The Excercisers of the Vatican

Taking a long walk out to the edge of the city where the remnants of the baths stand, I found one of the few places where one can observe Italians performing some sort of formal exercise. It was a region of grassy park bordered by a running trail. Around this one could see figures running and walking. Not jogging, these people would sprint some distance and then walk, different from the continuous patter of Americans. In the center there were monkey bars like one might find on a children's jungle gym. Across it large grown men were brachiating. At another point in the field there was a group of men and women playing a game like pickle ball but without the single bounce.