Italy

I've recently returned from a trip to Italy. What amazed me most about that country, was the amount of crap you can fit in a boot! Despite this, there are a lot of positives. For starters, you have to admire their liberal response to EU health and safety regulations. Apparently, it is OK to ride a bike after dark without any lights, as long as you are smoking a cigarette, to give other road users a clue as to your whereabouts.

What other country has vending machines littering the streets dispensing such essentials as tinned peas, sausages, cheese and tinned tuna? I shouldn't really be critical of their vending machine culture. I did spot a particular product available for sale in a vending machine that most certainly put a smile on my face. Can you believe that they actually sell condoms designed for those with Special Needs! This could quite possibly end up a little messy and a tad awkward, but at least they are encouraging them to have a bash, so to speak.

You have to take your hat off to the Italians attitude to fashion. Italy is probably the only place in the world where you can wear Burberry without having an ASBO. Fashion is an area where they still lead the world, and have done for over 2,000 years. They set the trend and the rest of the world follows. 2,000 years ago they nailed a bloke to a cross and blamed the Jews for it. That is a trend that has never gone out of fashion!