June 1, 2012- Day 3 Friday Palatine Hill/ travelers

Today westarted the day at the patio as we have been doing every day but today’s talkwas quite interesting as we compared tourist and travelers. I definitely wantto live this experience as a traveler. By this I mean that I want to learn tocommunicate in Italian as well as appreciate the history and layers of Rome ineach Arch, fountain, and church. Looking at things through this perspective, Istarted to pay more attention to the conversations going on in the bus as wegot to the Coliseum. I couldn't really make out a full conversation but I didpick up bits and peace’s of what people were talking about here and there.  I also saw many quite observers just lookingat everyone else as I was.  As the daysgo by I realize how stress free this experience has turned out.  We had been talking in class about takingcare of our bags and watching out for one another but I don’t feel I have toworry so much about this.  I think I findmyself surrounded by more tourist than actual residents on every bus and everysite.   

Once we gotto our destination and waited around for the rest of the group to arrive, Ifound myself surrounded by different languages and cultures. Everyone, nomatter the age, sex, or nationality, had the same look on their face,admiration. The first picture stop was the arch of Constantine for everyone.

Some simplystood in front of it and smiled while others took a special picture. Going backto the group, we couldn't go into the Colosseum because of the time so we walkedback to the Palatine Hill.  We decided togo back on a later day and during the evening to appreciate a different view.  There were a lot of tour groups moving rapidlyin this beautiful place. Us, on the other hand, after climbing about fiftysteps, sat down and enjoyed our lunch under tall trees and a fresh breeze. Thedrinking fountain at this area has been the most beautiful one I've seen yet. Oncewe finished our lunch we were told to turn on our imagination caps and becameservants living miserable lives. I enjoyed this approach in understanding thelife of servants and their duties. This place was extremely clam and had asense of being peaceful. The tourist groups where not clustered up in anyparticular point. There was so much green and pretty flowers everywhere. Myfavorite spot here was the top garden although it had a particular unenjoyablysmell. 

It seemsthat in every site the walking journey seems endless but as we head back outour time there seems to short. I think we all took with us the peace andcalmness of the place as we all claimed to needed our bed to rest.