Culture & ExperiencesWhy is there so much kissing in Spain?In Spain, kissing in public is an everyday sight. But the country's comfort with public affection reveals a surprising history of repression and rebellion.Excuse my French? The swear words that used to be illegal in CanadaQuebec has perfected such a vast variety of profanity that it's been called "the Amazon rainforest of swear words". But uttering these terms could have once landed you in prison.Why Germans won't buy a round of beerFrom Berlin bars to Bavarian beer gardens, who pays for what is taken seriously in Germany. Here's why splitting the bill can actually be a sign of friendship.How Italy's guiltiest food ritual went publicOnce considered improper, a beloved Italian dining ritual reveals a surprising clash between etiquette and the pleasure of eating.The remote Pakistani valley where people still consult fairiesI took a 650km motorcycle ride to this traveller's hostel, where activities include lazing with sheep, enjoying Pakistani hospitality and visiting shamans who can learn your fate.WatchThe hunt for New York's most authentic pretzelBBC journalist Manuel Scheuernstuhl goes on the hunt for an authentic German pretzel in New York City.Culture & ExperiencesJapan's ancient philosophy that helps us accept our flawsCan embracing imperfection bring greater peace? Japan's ancient tradition of kintsugi suggests it can.Culture & ExperiencesHow to do German beer gardens without looking like a touristFrom bringing your own food to one-litre mugs, these are the implicit rules of traditional Bavarian beer gardens.Culture & ExperiencesWhat if you had to learn sign language to order your coffee?At London's Dialogue Hub, customers are asked to use sign language to order their coffee.Culture & ExperiencesWhy this US city draws millions of pizza tourists every yearNew Haven, Connecticut is well-known for its thin-crust pizza. But what makes it so special?Culture & ExperiencesHow a daring experiment sparked a global skydiving obsessionWe trace skydiving's origins and reveal the pivotal innovations that shaped today's parachute culture.Culture & ExperiencesWell WorldInside the town that invented the spaLong before wellness became a global industry, a small town in eastern Belgium shaped how Europeans thought about health, leisure and water.See moreRediscovering AmericaA US island with no cars and 600 horsesIn the midst of "the car capital of the world", there's a serene vehicle-free island home to 600 people and a once-upon-a-time way of life.How Europe's oldest language ended up on US treesThe US' Basque immigrants turned to sheepherding in order to survive. Today, their legacy can be found in unique wooden tree carvings they left throughout the American West.Thoughtful TravelHow much should you actually pay on a 'free' walking tour?They're advertised as free – but guides often pay a fee for every guest. Here's what travellers should know before joining one.What happens when a place has two different names?The unseen price of travelling safely as a womanThe places fighting to be taken off the World Heritage ListThe SpeciaList : Global guides from local expertsWhere to get the best fish and chips in LondonStephen Peel of The Chippy Tour is on a mission to protect the nation's traditional fish and chip shops. He's rated 260, but here are five of his favourites in London.Why Monty Python star Eric Idle escaped to FranceThe Monty Python star bought a shack in Provence in 1972. Here's how he spent the next 55 years making it his refuge from fame – and how it somehow became a celebrity retreat.The five meals Andrew Zimmern will never forgetThe celebrity chef and lifelong traveller has eaten it all, but these are the five meals that he'll remember for the rest of his life.
