>> euromaxx, the highlight show. featuring, popular pub. a cozy watering hole in ireland has been voted the best spot -- the best part in the world. and photographer geneva like specializes in a portrait of our four legged friends. euromaxx highlights. and here is your host. >> hello there, and welcome to

our highlights edition. coming to you from boom town, berlin. very recently that is the town's new tag in the press because it is so popular with tourists. 20 million overnight stays registered here in berlin. that makes tourism this town's biggest business. ricotta with some visitors here to experience one of europe's hottest capitals. >> berlin is now the third most popular destination in europe. this year, the city will convey a record number of visitors. although most of the tourists are from germany and europe, it is gaining popularity worldwide. >> berlin is a very cosmopolitan city. >> more relaxed, few rules, more fun. >> it is a meaningful place to visit. >> i like the bars and

restaurants. >> a tourist spends about two and a half days and nearly 200 bureaus in berlin for an annual total of 9 billion euros. this year, 30 percent more tourists came from israel than anywhere else. they are meeting their german is really tried in front of the hotel. >> for the older generation, it is still the center of nazism and all of this. for the young people it has become very popular. not just because of the holocaust, but an international city for them to come and enjoy themselves. >> because they plan to visit several monuments to the jews persecuted during historically,

for this 22-year-old is the first visit. >> i expected to rise -- arrived in berlin and see all of the flags and see people marching in the street. it is just like that. it is a modern city. it is just like paris or london. it is so beautiful here. >> tourists flock to monuments and sites of historical significance. for example, the remnants of the berlin wall. or checkpoint charlie, which used to be the border crossing between east and west berlin. many visitors come from italy, spain, and the united states. >> berlin is a very tolerant city and a city that never sleeps. it has a very positive energy. at the same time, it does not

make you crazy. it gives people space to be themselves and it is a fault -- affordable. you get the of the city experience at an affordable price, compared to many other places. >> the range of artistic events is huge. up to 1200 in one evening. berlin has three opera houses and a wealth of fabulous museums. about three-quarters of the museum's visitors are taurus. -- tourists. the one that draws the biggest crowd is the permanent museum. -- pergamum museum. there are more than 10,000 beds for visitors. berlin has 22 5-star hotels. occupancy it was up 20% last year. it might see as many as 3

million overnight stays in 2020. >> patriotic berliners might even guess that the best part in the world is in their backyard, but it would have to guess again. this year's winner of the planet -- lonely planet travel guide is in dublin. we went along to sample some real irish hospitality. >> is 9:00 p.m. in the evening in a small irish seaside town of bray. this is where you will find the hochevar. it has been voted the best bar in the world. -- the harbor barge. -- hard-core bar. its owner had no idea until he received a phone call from a relative. >> my brother called me and said

that he had just read in "usa today" that we had won best public in the world. -- best pub in the world. what can i tell you? it was exciting. >> readers from all over the world voted for the harbor bar. they particularly liked the authentic atmosphere in contrast to a newer, modern, trendy bars. this one has plenty of rustic charm. this elks had, for example, was a prop in woody allen's first feature film in 1965. peter o'toole brought it here. the famous irish actor is a regular guest, like many other international celebrities. many of them have signed the guest book, which dates back to 1880.

>> we have a few just up the road here. and we also have friel jordan who brings everybody from the film studios in, all of the famous people. and bonnell's -- bono's house is just around the corner. we even have a little ride up in one of -- in a, famous poets home. >> who has also served as a post office and a funeral home. the owners have changed in men -- many times. and in 1930, the old tool family bought a bar. it has been in the family ever since. >> we get along with all our customers. we know them by first name. we enjoy their company and they enjoy hours. a devoted just keeps coming back

all the time. if we have generations -- they just keep coming back all the time. we have generations from grandparents to the grandkids. >> on thursdays and weekends when there is live music, it caters to of to 400 guests. the irish punt band, pimps and gimps is holding a concert here. >> for us, it is like playing to your friends at home. it is very small. the crowd is right there beside you. if you can fill the place, it feels very intimate. it is like jamming at home. >> in the next room, they are playing ivers faulconer music. how the musical contrasts are in -- irish folk music.

