Guys, I think what this thread needs right now is for more people to tell us their incredibly boring travel stories and for the person to make judgements about those countries based on incredibly small anecdotal evidence.
You joke but I went to Athens around 400BC just about the time the Delian League was getting ideas a little above their station. There I was hanging out at some rundown Irish pub when a large number of skirmishers and missile-armed troops accosted me to ask if I would join them in battle. In my drunken reverie, I thought them mere tourists, partaking in the age-old tradition of getting dressed up for a night on the town. Little did I know the truth because somewhere between my fifth and twelth glass of wine, these scoundrels had convinced me to travel with them to take on a group known as Sparta. 'Sure', I said, thinking it was code word for local club or something. Them's were my single days and I thought of naught by the possibility of fine ladies. Upon arrival, I found nothing akin to the scent of female flesh. Instead, it was the fierce charge of battle which made it's way upon my person. We fought all night guided in strategy by a very vocal chap for Pericles. It was all great fun.
That's when I learned that those Greeks can be a little crazy, what with their shields and pointy spears and such.
I know the trial is ongoing but Maguire's got off pretty lucky. Our war went on for decades.