A man was getting a haircut before his trip to Rome. He mentioned his upcoming travels, and the barber said,
“Rome? Why would you want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty. You’re making a mistake! How are you even getting there?”
“We’re flying with American Airlines,” the man replied. “We got a great deal!”
“American Airlines?” the barber said, shaking his head. “That airline? Their planes are old, the flight attendants aren’t great, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying?”
“We’re at the International Marriott downtown.”
“Ugh, that place is terrible! Small rooms, bad service, and it’s way overpriced. So what’s your plan once you’re there?”
“We’re going to visit the Vatican and hopefully get a chance to see the Pope.”
“Good luck with that!” the barber laughed. “You’ll be stuck at the back of St. Peter’s Square, and from there, the Pope will look like an ant. You’re in for a tough time.”
A month later, the man came back for his regular haircut. The barber asked, “So how was Rome?”
“It was amazing!” the man replied. “Not only did we fly on one of American Airlines’ brand-new planes, but it was overbooked, so they bumped us to first class. The food was delicious, and I had the most amazing flight attendants. And the hotel? They had just done a $25 million renovation, and it’s now the best place in the city! They were overbooked too, so they gave us the presidential suite at no extra charge!”
“Well, I’m sure you didn’t get to meet the Pope,” the barber muttered.
“Actually, I did!” the man said with a smile. “As we were touring the Vatican, a Guard tapped me on the shoulder and said the Pope likes to meet certain visitors. He invited me into a private room, and five minutes later, the Pope walked in, shook my hand, and I even got to kneel down as he spoke with me.”
“Wow, really?” asked the barber. “What did he say?”
The man grinned and replied, “He said, ‘Son, I’ve visited many countries, met countless people, and waved to millions from my balcony. But you… you must have the worst barber in the world!’”
