Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is no laughing matter, nonetheless it struck us as funny to see an informational demonstration of this rescue method taking place in Piazza Navona. It’s those little juxtapositions of past and present, now and then, practical and drop-dead beautiful that we so love in the Eterna.
Having spent the morning plumbing the depths of Rome’s water system under the guidance of nymph-like water expert Katherine Rinne, we were strolling out of the northern end of the Piazza when a member of our walking-on-water party, Rock Star Rachel, let out a yelp of delight! We followed her gaze and joined her in giggling at the sight of a (blond) Italian Resusci Annie laying on the Sampietrini stones that pave the piazza. About her stood a rescue team clad in bright orange, who watched wearily as one of their representatives gave a public demonstration on basic life-saving methods.
