Getting Here

I had already booked my first trip to Brussels 2011 since November 2010. Getting the cheap fares was top priority and for a round trip ticket including taxes, I scored a ticket for less than USD40. I had the 9pm flight that would arrive in Charleroi at 11pm and make the last bus that leaves for Brussels City at 11.30pm. I would get to Brussels around 12.30 and home with Leo at about 1am. It's not the most fantastic of trips but I wouldn't have to take a day of leave and it was cheap.
Things weren't quite going my way when I arrived at my weekend parking spot and realized I forgot to bring my printed reservation (I had printed and brought the OTHER reservation I had - the one for February!) , but after a couple of hand gestures and Italian yelling, they conceded that I probably had paid online (they haven't created a system yet for them to check whether or not you've booked online) and I got onto the minibus that would take me Ciampino Airport.
I guess I've been driving myself for far too long in Italy because normally, Italian driving doesn't get to me. The minibus driver who was driving was driving like a maniac. Literally, like his ass was on fire and he needed to get as far away from possible from where he was at the fastest possible speed. He didn't slow down for turns or speed bumps and I was a ragged doll being tossed in the back seat. At a certain point, I was wondering if I could put on my seatbelt, and to my horror, discovered there were none!
I arrived at Ciampino with my stomach in my mouth and with shaky knees. You know when you've been on a rollercoaster and the sensation leaves you defying gravity for a bit? That was me. That was the worst rollercoaster 10 minute experience of my life. Worst, because it wasn't even a rollercoaster!
Anyway, I checked in, did the security check and brought Terry Pratchet to keep me company.
Boarding was suppose to start at 8.35pm as the flight was at 9pm, but this was Ryanair. Boarding started at 8.55pm and then stopped. It resumed at 9.15pm. We were off to a good start. I didn't mind as long as I could catch the last buss for Brussels. We boarded the plane and waited.
After 15 minutes the pilot says that there has been a problem with the plane (apparently it got struck by lightning while it was descending) and the plane was undergoing some technical checks. I nudged onto the guy beside me to ask how long it was going to take. He reassured me that we were both going to miss the bus to Brussels. Damn. Then we were told we had to switch planes. Damn. Damn. Damn.
We arrived at Brussels past 12.30am with only taxis insight. My new found friend, Marco (the guy sitting beside me earlier) was nice enough to not leave my side. He regaled me with his tales to the East, Central Asia and the Scandinavian countries, while we were waiting. Once out, he made sure we caught a cab together so not to leave me stranded in the middle of nowhere. Overall, a nice guy. I told Leo that we were going to arrive at Midi and if he could meet us there.
Since it was late and Leo doesn't have a car, he had to walk from his house to Midi, approximately 40minutes in the cold. My poor baby!
We made it home past 2am, needless to say, exhausted! Next time, I'm just taking a day off, as I really don't want to go through this again!