Rome Travel Guide

Rome Architecture, History, Art, Museums, Galleries, Fashion, Music, Photos, Walking and Hiking Itineraries, Neighborhoods, News and Social Commentary, Politics, Things to Do in Rome and Environs. Over 900 posts

Friday, May 1, 2009

Walkin' the Walk, Italian Style



If you've been in Rome more than ten minutes, you've seen the characteristic strolling position of older Italian men: hands behind the back, slight lean forward. What's up? Anthropologists might argue that the walk has evolved in a safe, secure society in which older persons need not, and do not, think about having their hands available to ward off predators. Gerontologists would add that only the slow-walking elderly would assume the behind-the-back position, because only at low speeds is the walker unlikely to need his hands to break a fall.
Bill

1 comment:

Tarkan Onok said...

İt is a special gesture for standing or walking man living in Turkey, also.