And it is passes that lie at the heart of the success of Spain and Barcelona.
It allows a white man to assume that the black man is passes on the street is stupider than he is.
Just one thing is missing from this quintessentially Venetian scene, and while it is passes unnoticed by most visitors it is an absence that aficionados see as a cruel blow to the city's heritage.
Most modern legislation is enacted entirely unnoticed by an oblivious public; some becomes unpopular once it reaches the statute book, such as the poll tax, and very rarely, legislation on issues such as Sunday trading or fox hunting becomes wildly unpopular as is passes through parliament.
Media reports have suggested the referendum could be brought forward to 2016 if the legislation needed to pave the way for the vote is passes quickly through Parliament and if negotiations with other EU leaders conclude earlier than expected.
As the road enters Mount Savage, is passes by the Mount Savage Castle, a Scottish-style castle built in 1840, which currently operates as a bed-and-breakfast.