the musical contrasts are in close proximity and that is what makes the are so special. >> regard traditional music and rock music. -- we have got traditional music and rock music. >> it is different. >> it is a very social place. the leak could people here. >> as a child, collin o'toole wanted to be in the start, but he became a bartender. he is glad he did. >> michael has been here 73 years now. -- my uncle has been here 73 years now. >> the harbor barge or just south of dublin in the small town of -- the harbor bar just south of dublin in it the small town of bray. >> crocodiles and walls might

not be so commonplace, but if you were toboggan to them out of this studio, it would not be that unusual at all. we gotta put this photographer on assignment. -- we caught up with this photographer on assignment. ♪ >> pictures by one of the world's most renowned animal photographers, tim flak. unlike human models or buildings, animals are unpredictable. before tim, that is part of the appeal -- but for to him, that is part of the appeal. >> i think it is because i like the uncertainty. >> his clients included french luxury label ms end exporting

goods label. he has also worked for the cortex company. -- gortex company. his studio is in the london shore district. this woman asked him to take pictures of her dog, john. if she registered for the session and asked him to take pictures of the dog. before the should get under way, the photographer first made some decisions about how to proceed. >> when i saw the pictures of junk, -- chunk, they were good profile shot. i wanted to exploit that. >> the photo studio is in the basement, so the animals cannot

accidentally escaped. his subjects have included poisonous snakes, wolves, and even bats. , it's surprisingly, -- >> surprisingly, the flash does not bother them. there are exceptions, but generally, most animals are more concerned about things they cannot see, or sudden movements that's good them. -- that spuck them. >> this is 2-year-old chunk's first appearance before the camera. he tries to take as few shots as possible. unlike with human models, he has to wait until the animal takes the post he wants. it is important to him to stay relaxed, waiting until the perfect shot turns up.

and his current exhibition in london shows that those moments to exist. for an entire year, tim frodo canines from all over the world. -- photographed canines from all over the world. back in the studio, chunk i need some time out. >> this breed of dog is known to be stubborn. if it decides it does not want to do something, you cannot persuade them after that. that is why we are breaking and

we will come back. >> the photo shoot has been underway for two hours. animals can only maintain concentration briefly. that is why lucy's has been michael has stopped by to convince chunk to assume the proposed. and the extra effort has paid off. it looks like they captured the perfect moment. tim flak is not completely happy with the shot, but he knows the old dog has reached his limit. >> he is a solid dog, which is why he is so distinctive. represents a symbol. >> the best of the person, really. >> as a special treat people get his favorite meal, roast beef with a sweet potatoes.

and his owners finally have the perfect picture of man's best friend. >> and from dogs to drink, the most famous brandy in france is distilled, -- cognac. the owner goes to armagnac, which takes its name from the foothills of the pyrenees in the south of france. arm no, is made -- armagnac is made and it is so popular that they keep most of it for themselves. >> this is where the state cozy oldest armagnacs's are stored. the oldest dates back to 1888, but the younger ones are also excellent. >> armagnac in ball's craftsmanship -- in vaults across machine. behind every one there is an individual style.

cognac, which is produced in much larger quantities is much more stereotyped and industrial. armagnac is still made by families in small batches and perils. it is craftsmanship. >> for great varieties are traditionally grown in southwestern france and gascony. this is one of the best known and largest producers of armagnac. it has been producing for more than 100 years. this is the manager of the state, the third generation. the armagnac is distilled in a unlike kanye, which is distilled twice, armagnac is distilled in a single -- unlike cognac, which is distilled twice cannot armagnac is distilled in a

single continuous process. >> as it matures, it can develop more character and complexity because heating it only once means that your component's, aromas, and structures are removed from -- fewer components, aromas, and structures are removed from the spirit. >> many small wine growers cannot have their own distilleries. from late autumn until march 31, mobile distillers drive from the state to a state with their equipment. after that, distilling armagnac is no longer allowed. about half of the vintage is produced with a mobile distillery. he has done a dozen vineyard for the last 22 years. >> the most important is to keep track of everything. after you have started the distilling process you have to play -- pay close attention. you have to control the temperature and the alcohol content. and because you are distilling without interruption, you do it

for 24 hours straight. >> back at the chateau, the armagnac amateurs in apparel's in several different sellers, each with a determined temperature. the wood from the surrounding forest gives an armagnac its color and flavor. the vintages are tasted it regularly and moved to other sellers when necessary. each seller produces a different taste. >> aromas like vanilla, spices, coffee, cocoa, and what we really look for in the end, all of the room was that _ the age of the brandy. if that is our daily work here, and not only hours, but the generations who produced, and a cure for their descendants. -- who have produced armagnac here for their descendants.

