Zu einer Großstadt gehört der Straßenlärm. Die Tunisstraße (Nord-Süd-Fahrt) stellt ein Paradebeispiel dar für den Lärm vorbeifahrender PKW und LKW in Köln; wenn die Fahrzeuge in Richtung Süden an der Ampel stehen, rauschen die in Richtung Norden mit Tempo 70 vorbei und umgekehrt. Ein Ort der Ruhe klingt anders. Besonders laut sind dann die Sirenen (Martinshörner) von Polizei- oder Krankenwagen. Diese Aufnahme entstand auf der Fußgängerbrücke vor dem WDR-Gebäude und damit direkt über der Tunisstraße.

Download MP3 Tunisstrasse zur Hauptverkehrszeit

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Nach Ankunft im Köln Bonn Airport geht es zum Gepäckband: Leise dröhnt und summt es vor sich hin.
Die nette Herrenstimme aus dem Lautsprecher heißt uns “Wilkommen in Köln”. Links und rechts knallen die (Klo-)Türen. Eine Frau telefoniert; ein Kind albert herum. Die ersten Koffer kommen, gleich kommt mein Koffer und dann geht es nach Hause.

Download MP3 Köln Bonn Airport Gepäckband

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We are sitting at Ebertplatz subway station; tram No. 16 is humming and waiting for departure. On the right side you hear a man passing by and asking:”Sag mal hast du Interesse an einer Zeitung; vielleicht haste mal ne Spende?” (Interested in buying a newspaper or in donating some money?).
The paper he is selling is called Querkopf. Querkopf is a newspaper which is written and sold by “homeless” people. Then No. 16 departes to Hansa-Ring-Station. We are still sitting at Ebertplatz, on the left a young mother is talking with her two children. You might have recognized that there remains a timide humming in the air - like a droning electric light. It is another No. 16 which is now leaving for Reichensperger Platz.
Thanks to Jochen Schmitt for this beautiful soundscape!

Download MP3 Ebertplatz subway station

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Most people come to Fühlinger See in order to walk around the lake, do some inline skating, take a swim in summer or do rowing. The World Rowing Championship took place in 1998 at Fühlinger Lake (at the rowing regatta); and each year in July the Summer Jam Reggae Festival is being thrown near the lake.
When you get there on saturdays and sundays head for the parking area at the lake; you won’t miss it because this is the spot where RC-Car drivers meet and have their races. It sounds as if real formula one cars are driving around.
I went to the pit stop where all cars get ready for race: Start your engines, we are talking about “1-Gear-machines whose bumpers are not fixed, yet.” That’s what the drivers say. At some parts of the recording you hear real racing cars from the A1 motorway (running south from this area).

Download MP3 Rennwagen am Fühlinger See

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Not only nature; but the derelicts of civilisation are present in the forest: Plastic bags, empty bottles, newspapers and much more rubbish can be found in our woods.
I received an invitation from Querwaldein which is a group of pedagogues teaching children the secrets of nature and the importance of conserving our most precious little diamond. Querwaldein focuses on a sustainable environmental education (nachhaltige Natur- und Umweltbildung) and arranges several events, where children (and youngsters, too!) are able to experience nature and get to know more about animals and plants: The aim is to understand the interrelationship in our environment and to sensitise oneself to act on a sustainable policy.
I joined the group of children and their parents for the 2007 “Querwaldein-Frühjahrsputz” in order to clean up some parts of the forest near Decksteiner Weiher (pond): Attention please and listen closely, you`ll get something to know about the mushroom “Schweine-Oehrchen” (Ohrling-Pilz).

Download MP3 Frühjahrsputz im Wald

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