Ah summer. I want to know whose great idea it was to cancel the nice long holiday we perennially enjoyed before graduating from high school. Is two months off work too much to ask when it's blistering hot outside? Not really.
Depending on which country you happen to live in as you read this, you may not have it so bad. Recent statistics tell us that the country with the most paid vacation days is Sweden, (33) followed by Denmark, (31) and Austria and Finland tail closely behind with 30 days each. You're enjoying 25 days if you reside in Norway or France and 24 if you're in Germany. Alas, if Belgium, Ireland, the U.K., Switzerland or the Netherlands are one of the places you call home – 20 days is what you'll have to make do with. But you can take comfort in knowing that Americans, Canadians and Japanese receive an average of only 10. Mexicans fare worst with a measly 6 days.
Numbers aside, we're here to help you make the most of your summer, with page after page of entertaining suggestions for passing the time. From casino and poker games, to sports-betting and sudoku. As usual, we've also included insightful reviews on food, travel, film, music, television, websites, books and more. If it's fun and pleasurable, we've written about it for you.
Now the only question that remains is: will you find the time?
I.Haft
Managing Editor
