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August 2, 2006

A walk in the park

Hot and humid. Romans are fleeing the city to the beaches or hiding inside with the air conditioner turned on high. The streets are emptier than usual, and the main topic of conversation among the few strangers who pass by on the sidewalk is the heat.

I personally have taken to spending my days inside with a tall glass of iced tea and the AC remote in hand. Once in a while, I’ll walk out onto my balcony to check the temperature, but the blazing sun usually scares me back inside. In the event that there is a light breeze, cabin fever kicks in and I have the urge to get out for some air. But in a muggy city, where do I go?

Villa Pamphili

Parks and gardens: The small havens of tranquillity amongst the chaos of a big city. They offer plenty of shade, a variety of Mediterranean vegetation, and stone fountains (perfect for dipping in your tired feet)! My favorite parks include Villa Pamphili (above), Villa Borghese, and Villa Sciarra.

Fun with the statues at Villa Sciarra

My new discovery is the botanical garden in Trastevere (located at Largo Cristina di Svezia). Run by Rome’s largest university, La Sapienza, there are over 3,500 species of plants. It’s the perfect place for a walk in the shade of the trees among bamboo, flowers, a Japanese garden, and a “scent-and-touch” garden specifically established for the blind.

Posted by Kelsea  at 6:32 AM | Permalink

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