We waited about 15 minutes in Europcar just to find out they didn't have any cars available then did the same in Avis. We decided to cut our losses and head for the station, rather than waste more time when we could be catching a train.
We tried our last ditch effort of getting a reservation on the fast train to Venice when it arrived but, unsurprisingly, that was not an option. So we found the local train to Florence Rifredi station, which was just five minutes away and the place where we needed to catch our alternative train to Bologna.
That all went smoothly and we were feeling good, getting to Rifredi 45 minutes before the Bologna train. We had time to get a snack and relax on the platform, feeling we'd made it after the panic. As the train time approached and there was no announcement, I headed back to double-check the platform hadn't changed and got a bad bit of news. The train was now showing a 45 minute delay. With only a 15 minute gap to change trains in Bologna, that meant we'd miss our connection.
The next train to Bologna wasn't for another 5 hours, so surely the same would be true with our connection to Venice. It was suddenly starting to look again like we might miss the flight. We went out to the taxi rank just to see whether that was a possibility. We knew it would be an expensive option but when we asked the first taxi driver whether he could do it and how much it would cost, he quoted 700 Euros, which made it no option at all, so we headed back to the platform.
The train actually turned up 30 minutes late, so not quite as bad, and I hoped it would make up just enough time to allow us to make the connection, but then there was a load of hassle before we left. The train was absolutely packed and there was a bunch of guys who got accused of not having tickets, which took ages to sort out. As each minute ticked by, we felt more and more stressed, thinking again there was no way we'd make the plane.
But the train did eventually leave after another 15 minutes, so matching its original 45 minute delay, and we were on our way. The tube aside, I think it's probably the most packed train I've been on and we were stuck right near the doorway with our bags and no room to move in the sweltering heat.
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| The corridor of the train |
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| Luke and Callum in the stairwell by the door |
We got to Bologna - a relief to be off that train - and checked the next train was on time. It was looking good, it was on time and we had half an hour to grab something from McDonalds. Then it was over to the right platform to wait for the train, which we hoped would be on time and have a bit more room.
We got our wish and more, as the train turned up a bit early and had bags of room, so we got four seats together and could finally relax properly. For the first time today I felt confident we'd make the plane. Although Lucy and I had been telling the boys it would be fine and we'd make it, we'd also been discussing what our other options might be if we missed it.
We got to Venice and grabbed a taxi, which cost us 70 Euros to get to the airport. If I've learned anything today, it's that taxis in Italy are really expensive. Taking the taxi meant we actually arrived before the bus, though, so we were earlier checking in than expected, which seemed crazy after our morning.
Everything else was uneventful and we made it back home as if the journey had been completely normal. Now sat at home typing up this last blog of the holiday in front of the telly with a beer. It's nice to be home.
Luke's joke of the day:
Luke: My friend's cat drank some petrol, ran back to her house, ran across the floor, ran up the wall, ran across the ceiling, started running round in circles and then it fell down.
Jon: Why?
Luke: It ran out of fuel!
Glad you made it. Really enjoyed reading and I enormously admire your dedication.
ReplyDeleteHere's one for Luke.
Q: Where do fish keep their money?
A: In the river bank.