German opposition party marks bittersweet 150th

French President Francois Hollande, right, gestures next to Sigmar Gabriel, chairman of the German Social Democratic Party, SPD, left, in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2013. Germany's main opposition party , SPD , is celebrating the 150th birthday. The Social Democratic Party is markin…

German opposition party marks bittersweet 150th

German President Joachim Gauck, left, shakes hands with French President Francois Hollande, right, in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2013. Germany's main opposition party. the Social Democratic Party, SPD , is celebrating the 150th birthday. The SPD is marking Thursday's anniversary wit…

German opposition party marks bittersweet 150th

French President Francois Hollande gestures prior a ceremonial act to celebrate 150th birthday of Germany's Social Democratic Party, SPD, in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2013. Germany's main opposition party , SPD , is celebrating the 150th birthday. The Social Democratic Party is mar…

German opposition party marks bittersweet 150th

Sigmar Gabriel, chairman of the German Social Democratic Party , SPD welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel , right, prior a ceremonial act to celebrate the 150th birthday of the SPD in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Germany celebrates composer Wagner's 200th

FILE - In this May 15, 2013 file photo German artist Stephan Balkenhol, right, stands besides a part of his Richard Wagner Monument during the installation in Leipzig, central Germany. The Wagner monument will be unveiled Wednesday, May 22, 2013, to celebrate the German composer's 200th birt…

Germany celebrates composer Wagner's 200th

FILE - In this May 15, 2013 file photo German artist Stephan Balkenhol, right, stands besides a part of his Richard Wagner Monument during the installation in Leipzig, central Germany. The Wagner monument will be unveiled Wednesday, May 22, 2013, to celebrate the German composer's 200th birt…

Animal shots of the week

Seven weeks old ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) twins take a ride on the back of their mother 'Lobatse', center, in the Zoo in Erfurt, central Germany, Friday, May 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

A seven weeks old ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) climbs in its enclosure in the Zoo in Erfurt, central Germany, Friday, May 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

David Beckham

FILE - This is a Oct. 13, 2001 file photo of Soccer player David Beckham during an episode of the German television show in Erfurt, Germany. David Beckham is retiring from soccer after the season, ending a career in which he become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester U…

David Beckham

Animal photos of the week

Meerkats visit their new home during the official opening of a new meerkats compound in the Dresden Zoo, eastern Germany, Monday, April 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal photos of the week

Great White Pelicans play together in the Dresden Zoo, eastern Germany, Monday, April 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Around the world

People costumed as devils and witches gather in Schierke, central Germany, to mark Walpurgis Night, a religious holiday of pre-Christian origins. The overnight April 30-May 1 event is named after St. Walburga, an English nun who helped convert Germans to Christianity in the eighth century.

Colorful, artistic eggs

Easter eggs hang on a tree with about 10,000 Easter eggs in the garden of the retired couple Christa and Volker Kraft in Saalfeld, central Germany, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The Kraft family has been decorating their tree at Easter for more than forty years. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Easter egg fair in Germany

Christa Kraft, right, explains to a young visitor different designs of about 10,000 Easter eggs on a tree in their garden in Saalfeld, central Germany, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The retired couple Christa and Volker Kraft has been decorating their tree at Easter for more than forty years. (AP…

Animal shots of the week

Young Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) stands in a pool in its enclosure in ' in the zoo in Leipzig, Germany, Sunday March 10, 2013. The tapir was born on Feb. 9 and has no name yet. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

A young Malayan male tapir (Tapirus indicus) stands in the enclosure in the zoo in Leipzig, Germany, Sunday March 10, 2013. The tapir was born on Feb. 9 and has no name yet. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal Shots of the Week

Musher Heidi Hiermeier of Germany competes with her sled dogs at the 23. International Sled Dog Race in Oberhof, central Germany,Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal Shots of the Week

Musher Michael Ruopp of Germany starts with his sled dogs at the 23. International Sled Dog Race in Oberhof, central Germany, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Most popular dog breeds of 2012

8.) Poodle Natascha Kolbe of Germany checks the look of a large poodle during the dog-salon competition at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Nordic Combined FIS World Cup

In this long time-exposure photo, Maxime Laheurte of France soars through the air during the provisional competition round at the Nordic Combined FIS World Cup in Klingenthal, Germany, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Laheurte placed 12th. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Photos: Animal shots of the week

Zookeepers measure the height of an elephant during the annual stocktaking the Dresden zoo, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. During the annual inventory the animals are counted, measured and put on the scales. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Photos: Animal shots of the week

