

Water fountains: they not only give us fresh water, but they are also often architectural works of art. In this video Günther and Gaby Walz give us a tour through the city of Karlsruhe, showing us the most important fountains and explaining their significance. Enjoy this little plunge into Karlruhe's history!

Braced for up to 70,000 believers, Berlin’s Olympic stadium will be the site of Holy Mass celebrated by Germany’s own Pope Benedict XVI. Both wine and bread have important roles to play. The nuns at the Abbey of St. Gertrude will do their part as well. Learn about the cloister’s bakery, which has been operational now for decades, supplying congregations and cloisters throughout the region (and now the Pope himself) with this important holy emblem of the Christian faith.

The audience at the International Model Train Exhibition in Göppingen, Germany was mostly men. But when it comes to the landscape construction on a smaller scale, women have taken over. To all these fanatics, their model trains aren't just toys - they're much more than that!
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

The new generation of bodybuilding women focuses on athletic and well-trained bodies instead of pure muscle mass — as Carmen Spindler demonstrates in her fitness studio.
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

It is the latest hype on the internet: traffic planning in Schwäbisch Gmünd. A Facebook group has called out in grand style to find a name for the new city tunnel. Tens of thousands have voted for the "Bud Spencer Tunnel", named after the Spaghetti-Western film star!
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

The International Green Week in Berlin is the world's most famous agricultural trade fair. This year the farmers are very pleased with the results and with the increased consumer interest in agricultural products and renewable production processes.
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

The Domain Dahlem is a former estate, innovative working farm and museum in Berlin. Here people of all ages can see the animals and learn about green agricultural practices. The 800 year-old manor and current “green oasis” was named a lighthouse project in the nationwide “Ideas for the Education Republic” competition in 2011-2012.

The desire to be able to see further and further out into space is made possible by an amazingly large telescope in the Ataca wilderness in the northern part of Chile. It is aptly called VLT ("very large telescope") and gives us a glimpse into the cosmic past. Enjoy this journey back in time! A documentary by WissensMagazin.

He won one of the famous industry's prizes "The Golden Scissors" - and works in a cloister in Fulda. Highest quality, individual design and modelling turn these custom-made suits into outstanding products manufactured by the Fransiscan monk.
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

The German NGO Welthungerhilfe presents a campaign at a train station in Berlin to mark the 2011 global hunger index.

Actress Veronica Ferres is present at the launch of "Generation Vodka", a new book about the ever more prevalent phenomenon of binge drinking among teens.
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

Flaunting, not scrimping, is the order of the day: at the Tendence consumer goods trade fair it's all about "deception." This is what the customers want, at least according to designers who introduce ever more pseudo-luxury goods. Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

Friedberger Platz is a happening place in Frankfurt and, other than a few minor glitches, even a pleasure for the restaurant owners whose establishments are busy every Friday evening.