Gazing upon blue (or green) waterways is a delight. When booking a room by a lake, river, sea, or ocean, I search until a broad expanse of light sparkling off waves is present in the photos. Not enjoying heat or sand, it is the joy of a beach vacation. I have contemplated the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico from Florida and Alabama. The Pacific has shown itself along the coast of California and Alaska – no problems but in Europe, the sea view is a challenge of perception.
At the end of a recent trip to the UK, we found ourselves in Greater Yarmouth, a small town facing the North Sea. The cottage was cute, and the owners were quite proud of their remodeling; this was the sea view. AND you had to stand to see.
Recently returned from a trip to Puglia, a region in the south of Italy, I attempted three times to get a room with a sea view where I could sit, read, and enjoy the sublime nature of water. All of the following properties were clean, employed ultra friendly staff, and exhibited pride in the establishment.
Attempt One: Polignano a Mare, Italy
The “King Room with Sea View” was obtained by leaving the room and walking up steep steps to the rooftop.
Attempt Two: Gallipoli, Italy
This hotel did not advertise a sea view but shared photos and a map that looked like it was close to the beach. Out the window and turned toward the right you could see a sliver of the Ionian Sea. One floor up was a terrace with this view.
Photo taken from a standing position.
Attempt Three: Vasto, Italy
A description from the website “Private Bathroom, Balcony, Terrace, Sea view, Garden view, Landmark view.
A communal area offered this site.
A family owned establishment at Lake Como, delivered, but I have learned to be much more discerning and perhaps I just need to get used to the heat and sand.
