Mountain the massive hole in switzerland was long considered unscathed to challenge. And cologne its kind of old time and even for germans their local tradition is a bit of a mystery there are all sorts of quirky customs that are observed including the formation of the khan of those leading triumvirate the socalled. Every year three people pay huge sums of money to be crowned as one of the three leaders the prince the peasant im the maiden that big moment in the spotlight is the parade on rose monday. These performers are treated like celebrities here in cologne the peasant kristoff the maiden emma and the prince michael theyre known as the dragon and theyre floats come at the end of the shrove monday procession. For the performers it caps off five weeks of engagements its been an emotional fun filled ride but also an exhausting one day begins early for the trio theres not a free moment once the season starts since january theyve called a hotel room in their home theres a lot of preparation especially for emma whose make up takes an hour every morning. Police really really im definitely not going to miss this initial ill probably hesitate to touch my face but ill be happy when my skin feels normal again you know in the hotel below market. Its a good. Breakfast but i have to wait. First the dragon attend mass where traditionally they ask the lord to bless the shrove monday parade with fine weather. Cameras are allowed in the church one of the few times the trio isnt being filmed. After that and a quick photo theres finally breakfast the jolly trio is accompanied by a large entourage everywhere they go its definitely not a job for everyone. But for these cologne native spits a dream come true. Thats really a big food boy for five weeks were not the Backstreet Boys and take that combined quite expect that the girls and when you come out of the room everyone is just taking photos one after the other to see your food on for a lot of what everyone gets excited to see you you can provide so much enjoyment its really a gift because. If youre from cologne im into conical youd be crazy not to do this. I. Thought you might need to be a bit crazy to do this as a full time job. That pays with which the dragon go about their day is truly breathtaking and a little overwhelming. On any given day there could be for on stage events to attend as well as a program for the hospital for seniors and another for the blind all in thirty minute blocks of time. I get this appearance in front of an all female audience maiden emma feels right at home. I. Thought i might have made it so its all right for my girls quote unquote my girls its a lot of fun to go to the gals events because they just love to join in and celebrate and see on potty all missing on or off you know. Another appearance takes place at a hospital theyre running late so its straight on to the stage the appearance is broadcast live to all three hundred twenty hospital rooms the auditorium is filled with patients and employees its a welcome relief from the worries of day to day life in a hospital i even even in a hospital they just start sharing i have to have this one was like a light on. The whirlwind tour of cologne continues to be midnight by the time the trio makes it back to the hotel. But its an auction off to that youre awake for two three four hours talking about the day because everyone remembers it differently and then eventually youre not off. Imo thats roughly how the dragon have done it for one hundred thirty five years. The prince his Royal Highness on sense was introduced in eight hundred twenty three as a character who green in the unbridled revelry of the current. The present was meant to represent the citys liberation. Well the maidens chastity stood for colognes impregnability the role has always been played by a man since the carnival associations were run exclusively by men. Is lead and this is a week that goes through we try to stick to tradition but of course we have in a modern society i need to consider that as a chance to move this with a purpose so you have to walk the line between us. Just as i think right now we have the right balance as far as the street carnival is can sound because people talk about it even more go figure out the bush question. This year that tradition has been up filled by michelle dare hold her stuff stuck and arish trubel who will go down in history as the dragon for the twenty eighteen carnival the law be overcome Ash Wednesday and in march the search for next years dragster in will begin. Well lets have a look at what else is happening around europe today in our express weve got updates from windsor and berlin but first lets get another dose of carnival atmosphere from around the continent. Its carnival season with revelers across europe celebrating the banishment of winter in riyadh at croatia over ten thousand people took to the streets for the annual carnival parade. Being taught to address portugal participants poke fun at international politicians. The town of obviously nation spain hosted a foam fest and the extravagantly costume dancers in the carnival parade in santa cruz made tenerife look like rio. Kensington palace has revealed new details about the forthcoming not chills of prince harry and his fiance Meghan Markle theyll be tying the knot on may the nineteenth incident georges chapel windsor castle. Following the ceremony of the couple will lead a carriage procession through windsor giving the public a chance to be part of the occasion. The prince announced his engagement to the american actress last november. The sixty eighth Berlin Film Festival the barely gets underway on february the fifteenth and tickets went on sale on monday diehard film buffs gathered on Potsdamer Platz before daybreak to ensure they snagged the sought after tickets to the programme this year is more ambitious than ever along with the one thousand films showing in the competition another three hundred sixty six will be screening. In. Time now for this weeks euro max series cole of the mountains will be soaring europes highest peaks and today were off to see the mighty matzoh home in switzerland its only twelfth on the list of europes highest mountains but it holds special rule for climbers and tourists alike the stunningly shaped peak makes it stand out from the crowd in the alps but the mass of one wasnt always known just for its beauty your max reporter meghan li traveled to the Mountain Resort of selma to find out more. The matter horn a symbol of switzerland and the power of mother nature. For years no one would attempt to