We visit the Berlin State Opera’s garage sale, meet a woman who’s a foster mother to children with AIDS, and spend 24 hours with the Duisburg fire department.
Topics
Costumes and Props - Garage Sale At The Opera
When the Staatsoper in central Berlin sold off part of its wardrobe and props , it met with an enthusiastic response. Costumes in particular sold like hot cakes.
The opera house had no choice but to hold a wardrobe and props sale, because the building is set to be renovated in June and will be temporarily closing. 3,000 items used in productions were up for grabs, and we went to see if we could find ourselves a bargain.
The Foster Mother - Looking After Children Who Are HIV Positive
Sabine Rockhoff met Dennis 14 years ago, while she was working as a nurse. He was 9 months old, HIV positive and not expected to survive his first birthday. She took him home with her.
Sabine Rockhoff wanted to make the few months left to the baby as comfortable as possible. Today, Dennis is 14 years old and in good health. He still lives with Sabine, who went on to take in two more children born to mothers with AIDS.
Defying the Elements - The Intrepid Mailman
For the last 33 years, Fiede Nissen has been delivering the mail to the inhabitants of the Halligen islands of Oland, Gröde and Langeness - whatever the weather.
Life can be tough on the Halligen islands on Schleswig Holstein's Wadden Sea-North Sea coast. The islands have no protective dykes, and are often completely cut off from the mainland. So they're always glad to see the mailman!
Not For The Fainthearted - Out and About With The Duisburg Fire Department
A small fire in a kitchen, an accident on the autobahn and a corpse in an apartment -- the Duisburg Fire Department are on call 24 hours a day.
Many children dream of growing up and joining the fire department. The reality of life as a firefighter can come as a shock, not least because they have to work 24-hour shifts. We spend a day with the men from the Duisburg Fire Department.
Flashback: 1880 - The First Restaurant Car in Germany
Silver cutlery and fine china: In days of yore, restaurants cars used to be upmarket and classy. But over the decades, they've been reduced to little more than drab snack bars.
Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) is marking the 130th anniversary of the first restaurant car in Germany with an exhibition in Nuremberg. It features historic crockery and menus and charts the history of the diner and its fall from grace.
Stanislaw Hermann and Cathrin Hissnauer are one of Germany's most successful ballroom dancing teams. They've been dancing since they were children and they're now at the top of their game. In our 5-part series, we accompany them as they prepare for a major contest.
