The city of Rome is crowded and
full of people. Some people are simply wandering, some are rushing to get
places, and some are standing in everyone’s way. The streets of the city are
like rapids. To walk down a side walk one must dodge, duck, dip, dive, and
dodge (people, cars, buses, and mopeds) in order to successfully walk down the
street. It is chaos, unplanned chaos. One can barely keep their wits about them
on their wild, level five, white water rapids ride, known as walking down the
street in Rome.
I’ve only been in Rome for a couple
of days, but the rapids have already started to wear me down. Therefore, it was
nice to have a break from the hectic waters of the city streets and flow in the
calm waters of the Palatine Hill. Walking into the Palatine was like walking
into a lazy river. It was spacious and void of the hustle and bustle of the
city. It was not the white water rapids anymore, but a guided river. The triumphant
trio (two others and I) were able to follow the brick road, though it was not
yellow, to the overlook of the Roman forum.
Although
the road was established, and lead me on a leisurely stroll to the top of the
hill, it was not the only path to follow. Dozens of side paths lead people
around the hill. I moseyed along, not in any rush. I felt calm and distant, and
at times, I felt like the emperor must have felt. Not rushed or crowded by
anyone I sauntered in an open, green space, my movements dictated by me and by
no one else. The flow of movement on the Palatine and in the streets of the
city is as different a quiet creek and a roaring river.
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