Postcard from Rome
With the East Coast still
dismantling barricades from Pope Francis's visits to Washington,
New York and Philadelphia, it seemed apt to share a few photos
taken along the ancient banks of the Tiber in August. We have
been trooping along the Tiber every time we have visited Rome
over the last 25 years. Usually we would be nearly the only
souls walking on the sidewalk above the river, never mind on the
embankments below. This year we found a new tourist brochure
touting the Tiber and its attractions including tour boats,
nightclubs and the like. We opted to make our way with
Trastevere neighborhood as our destination. The sidewalk that
sits about 40' above the river along the busy Lungotevere is
lined with sycamores that provide welcome shade and lush green
canopies that gracefully drape over the walls down to the
embankment reached by a variety of steep stairways near the
bridges that punctuate the route. To our surprise this year, we
were joined by fellow pedestrians. We were sorry to see so much
graffiti in many spots. The snapshots below will give you an
idea of the flavor of a very pleasant riverfront walk which
still is a respite from so many tourist-clogged Roman streets
and piazzas. 
