As the romans do

Rome is a great place to visit -- but imagine the delights of living there. Long in love with the Eternal City, Alan Epstein has been reveling in life as a resident since 1995. In "As the Romans Do, he reveals the city and its people in all their facets and contradictions: their gregarious "caff?culture, inborn artistic flair, passionate appreciation of good food, instinctive mistrust of technology, showy sex appeal, ingrained charm, and much more. He unveils a place alive with pleasure and paradox, both pagan and Christian, Western and Middle Eastern. Rome is where one can relax, reflect, revel, and rebel -- all between the morning's cappucino and the evening's grappa.