A journalist shoots photos of an African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) during the annual stocktaking the Dresden Zoo, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. During the annual inventory the animals are counted, measured and put on the scales. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Krisztina Poschenrieder-Molnar of Germany combs the hair of her setter dog during the dog-salon competition at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Julia Hyppenen of Finland presents her Schnauzer dog to the jury, at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Natascha Kolbe of Germany checks the look of a large poodle during the dog-salon competition at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Nicole Baltes of Germany, right, works on her dog during the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. For the first time, the German Association of groomer carries out an international groomer-championship under European Grooming Associa…

Animal shots of the week

An elephant swims behind a window in the elephants' indoor pool of the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany, on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Amur tiger twin cubs (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Siberian tiger, stand side by side near the mother 'Bella' during their first walks in the enclosure in the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012. The two Amur tiger babies were born on July 20, 2012. …

Animal shots of the week

Two still-nameless Amur tiger twin cubs (Panthera tigris altaica) walk in their enclosure in the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012. The two Amur tiger babies were born on July 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

An Amur tiger cub (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Siberian tiger, looks out of a basket during weighing in the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. Two Amur tiger babies were born on July 20, 2012. The still nameless tigers have achieved a weight of …

Animal shots of the week

A zookeeper holds a Amur tiger cub (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Siberian tiger, during weighing in the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. Two Amur tiger babies were born on July 20, 2012. The still nameless tigers have achieved a weight of about…

Animal shots of the week

Amur tiger twin cubs (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Siberian tiger, sit side by side during a press presentation in the Leipzig Zoo in Leipzig, central Germany Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. The two Amur tiger babies were born on July 20, 2012. The still nameless tigers have achieve…

Germany Miniature World Park

A version of the Statue of Liberty stands in front of the TV-Tower of Berlin, right, in the landscape park Miniwelt (Miniworld) during the sunset in Lichtenstein, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. The cultural park Miniworld presents about 100 original and true-to detail buildings a…

Animal shots of the week

An African elephant enjoys a refreshing shower during a heat wave, at the zoo in Erfurt, central Germany, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. In some parts of Germany, temperatures rose to over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

An African elephant sucks on a big block of iced treat, composed of a frozen mix of fruits and vegetables, during a heat wave at the zoo in Erfurt, central Germany, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. In some parts of Germany temperatures rose over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo…

Animal shots of the week

An African elephant struggles with an ice treat, composed of a frozen mix of fruits and vegetables frozen in ice, during a heat wave at the zoo in Erfurt, central Germany, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. In some parts of Germany temperatures rose over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). (A…

Animal shots of the week

An African elephant struggles with an ice treat, composed of a frozen mix of fruits and vegetables during a heat wave at the zoo in Erfurt, central Germany, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. In some parts of Germany, temperatures rose over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

A two-month-old Barbary ape baby, center, plays with the hair of its mother during warm temperatures in the Erfurt zoo, central Germany, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Giraffe bull 'Lengai', left, cuddles with Giraffe lady 'Limber', right, during warm temperatures in the Erfurt zoo, central Germany, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

A two-month-old Barbary ape baby relaxes on its mother's back during warm temperatures in the Erfurt zoo, central Germany, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

The Sphynx breed cat 'Adam vom Feisastern' of the German breeder Sabine Braeuer waits on a jury table in front of spectators during the International Dog and Cat Exhibition in Erfurt, central Germany, Sunday, June 10, 2012. 126 cats of 25 breeds take part at the exhibition and will be examin…

Animal shots of the week

Fabian Ullrich rides with his horse and his dog along a rape field near Witterda, central Germany, Sunday, April 22, 2012. Weatherforecast predicts changeable weather conditions in Germany for the upcoming days. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

In Germany, 10,000 Easter eggs grace tree, drawing thousands

Volker Kraft decorates a tree with 10,000 Easter eggs in Saalfeld, Germany. Kraft and his wife, Christa, were preparing last month for Easter and the thousands of tourists that flock to their garden. The Kraft family has been decorating the same apple tree for Easter for more than 40 years.

Animal shots of the week

The little black rhinoceros calf (Diceros bicornis michaeli) relaxes in the sand in the Leipzig zoo, central Germany, Sunday, March 25, 2012. The rhinoceros calf was born in Leipzig, Dec. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

The little black rhinoceros calf (Diceros bicornis michaeli) relaxes in the sand in the Leipzig zoo, central Germany, Sunday, March 25, 2012. The rhinoceros calf was born in Leipzig, Dec. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

An as yet unnamed giant otter pup, (Pteronura brasiliensis) eats a fish in the Leipzig zoo, central Germany, Sunday, March 25, 2012. The pup was born in Leipzig, on Dec. 22, 2011. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

A baby kangaroo looks out from his mother's pouch in the Erfurt zoo, central Germany, Thursday, March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Meerkats relax under a heating light during cold temperatures in the Erfurt zoo, central Germany, Thursday, March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Animal shots of the week

Zebras go different ways in the Erfurt zoo, central Germany, Thursday, March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)