collects every bottle of armagnac contains more than brandy. it it also holds the passion, experience and knowledge of the people of gascony who produce it and have grown up with it. >> let me tell you an anecdote. my sisters, my brother and i and also our children were all baptized in the church. but here, we also baptize children with armagnac. you mix a little armagnac with a lot of water and give the baby a small spoonful, so very early on a take part in the culture and way of life of gascony. -- it takes part in the culture and way of life in gascony. >> armagnac, for the people of gascony, it is not just a high- quality beverage, but an integral part of their lives. >> and finally, one of the most

typical new year's resolutions here in germany is to get more exercise. whether it is jogging, swimming, yoga, or circuit training, every little bit counts. to avoid a drop in determination some 8 to 10 weeks in the new year, one man decided to see if he could up the fun factor of his chosen exercise and increase the sistine factor of it. -- sustaining factor of it. >> many of a spot on a few pounds of the holidays. that is why our reporter has ventured out into snow we berlin for a jog in the park. >> but every year i decided i'm going to do more sports and this year is no exception. but to be honest, i'm already board of running. and in the hope that i can -- i am bored with running. and the hope that i can stick with the lumber, and tried --

trying three types of exercise. >> first on the list is a three wiehl device that is somewhere between a cross trainer and an ordinary bicycle. -- a three-wheeled device that a summer between a cross train and an ordinary bicycle. the free croslin on the market earlier this year. a reporter asks what is so special about it. >> we are familiar with cross trainers from the gym. they're great, but rooted to the spot. who enjoys running in place? you are not in the fresh air. this is the system. i am doing some wonderful back exercises. i am writing, bouncing, shifting my weight from 8 to be. -- from a to b. just shift your weight and your feet and move to the curve. time to try a straightaway.

if you more tips and our reporter is off. ordaz -- a few more tips and a reporter is off. according to one study, the free acroscross burns of to 25 percet more calories than a regular bicycle. -- burns of to 25% more calories than a regular bicycle. and it trained in coordination and downs as well. >> at first i thought the free cross is just like any other crosstree near i can get in a jam in the world but with wheels underneath. but it is such a quite different. the fact that i have to use munadi to change direction makes me feel like i am exercising all of my muscles. and it is really a lot of fun. >> but exercising outdoors is

not an appealing prague -- prospect when it is cold. another option is an exercise bike. it feeds -- it fits neatly in a corner, but it comes at a high price. maybe 300 euros, that is the going rate for this steel and carbon, and far west. -- fiberglass. akmal but there are other ways to work, out at home, too. -- but there are other ways to work out at home, too. although this may look like dancing, it is the actual personal training. but the personal trainer is a game consoles. the newest generation even includes a video camera. it registers of to 50,000 points on the body and continuous that transmits the position to the computer. -- continuously transmits the

position to the computer. just slice and thrust through the air to control the game. the silhouette appears in real time on the monitor. and it is really a workout. >> i never thought of a game consol s, sports equipment, but that is how it feels. i am sweating and i do not have to have a control pad in my hand all the time. by doing this kind of action in front of the television is sort of a stretch. >> mayville, -- a sort of strange. >> maybe it will feel less strange with a partner. it is good entertainment value, but not a very effective work out. here, the final score is the important thing. >> but i have realized today after doing some sports, the

best feeling is the the feeling afterward. your sweaty, and you can feel your whole body and your tired. but if you want to get momentum, there is no getting around it. you just have to get out there and do it. ♪ >> and we certainly wish him all the best. maybe we will check in at eight or 10 weeks to see if he is sticking to it. if you want to know more about that program, you can visit our web site. www.dw-world.de/highlights to get there directly. that is all for today. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--