climb it because of its menacing height and dangerous slopes. Current lauber has climbed the matter horn no less than four hundred times its estimated that five hundred mountain climbers before him have died trying to attack but still he understands why mountaineers are so determined to conquer it. The whole is a tricky mountain it can also be very dangerous but when you see the mountain as an alp and you have to go out its like that for the famous mountain everest. Theres a mountain pioneer you have to climb. It is wrong or that. The matter one remain unclimbed after most of the other great alpine peaks had been attained. That history is documented here at the matter museum insomuch visitors can learn everything about the first descent and life in the village during that time director at the schmidt is an expert on the story involving the matter horns first pioneer edward whimper clime ended in disaster when four members of his Team Including the french pioneer michel cool fell to their deaths they. Wanted to be the fast. He released himself from the rope to be the finest of the top. Theres a lot of secure it must have been a triumph in all his mountaineering korea. All the way down over these seven heroes would become tragic heroes. But the accident which took place in fractions of a second like these heroes. Into dead men who. Was incredibly bitter. Theres no denying the tragedies lingering effect on sam ash many people come here to learn more about it. If you put two and two together youd probably have to assume that wimp a cut the rope that was around Michelle Crowe but he never admitted it or not and how this. That climb and disaster were later portrayed in several films including the mountain calls which can also be seen in the museum. Was. The story also made its way into an animated version starring bugs bunny and yosemite sam. Doesnt just sit still for a day climbing especially at. Fifty thousand thank. You. So much in the meantime has developed into so much more than just a destination for mountain climbers its car free environment and world class ski trails attract tourists of every kind from all over the world so what makes the matter horn so special. Its so special because of its shape it has a very special form as a well known French Mountain is said if a child has to draw a mountain it will resemble the muscle so when. The mountain even exists in chocolate form here is the folks bakery in full of folks is busy making the signature chocolate matter for his family started the business in the one nine hundred sixty s. Now the Second Generation has taken over. My own fault that twenty five years ago my father came up with the idea to make a souvenir out of chocolate frog asked whats more than i did sam out it makes sense to make that souvenir the match a horn that this is the of us will give as much as. Each piece is handmade making it quite special like the mountain itself. The. Record snowfall in some of the recently kept the matter horn out of sight for days but even in bad weather the drawn to this mystical mountain carries on. So would you like to travel to the master home whatever the weather or do you prefer lounging by the beach let us know what your ideal holiday looks like by taking part in a poll on d. W. Dot com slash lifestyle the winner of our prize draw will get an exclusive euro max wristwatch. Now next up were focusing on design paying a visit to moscow vanda the dutch design a was a bit of a diva as a student he was kicked out of his art academy because he didnt want to conform since then hes been dubbed the lady gaga of interior design and you can certainly tell that hes not opposed to opulence. Such Product Design a marcel wonders is a maximalist he doesnt believe in understatement he likes opulence and luxury and isnt of us to pushing the boundaries of good taste. Hes been dubbed the lady gaga of design and attracted all sorts of other super the tips to the loves them all. The prayers of. Whatever it is an endless variety i guess and do it on a collective you think its so much fun. Fun is a big part of what he does he also means business his work has been exhibited at moma in new york and the state luke museum in amsterdam his debut piece was the nazi chant he designed twenty two years ago its made of lengths of araminta and carbon fiber cord treated with a poxy resin to provide rigidity it looks like hand crafted micrometer its now a design i call wonders has created all the classics too. He designed a table where collection for dutch. Thats reminiscent of traditional delft blue ceramics. For Italian Company l. S. E. He designed a not crack and corkscrew inspired by circus characters. These airborne snotty vases capture the form of mucus particles emitted during a sneeze in the form of another vase was created by stuffing a latex condom with hard boiled eggs. The nerve center of the wonders design empire is in the fashionable jordaan neighborhood in amsterdam the design is headquarters are in a converted school. Here a team of seventy International Staffers develop new collections. Its ready for our the just like any other person and. I dont i dont do a lot of other things as i love you know begun hobbies and i dont collect stamps so i do design as a designer one does is the type who throws away the rulebook he and his team dont just design individual pieces but entire hotels his signature style is glamorous over the top even garish. For one does less is never more he says that it isnt for everyone but it definitely doesnt leave anyone called. If we love design why would we be so. Stingy in my city. Thats pieces that is super smart everything just as smart as might as well because then when its super smart they sure nobody finds out to hide. Everything thats mark put layers of magic over it could start a story make it where the. Magic in stardust wonders creates fantasy worlds. Oh ownership is Something Different or should something is a very small part of the design most people go through this program are no hit by it so for if you buy a magazine. You dont want to buy so if you want your life changing we want to have it is around you you want to have that sign and magic for free. Its easy to see why mouse one does is so successful hes passionate about design and infuses everything he does with energy and enthusiasm as he puts it himself excitement and magic. Guy a guy oh yeah well yeah quite the character isnt it now earlier in the show we featured the snow covered peaks of switzerland but elsewhere in europe the temperatures are so mild that some trees are starting to