One of the great secrets and travel tips for Italy is the green fountains that can be found around towns and cities that provide free and safe drinking water. “Green Dragons” in Milan refers to these very water fountains where you can wash your hands after eating, take a drink or refresh yourself every day, all year round.

If you start to pay attention, these drinking fountains pop up everywhere and on more than one occasion, they’ve been helpful during my travels around Italy. They’re in areas that are frequented by tourists, cyclists and locals, and as long as you don’t do anything outrageously unhygienic, you’re more than welcome to avail yourself of the free water provided.

For those of you who are cycling in Milan, or bike sharing in the city, have a look at the Critical Map site for urban cyclists, which includes a virtual map of these green fountains and information on other services for cyclists in Milan. Click on the map after the jump to see the service.

Continue reading: Cycling in Milan and Italy's free water fountains

Advertising in Italy took an interesting turn this week, with posters for the Aussiebum guy’s underwear range (gay or not gay?) appearing around the city of Milan. My colleagues, generally holding a benign attitude towards Australia and not knowing much more than kangaroos and koalas, were initially taken aback.

How the Milanese will take this new advertising campaign in the city is anyone’s guess. The Italians generally don’t have any problems with nudity, while the Aussies are a more prudish race (see our post on getting naked in Milan to prove the point). Whatever the reaction, it certainly hits two markets: gay men and women dreaming about holidays Downunder.

The Aussiebum advertising campaign could become Australia’s new tourism ambassador in Italy. See the Aussiebum site for the range that could get Italy talking.

Continue reading: Advertising in Italy: Aussiebum posters appear in Milan

I recently came across this very funny account of going to the gym in Italy, or more specifically, going to the gym in Milan, and how to mix it with the beautiful set when you’re a self-conscious, Anglo-Saxon Aussie.

Jane Parkin relates her story of going to an exclusive Milan gym in the Duomo district, the Skorpion Center, which involves getting your gear off in front of some of the world’s most stylish people. Italians really know how to do fashion, as seen in the video of “how to dress like an Italian“; there are rules about how you accessorise like an Italian, and walk like an Italian and toss your hair like an Italian. As Australians really know how to be prudish, it’s a lethal combination.

Not only are Italians unashamed of nudity or nakedness, they flaunt it - especially when you have a perfect solarium tanned, health spa treated body. After Jane’s indulegence in the various pasta dishes and other culinary delights that don’t do wonders for anyone who doesn’t have an Italian metabolism, she finds herself in the changing room surrounded by beautiful Italian women in their sexy Italian lingerie… read the story to find out more.

Source | The Sydney Morning Herald

Photo | The swimming pool at the Skorpion Center (complete with tropical fish acquarium)

Continue reading: Life in Milan: gyms, Italian women and getting their clothes off