Leisure time is something that is valuable to most people. Although people do like relaxing in different ways. It could range from their favorite activity to something as simple as sitting down and resting. However in Italy, in Rome, leisure time is spent exploring parks and museums as well as riding bikes. The park on top of the hill in Rome, Villa Borghese , is where most people seem to end up. There are a great many activities to do which Italians enjoy as leisurely.
The zoo on the hill hosts a wide variety of animals, good for a family, yourself, or a group of friends. There is also a museum, a small movie theater(the smallest in the world) and a place to catch a quick lunch or drink.
Exercise wise, that is if you are in decent shape there’s more to do. Renting bikes is a fairly painless process and for 5 euro you can have a bike for an hour. For ten you can rent a two seat-er motorized bike that looks more like a car then a bike. The perimeter is four miles; a nice distance for a relaxing walk, provided you watch where you go as buses come through the park. There are also boats that you can rent on the small lake.
Exercise wise, that is if you are in decent shape there’s more to do. Renting bikes is a fairly painless process and for 5 euro you can have a bike for an hour. For ten you can rent a two seat-er motorized bike that looks more like a car then a bike. The perimeter is four miles; a nice distance for a relaxing walk, provided you watch where you go as buses come through the park. There are also boats that you can rent on the small lake.
After exploring what is leisurely here it seems more exhausting than anything else. After today’s events I found myself tired. One from all the traveling just trying to get to the hill and then more tired as the day wore on. For my own leisure time, I have to say I enjoy simply sitting down and relaxing and not actually going anywhere at all. I enjoy watching movies and reading books and maybe sitting outside if the weather is pleasant enough. If I’m stressed or need to work off excess energy, I do head to the gym, but I wouldn’t really classify that as a leisure activity. I will probably not adapt to these ways of Italian leisure and I’m okay with that. It’s not as though I think that we know more than them or vice-versa, but we have different cultures and that also includes how we view leisure. Although if we did do more physical activity maybe Americans as a whole would be in better shape. However it can be said that one has to relax after a day of Italian leisure.
A need to relax after a day of Italian Leisure. I like that.
ReplyDeleteI found my walk extremely relaxing, but then again, I may not have had it been the first day rather than a few weeks into the program. It seems that we've all developed a tolerance for long walks!
It may be unfair to suggest that all Italians are in shape, however, since we are only seeing those who are outside enjoying the fresh air and scenery - not the ones who spend their days reclined on a couch in front of a television - who knows if they exist or not!
As someone who hikes fairly often in the parks back home, I can say honestly that there are many similarities between Italian and American active-leisure, though it would be interesting to see leisure indoors.
I disagree that there is more physic activity opportunities in Italy. Yes, there is much more walking; however, specific places designated for physical enhancement is rare. I have yet to seen a YMCA or a fitness club.
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