Yesterday while I was at the Rome Termini station making my way back to Formia I had the thought come into my mind "maybe you should buy your ticket for tomorrow for the Leonardo Express from the termini station to the airport". I was only going to be in Formia for the night and needed to catch my flight to Sweden the next day. So then began the debate in my head...
Initial thought...
"You have 1 taxi ride, 2 trains, and a flight with a layover before you will arrive in Sweden, that is a lot that needs to go right for you to make it there tomorrow. What if the train ticket line is long and you miss your train?"
rebuttal...
"But if I buy my ticket today for tomorrows train the ticket cashier wont be able to tell me which platform the train is leaving from and I'll have to ask someone anyway, which will take time."
After weighing my decision out in my mind I decided...
"The ticket line is never very long and I will most likely need help finding my platform anyway so I'll just wait until tomorrow..... the Lenardo Express leaves every 30 minutes anyway"
That was yesterday....
Today.......
Today.......
6:00am I was out of bed and on my way in the taxi to the Formia Train Station. In the Taxi the driver in bits of English was explaining to me that there was not train going to Rome termini. This was odd because I checked the schedule and with in any given hour multiple trains leave for Rome from the Formia station. Then he explained using creative sign language CRASH!!!
I found a video of the station on youtube CLICK HERE!
I found a video of the station on youtube CLICK HERE!
Upon arrival at the Formia Train Station multiple conversations with various taxi cab drivers began, and at one point I asked the group at large does anyone speak any English? They all shook their heads and turned away from me. I did collect a bit of information though... A taxi to Rome would be 125€.
So on to the next solution.
So on to the next solution.
Inside the train station the cashier was still selling tickets to Rome Termini so 8,20€ later I had my ticket to Rome Termin, wondering if I just wasted my money. Looking at the departures board my train would be leaving from platform 3. As I made my way to the platform I found myself surrounded with other fellow travelers waiting for the same train. While we waited looking up and down the track of #3 the police began crossing the tracks of platform 3 with caution tape. At first I thought how great would that be for the train to break the tape like in a track and field race at the finish line, then after that funny thought another bitter thought came into my head.... so now what, will a train to Rome Termin come into this station?
Options -
I have found it wise at times to notice the behavior of the locals, no one was leaving everyone just stood and waited. So as antsy as I was I decided to stay where I was, like a boyscout lost in the woods. I decided I would stay until I saw others start to leave. I had planned extra travel time in my journey in case I had some difficulty along the way, so my panic level was only up a little... but rising with every minute passing and no news of a train coming.
I have found it wise at times to notice the behavior of the locals, no one was leaving everyone just stood and waited. So as antsy as I was I decided to stay where I was, like a boyscout lost in the woods. I decided I would stay until I saw others start to leave. I had planned extra travel time in my journey in case I had some difficulty along the way, so my panic level was only up a little... but rising with every minute passing and no news of a train coming.
One girl standing and waiting was going the same direction as me, and even with her very little English she informed me (the train station announcements were all in Italian so I really had no idea what they were staying with the exception of attention and names of destinations) that the train to Rome termini would leave from platform 2. I could have probably picked up on that myself because everyone who was facing platform 3 after the announcement all moved to platform #2. But it was still nice to have that assurance of knowing what was announced.
The train finally came and we all jumped on, and now you are up to speed with me. I am now currently sitting on the train to Rome termini wondering if I'm going to miss my flight because I didn't buy my ticket yesterday for the next leg of my trip.
The train finally came and we all jumped on, and now you are up to speed with me. I am now currently sitting on the train to Rome termini wondering if I'm going to miss my flight because I didn't buy my ticket yesterday for the next leg of my trip.
I find it ironic that I spend everyday of my life praying for the Holy Ghost to guide me and help me to know what to do, and then when He whispers to me I dismiss it with logic. I have heard people wonder aloud "how do I know when the Holy Ghost is speaking to me and its not just me thinking to my self?" I have wondered this same question at times, but I think the answer to that question is similar to the answer from another question I have had before, "why do I not feel an overwhelming powerful sense of the spirit at pivotal times in my life, like when I went through the temple for the first time?" The answer for me is.... if you have the Holy Ghost with you all the time it just becomes a part of you, it becomes very comfortable, like your favorite pair of jeans that fit just right. So while there maybe times that you think that is just silly, that's just me worrying about things remember that the Holy Ghost knows you so intimately well that it may seem like its just you but it is probably a prompting to see if you will obey the request of your Heavenly Father, how ever small the request my be. Living by faith means to live by action, not just sitting around and hoping for a good outcome.
UPDATE....
I am writing this section days later and just as God has said in the past that He will forgive us of the mistakes we make, I ended up catching my flight but it was very close. There was a gigantic line for tickets and I waited in line for 45minutes before remembering another ticket counter in a different part of the station that hardly anyone knew about, so I booked it over there as quickly as I could, caught the Lenardo to the Airport, found my gate, checked in at the counter, made my way through security and found myself sitting in my seat having made my flight!!!
I tell Kyle all of my drama when I travel and sometimes in the midst of the drama he recieved urgent phone calls, text messages, or emails. He has done valiantly in keeping me calm and talking me through my options. I'm sure he thinks it is not as bad as I perceive it is... but one day he traveled with me and after a very exciting excursion to the airport where we were unsure if we would make our flight or not, he turned to me and said "how does this always happen to you?". I have often wondered that same question.
UPDATE....
I am writing this section days later and just as God has said in the past that He will forgive us of the mistakes we make, I ended up catching my flight but it was very close. There was a gigantic line for tickets and I waited in line for 45minutes before remembering another ticket counter in a different part of the station that hardly anyone knew about, so I booked it over there as quickly as I could, caught the Lenardo to the Airport, found my gate, checked in at the counter, made my way through security and found myself sitting in my seat having made my flight!!!
I tell Kyle all of my drama when I travel and sometimes in the midst of the drama he recieved urgent phone calls, text messages, or emails. He has done valiantly in keeping me calm and talking me through my options. I'm sure he thinks it is not as bad as I perceive it is... but one day he traveled with me and after a very exciting excursion to the airport where we were unsure if we would make our flight or not, he turned to me and said "how does this always happen to you?". I have often wondered that same question.
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