A beautiful city on the top of the river in the northern german state shes the choice. And i chose this dissimulation for a very specific reason. Music is known as a Christmas Town and thats why im here at christmas time i really hope to get into the christmas the mood and of course get to know the city as well. Ill definitely make my way to the heights gate its the best known landmark and symbol of the city. Will also check out a few museums like the buddha. And well enjoy a christmas video sent in by two viewers from cousin in russia. There are a number of Christmas Markets in new big this one is in the north of the old town. How about a kiss. Is ive never seen this before a Christmas Market with maritime flare. All this reminds us that the sailors and fisherman used to live in this area because not only located on the river but also close to the baltic sea its only about twenty kilometers away from here and this is st the mariners church. This stately church is a memorial site for International Seafarers who have died at sea a life boat commemorates one particularly tragic incident in one thousand nine hundred fifty seven a sailing vessel called the pommy sank in the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane eighty men died some were still quite young. Son jack who would be or St James Church is one of five large churches in the center of the town ill come back later and its supposed to be a really trying quill here. Well continue by strolling through loop express to flea decorated old town. The town hall dates back to the thirteenth century altered over the centuries it combines a variety of architectural styles just across the way i grip the chance to treat myself to the taste of christmas which is available in many shapes and sizes. Big mars upin is known the world over need to it is probably the most famous manufacturer. The building also houses a small mars opinions ian ive arranged to meet a Company Spokesperson here. But what does more as a band have to do with christmas year germany they go hand in hand there and yes theyre very closely linked marzipan still is most popular at christmas historically that was partly because the two ingredients all mens and sugar were very expensive so it was a treat reserved for special occasions such as holidays thats why mars upin is so closely associated with christmas and easter and will be helped as long as a month and so you make mars a bed with all means of sugar and what else you know its pathetic thats about it but theres a little more to it when you buy the ingredients make sure the omens are of high quality from the mediterranean for instance they have an intense flavor and are ideal for making good mars a pan. Then theyre blended with sugar but it matters how much sugar you know the less the better so that the mars upin isnt too sweet the. Bone was why is mars the pan such a big thing here in little big the loopback was part of the hens yannick only it was a leading Economic Center in europe and the ingredients were readily available so it was easy enough for confectioners to make mars a pan because they could always get omens and sugar. How do visitors from abroad like the pot and if the one percent want to it always differ slightly depending on where they come from in england for instance mars upin is well known they know what it is and theyre familiar with the need to take a brand because england is one of our primary export partners japanese visitors often ask what is mars upin so we have to explain how its made and whats in it chocolate pralines arent as common there as they are here in germany either so its always quite interesting and once theyve tried it they usually like it. Just like. Here in the museum you can learn all sorts of things about the history of mars append and the need to add a Family Business founded over two hundred years ago wow these are really intricate works of art and theyve all been made from ours a pair id like to try my hand at that. Hello im look at is because i was hi im barbara have you ever done this i know im never its not hard at first to roll it into a ball. On this beach in a bit like making a snowball yes like a snowball most of mine looks different than yours looks more like an egg. Im not yet finished by it. What are we making a cat with a santa hat. Now i need to bolt it to a pear shape. And then i form the front legs. Next we make the ears and tail. Its pretty detailed work. The ice complete with pupils heres how it looks so far. This is barbara all of this once mine thats not true ok ok ill tell the truth for this one this ones mind as you see mine is slightly do you forget the formula last step the santa had this could save my creation. Well so this kids a little corky. Thanks barbara pleasure you did great by. Christmas is also celebrated in a big way in russia but in january. And over from cousin phil the spectacular Christmas Lights in their city heres our weekly if youre a video. Narrow streets due to a lack of space during the middle ages houses were built. Back then it probably felt cramped today it seems romantic many of these small houses are rented out as holiday homes. Ellis and chord charts are typical of the old they were created when new big grew rapidly in the middle ages kommersant made the city rich at that time. Its location on the river and close proximity to the baltic sea were very advantageous the old warehouses are still quite impressive. The most famous. Gates in two thousand and six it was even stamped on the two year old so if you go to the gate there you can really learn something about the history of this city. Great wealth fosters envy. The holston gate was built in the fifteenth century to help