Prego! Prego!

Rome is truly an amazing city of beautiful monuments, piazzas, people from all around the world, and of course great pasta!

We learned that the word "Prego" can really be used in any context to mean anything. For example, you can use this word to say you are welcome, are you ready?, hello, have a seat, to thank someone, please speak, the list goes on and on. You can pretend to be a local by just saying Prego! Prego! over and over again. This is my new fav word!

Yesterday we went to the Vatican and luckily joined in with an english tour group. This enabled us to skip the 3 hour queue that was winding all around the vatican walls. The tour was well worth it as our tour guide took us through all of the notable parts of the musei vaticano, he also gave us a detailed explanation of the sistine chapel. (This is still maginificent to see even for the second time). Michalangelo painted these frescoes over 4 years (1508 - 1512). Truly magnificent! Some things to note: The Vatican is the worlds smallest sovereign country, with only 530 people living there. It has its own currency, postal service and even its own swiss guards. We saw Michelangelos Pieta in St. Peters Basilica this is one of my favorite sculptures! This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. He sculpted this when he was only 24 years old! It is amazing.

Today we went to the Colluseum which Nads really enjoyed, being a big sports fan. We also did a tour and it was really cool to learn about the history of this structure and how the classes all remained in their own separate areas. Nobles at the bottom and the poorest at the very top. We also got to see the bottom of the so called "stage" where the gladiators would get prepared and also where the stored the lions. It is amazing that this structure that was built 2000 years ago still stands today.

It has been so hot in Rome, that we have literally had to go back to the hotel between 3 and 6 and SIESTA.

On another note, there are a tonne of brown people in Rome and they all seem to be very comfortable in approaching Nadeem and becoming friends with him. Today we went to a Ristorante for dinner and the waiter was Pakistani, he was super friendly, talked to us in urdu, and gave us a paki discount. This was really sweet, we gave him a good tip.

Well tomorrow is our last day in Roma and we are planning to see the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and doing some last minute shopping (to stay in air conditioned areas) LOL!

Then off to London!