My trip to and from Rome was obviously my turn for the travel gremlins to be out in force. The outward journey was messed up by nature (a stag was struck by an incoming train, delaying all services on the line to Cambridge and my onward connection to Stansted Airport). Thankfully I'd allowed the obligatory extra two hours for train travel in this country, so after an hour of being told "the train will be here in 20 minutes", I managed to get a car from the wonderful folk at Norwich Car Hire. One mad race later, I made it to the airport just in time to hop on the plane. It was a good job I'd used internet check-in, since I'd have been walking to Rome otherwise.
The return journey wasn't so fortunate. Due to "operational reasons", our plane was delayed by nearly three hours. Not as bad as Ugo's 4 hours and 20 minutes, Matt's cancellations or Gianugo's epic journey, but it was compounded by the fact that Rome Ciampino has very few facilities, no wireless internet, and nowhere near enough seats (c'mon people, it's not rocket science: how many people boarding planes at any one time? Right, that's roughly how many seats you need). There was also an entertaining 10 minute wait once we'd all boarded where the captain had to negotiate with the airport to persuade them to re-open. Adding insult to injury, if I'd known the flight was going to leave at midnight, I could have taken the time to catch up with friends in Rome instead of sitting in an airport.
The delayed flight and the long drive home (even though it was completed in record time, given the lack of traffic and a heavy foot on the accelerator) meant I didn't reach my bed until nearly four this morning. Yawn!
Oh well. I know if you play the airplane lottery often enough you are more likely to get flight delays and cancellations, and I still count myself lucky to get to see so many places when traveling on business. I just get a little grumpy without enough sleep ;-)
Posted by savs at July 13, 2006 12:47 PM