defend the city. And if id had a weapon and the city were under siege yes id probably have fought. I think id actually use the cannon to defend the city took me to stock photo id in the first id have tried to protect myself with a shield and attacked with a lance. Fortunately those times are long gone behind these walls which are a metre thick in places theres now a museum holston gate was one of the three city gates in the back but im gonna live it was an extremely important trade hub on the baltic sea coast it was the first ports the First Christian city it was the gateway to the east. One of the major trade goods was dried cotton was also eating a lot on land. So go ahead and touch it nothing can happen the talk dried fish cod being so much like any of you ever try to do what you would you like to this evening should i prepare some for you. It feels like plastic. But its real. Know but i dont think my teeth could take. People of lower back where experienced seafarers they were constantly developing and improving their sea going technology. For life challenge lets take a look under this cover we can see some of the navigational instruments of the time theres a compass a sextant and a telescope. And six to and. What would have happened if enemies or foes had actually invaded the city then all the men all citizens would have been called to arms. But that wasnt necessary the city was never attacked in those days. I tell you i think its fascinating. Im not from here and ive never seen such thick walls before they. Come im on by the fact that these structures were built by hand and as long that it takes you back to the middle ages you really get a sense of what it was like that side. Seafaring and trait you can learn more about it in the european hands musial. The hands the attic league wasnt allegiance of trading guilds and talents in the middle ages it extended from they are going to london and from bruges to know if go to. The merchants often spend years away from home on adventurous and dangerous journeys. On display are documents and trade agreements dating from the handy attic periods. No i dont at welcome isnt were here and whoosh in an installation our museum doesnt just have displayed cases it also has staged historical rooms and then here you see a stall where goods from no corrupt were traded this is a reproduction of a linen material but it must have looked a lot like this in the middle ages but what depth they trade here you have the fly to hand sciatic merchants traded in everything they had in the middle ages things you might consider consumer goods such as grain but also things we see here things made of metal weapons furs wax those are all things the merchants bought and sold at the session its great that visitors can Touch Everything here though it isnt as im were here in a room that depicts a mid fourteenth century trading hall in bruges. Some. And heres a stall where you can see more or less how weapons armor and small drinking vessels were sold think of that would cut in fact off one or if it how much of a role did you basically its considered the queen of the hands of. The hands of yeah thats right lou big plays a central role because most of the huns sciatic days were held in lubec these meetings were basically a council where the citys or their merchants met to discuss decisions and in the end pass resolutions i just did me good because its a fast one and how important is the hands yet again today its a tag nowadays a new hands Yannick League has been founded its an alliance of towns dealing with improving tourism boosting trade and networking the new Hanseatic League was founded in one thousand nine hundred eighty so in a way its a continuation i might have. Another recommendation for you three museums very catered to famous men who are jurists who live in your basic or came from here the special feature is that each of them has received a nobel prize. Thomas munn going to gus and villi bunked these are all names associated with liebeck our first museum tip is the village house. The former west german chancellor was born and raised here in do back. A staunch social democrat in one thousand nine hundred seventy one but was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his policy of rapprochement with the eastern bloc countries. Right next door is another museum worth a visit its dedicated to the writer sculptor painter and graphic artist going to cuss. He was awarded the nobel prize in literature in one thousand nine hundred ninety nine one of his best known novels is the tender. Literature in a museum doesnt have to be dry as dust. Its. We present our to literature in a modern way using multimedia exhibitions so that people can see going to grosses life and work via films music audio recording say and video im going to leave one fact i can come. And then theres the wouldnt book house the setting of the novel wooden books for his saga about a merchants family thomas mann received the nobel prize in literature in one thousand nine hundred twenty nine every year during advent a room is decorated to represent the familys christmas room. I get started if theres one object here among all the presents on the table is very special thats the toys theater that hundred receives its worth noting that thomas money also had such a toys theater and later said it was the most prized and meaningful toy of his childhood because it stimulated his imagination so much. The festive readings from the chapter christmas at the book in books have become a tradition and join radical was in the large drawing room was already closed off mars upon and brown cake were already on the table sure it was already christmas and the town outside. Now