Topography Lesson Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

Geography, I was good at it in school but somehow I missed San Marino.
I vaguely remember a movie with some lady star of yore making
a film about the place, maybe I have got it wrong and it was Monaco,
which has a royal house with princesses and a prince or two?
San Marino is a republic one of the oldest around and that is why it is
unknown. What, no princesses, no romantic castles or a mad king?
Sorry no. Just dry republicans, banks and a vinery and wild boars which
is of no interest to popular ladies´ magazines like “Halloo”.

In Serravalle, near the Apennine Alps; there is a butcher who specialises
in cured ham which has some claim to fame, and in San Marino,
the capitol city, there is a good restaurant. Humiliation, going through
life not knowing about this tiny republic its history and coinage; my shame
is total. Should you go there do not drive too fast, because before you
know it you are back in Italy, spaghetti Bolognese and smelly toilettes.