Venice-Part I

After nearly seven months of using Italy's public transportation systems, we figured we had it down. On Thursday afternoon we were packed and ready, everything had been checked and double checked. We knew which was the last train we could take to make to the airport on time and Dante was giving us a ride to the train station so everything was covered. We were feeling pretty excited and ready to enjoy our little weekend trip. We even had time to have a coffee with Dante. Everthing was going smoothly, we made it to the station right on time, the train was actually on time (big shock) and we were totally prepared (another big shock).

About 10 minutes into the train ride, Allie had a dreadful thought, "Does this train stop at Ciampino Airport or does it go directly to Rome?" We both kind of shrugged it off and thought it must stop at Ciampino. The train was passing stations left and right then it stopped at the station right before Ciampino so we were relieved and we figured that if it stopped there it must stop at the airport station. With our fears mostly allieviated we began to talk about how great this trip would be. About five minutes later, the train slowed prior to the airport station and then sped up and blew right by it! "HOLY [explative deleted]" We screamed as we watched the station grow smaller and smaller. Hepped up on caffeine, our minds raced with thoughts of an already ruined trip and how much a train ticket would cost us and a million other negative thoughts, all because we didn't check the schedule at the train station! We knew/thought/hoped that there would be a train leaving Rome and heading back to Ciampino at 3:20, the only problem was if our train would make it to Rome with enough time to run to catch the 3:20. We thought would have have a chance if all went well and our train didn't stop or slow for unknown reasons. Of course it did though.

Our train made it to Rome at 3:18 and we jumped off the train as soon as the doors opened and sprinted to the platform where it would be leaving from. I saw out of my periphery that Allie had bowled some guy over with her suitcase and just kept going! Hilarious! Despite our best efforts as we ran to the platform, the train was pulling away! We quickly regrouped and found another train leaving 20 minutes later that would hopefully get us to Ciampino on time. Fortunately, everything worked out and we made our flight right on time!

Moral of the story: Always check the train schedule! It's a good thing that we make so many mistakes, otherwise how would we learn from them. Or is a bad thing that we make so many mistakes because one of these times it will cost us dearly?