im going to take a look at you big from above the best place to do that is the Observation Deck in st peters church. By the way. Is a unesco World Heritage site more than one thousand buildings here are landmarked. And now from cold germany to warm brazil in our meet a local slot we visit a nice polity for a man this she lives in the largest city of brazil in sao paulo and shows us the most beautiful places there. May be the sun welcome to sell paulo im on a nice and im a poly stana thats what they call the locals here today im going to show you my city were starting on the main street the oven eat up lets go. I mean the other nato is the heart of sao paolo companies multinationals banks museums and other institutions are all headquartered here so paolo is brazils most important financial cultural and Economic Center. Was as i said earlier week the traffic is chaotic here but on sundays cars are banned and theres a lot happening on the streets so because of the budget on. The back. I think i mean theres a dancing everywhere and free dance courses this one is the popular summer rock. This is huge. Huge. Huge. I mean. This hour paolo is also on the oven its our city landmark. And its the most Renowned Art Museum in brazil because it has the largest collection of european art in latin america. So it contains work by such artists as renoir the brazilian artists candido party nadi monday and van gogh. I gotta stop here we are in a beat up where our park we probably stand as love to come here because theres not much green in the city otherwise. I think the here you can get a sense of sao paolo size it has more than twelve million inhabitants so its the most populated city in south america. There are also museums in the park and buildings by Oscar Niemeyer brazils most famous architect follows. As every palestinian know can recognize from the street lamps where we are in the lead that daddy district. This is where the largest Japanese Community outside japan lives there are also koreans chinese and other nationalities. I can go you can buy presents go shopping and buy food here. Its a very lively district every sunday theres a market here. I think what is the best place to eat typical japanese dishes and whether for food or other reasons its definitely worth a visit. Ive got is now were in villa mud elena poly stunna. Id like to come here to enjoy the nightlife meet friends and drink a beer thats what im going to do. So our tour ends here i hope youve enjoyed it come visit south palo. Even thing is falling which is the best time to visit many of the Christmas Markets and lets head back to the town hall. Mulled wine Christmas Decorations roast it all mince its also entice see. Everything start codes and shines is that all you need to get in the Christmas Spirit are you getting in the mood for christmas im on a spending spree no i am fine and christmas i think lubeck always goes all out and it does a beautiful job. I come here every year to drink mulled wine and eat donuts with my family i think its great. Yes of course you can see there is a lot of small shops and one can really enjoy the dippers s. In and. Dubai its bizarre under this yes. Harmony the whole town and the city of lights thats what i love especially at this time of year of ember december the dark months its lovely and then. In the fairy tale forest you can see depictions of stories by the brothers kim. And gretel. King thrush beard and the frock king. And who is this my namesake lucas or luke the engine driver. Now were at the mediaval market. Over here its a bit more quiet in cosy the way it should be at christmas time. The day is over and im in the christmas the mood the medieval flair of the old town certainly adds to the festive atmosphere well this mixture of seafaring tradition and Christmas City is certainly something very special that i have never experienced before now theres only one thing missing. Back to st where singing Christmas Carols is an annual tradition. Thanks. Alex. Charged up and ready to hit the road with an ecard across europe. Are moving from italy all the way to norway. Whether innovative comeback for Sporting Goods got to meet emissions free. Across europe far let your car is it possible. Europe goes electric the beat in germany the boozy meet some of the. On freedom and home. Where i come from the region is rich in history style and talent but so poor in education opportunity and freedom this makes it especially difficult for independent journalists i see many of the younger promising journalists who are now making names for themselves all over the. Song live along the way some might follow. With continue. Their experience of freedom in a sense is like that fenians of day you can visit but your call come back from. Mining is your fish would i work at the end of it. And then fresh d. W. Me speak your language. For content in dari pashto and fortune prospects for returning our web special to the refugee journey some life in germany and the prospects for those returning home. To join the discussion on t. W. Dot com and on facebook. Prospects for return issues t. W. May for months. When im traveling to be comfortable. But i also want to stay up to date on the latest news events. And d. W. Makes that part of traveling easy just because its available and thousands of Hotels Resorts and cruise ships worldwide. Have you found the domain sign in the subject that shows d. W. In your room you could win a great price to d w dot com travel quiz. This is you know we news live from berlin a major prisoner swap between Ukrainian Forces and separatist rebels the exchange of three hundred eighty prisoners is underway in Eastern Ukraine well go live to our correspondent in