blossom thats the case on the Spanish Island of my own now every week one of our viewers can choose a travel destination for your max extra tour this time ruben fuente got in touch with us from the colombian capital bogota he wants to know more about the largest of the bally auric islands located in the Mediterranean Sea february is a special month there its when the islands and trees start to blossom. Blue skies and mild temperatures this isnt new york in winter. Many civilizations including the phoenicians romans north africans and finally christians conquered and developed the island over the centuries all nouveau facades a common on the buildings in palma the architectural style can be found on every square and even in the not only gains that give the capital its cozy feeling. But in winter one of the islands biggest attractions are its almonds blossoms which generally bloom until march theyre not just a source of new york and beauty theyre crucial to the economy as well. First of all the most beautiful and important aspect of the omen tree and new york is the moment when it blew it is the first flower of the winter to for example the unsure when theyre in bloom or at the same time it seems like its been snowing something really rare for the island since were more used to having plenty of sunshine and historically all means have been used for many things so from an economic point of view its fruit is very valuable here. Benitos family uses the almond blossoms to produce power few its delicate work as each blossom is hand picked before its combined with a special mixture and stored for two years then the perf human is placed by hand in bottles. Is also with me your contraction its commonly used at the island spawns. In the fifth the principal ben. Fit of all men doyle is that its very moist arising. Its an oil you use in order to relieve the skin after sunburn. It also helps to nourish it. Its rich in vitamin e. Which provides it with shine and has a huge antioxidant effect this. In the months when its still too cold to go to the beach spas like this one offer good alternatives. You dont have to look very far to find almond orchards like here on the road to vida. The town is nestled in the valley of the seventy trabant on a Mountain Range also called the pearl of the mediterranean but it was the dates back to at least the fourteenth century the village has played host to many prominent guests including the composer Frederic Chopin and his partner shops. In the winter months the cafes and squares see fewer tourists than in high seas but here to arm and delicacies can be found in just about every corner of town the emptiness doesnt seem to bother those who visit at this time of year. First of all just much less crowded and second the temperature is much more bearable then the high season. Back in pyra restaurants like for sure make the best of the season using almonds as a complement to their dishes. Overseas right now as blossom season so we get a lot of forces welcome to the city. But the almonds actually picked around ten. So were very lucky here to be able to use very fresh almonds. They have a slightly different kind of milk. And if you buy them. Try. Not to visit to me your can in winter wouldnt be complete without a visit to palmers roman gothic cathedral which was built between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries catalina must is responsible for preserving the cathedrals aswell. The name of those investments the onus in both a band this and that we have here two important contributions to the poem a cathedral from two internationally recognized artists. The first one is from the Twentieth Century and is the work of antoni gaudi it represents a crown of lights which marks the Central Point of the celebration which is the altar. That and all load educates the whole chapel to the symbols of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. Bases. Each no wonder that its cultural highlights and Natural Beauty make me your cup of popular winter destination. Well thats almost all we have time for today but do join us again tomorrow until then you can get plenty more your remarks updates on our Facebook Page where we post new content every day just before we go heres another taste of cannibal culture and cologne of often are. The book the dog. The dog absolutely lol the book. The ball the. Zit saw the bombs the be. The boss possibly the best sleep. Od the Big League Club the be above the next edition mural max we visited emberg a miniature venice is currently under construction. Along with the tiny people and animals who live in it. Actually move to things to high tech wizardry. Handcrafting a little if you shouldnt look. Next time on. The body. Of. The book. From the book. Lets. Let. China has become a global power. Its economy is growing at a rapid pace overseen by a communist party. President xi jinping has come in for much praise and acclaim. But what is this energetic leaders master plan to. China the new world powers. Close up in fifteen minutes on. The fast pace of life in the digital globe shift the lowdown on the web showing new developments and providing useful information the wittiest finds and interviews with the makers and users. Of shifts in forty five minutes on. The whole d w one out. For in focus Global Insights the news out for local heroes. Movie w made for mines. Coach a good coffee and. Good link to news from africa on the morrow for links to exceptional stories and discussion from the news of these events and what i would say deep down to the coast last week on joining us on facebook at g. W. For god. And why dont. You. Mention of. A trip by airplane. Seventeen thousand kilometers in six weeks. Breathtaking landscape. Can experience a. Touching story. Oh this is our home its gods country of her ok if any other better place seventy thousand kilometers through canada starting february twenty seventh. It created movie milestone. It was an instrument of propaganda and persecution. It underwent a bankruptcy and restructuring. But its still turning out films today. Germanys biggest and oldest film company. Cinematic history from the german empire to the present. The pioneers the vision area and the business of. One hundred kias so far starting february eighteenth. South africas ruling a. N. C. Party is reportedly giving president jacob zuma forty eight hours to resign thats according to the countrys state broadcaster as a. B. C. Suma is facing pressure to resign over a series of corruption scandals with Deputy PresidentCyril Ramaphosa seen as his likely successor