Almost Five Minutes too late

I never thought I would be able to say that I had run half way through an airport with no shoes on, but when you only arrive at the airport five minutes after your gate has closed, when you have to take your shoes off for security you don't bother putting them back on. I didn't want to leave Rome after a fabulous weekend with two of my best friends but I most definitely did not want to have to pay a ridiculous amount to rebook a flight because I spent too much time admiring the view from the top of Basilica! One of the most embarrassing moments I have ever experienced, is when you run through a middle of a crowd of people, right up to the desk by the gate, with no shoes on, absolutely out of breath, pleading with the woman to tell you that the flight hasn't left yet, to find that the flight is delayed by half an hour, and the queue that you have just barged through looking like a total utter maniac are the rest of the passengers on your flight home - fabulous!!