The 1986 movie, “A Room With a View,” starring Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Daniel Day Lewis, Judy Dench and other prominent British actors was an adaptation of E.M. Foster’s novel, by the same name, written in 1908. The story takes place both in England and Florence, Italy at a time in history when society was starting to come out an era of restriction and a bit of repression, culturally, observed in the dress of the time, with women in less roles outside of the home. Interestingly, in a mere decade or so in the future, the roaring twenties would made a a complete 180 from this time. Far from the roaring twenties, young woman, Lucy Honeychurch, played by Helena Bonham Carter, finds herself traveling from England to Italy with an older cousin as her chaperone, played by Maggie Smith, for their stay at the Pensione Bertolini. A Pensione was a lodging arrangement for travels in continental Europe during that time, more substantial than a Bed and Breakfast, but not as large as one of the grand hotels of the time. Guests could select to have all meals in-house or breakfast only along with their lodging. This was a popular way for people to travel abroad for an extended period of time, a whole century and then some before the idea of an Airbnb or VRBO.
When Lucy and her cousin, Charlotte are not given the room with the view of the river Arno they had been reserved. Another guest, Mr. Emerson, a fellow Brit, who happened to be traveling with his adult son, George, heard of the women’s displeasure with their room and offers to switch accommodations to allow for the two women to have the room they had anticipated. The man’s son, George, becomes interested in Lucy and they share a treasured kiss when they find themselves alone. The chaperone cousin finds out and vows not to tell Lucy’s mother of the encounter. When they arrive back home, Lucy becomes engaged to a wealthy man part of the upper class. The story becomes interesting when George arrives in her town and becomes friends with her brother. After a few twists and turns, Lucy breaks off her engagement, not feeling that she is in love with her fiance’ and she ends up marrying George, less wealthy but who treats her with more respect and whom she is in love with. They honeymoon in Italy and the room with a view not only is how the story started, it’s a metaphor for a place of comfort in life…
Ski in Ski Out accommodations, ocean view, or a balcony room on a cruise ship can all enhance your travel experience and make for a room with a view.
When you travel, to get the view, often there is a price. If you want the ocean view rather than the island view room, ski in ski out condo, rather than a place on the bus route, you’ll pay extra. When you go on a cruise, if you want a balcony room, rather than an inside cabin, you’ll pay extra for that too. For some, it’s worth the extra cost. If you won’t be in your hotel room much and you plan on being on the beach all day, out to dinner and basically just sleeping in your room, well then, you may evaluate that spending the extra money isn’t worth it, where as, if you like to have your coffee on your balcony with a view of the sun rising over the ocean, well then you might splurge. Also, at different stages in life, when staying in the budget might be paramount, then you’d opt for the inside cabin. It all depends on one’s circumstances and reason for the trip.
Top left to right, gardens and townhouses in the Knightsbridge area of London, The Martha Cook Building Courtyard at the University of Michigan, pink circle is the dorm room I looked out my junior year, the Champs-Elysees near our little art nouveau hotel. Bottom left to right, Pepi’s in Vail across from the Wallstreet Building and a favorite room in our home.
It’s fun to think of some of the rooms with a view that we have an opportunity to experience over a life time. I think of a view of a courtyard of English gardens behind residences that all backed up, making a large rectangle on a London city block, that all looked upon this garden in the Knightsbridge area where we stayed in a townhouse when I was there as a twenty-year-old undergraduate student. The townhouse WE stayed in wasn’t all that fancy but it was in a nice neighborhood and it was frequently rented out to students or people traveling for an extended period of time. At night you could see in some of the living rooms and kitchens and it was fun to imagine the people and families that lived in those lovely places…The semester before, I lived in a double room in the Martha Cook Building at the University of Michigan with a very considerate roommate, who to date is still a dear friend. Our very large bay windows were above the courtyard to the east of the building that looked down South University. The man who had designed Central Park, Frederick Law Olmstead a friend to alumni donor, William Cook who gave the money to build the first dormitory on campus for women, in honor of his mother, Martha Cook (prior to that time, women lived in homes with families off but near campus). Our desks faced those grand windows and each season gave Virginia and I a different view. Studying at my desk, often I found my mind wandering about my future and to this date I can see the light wood desk with a center drawer and three side drawers on the right side…Traveling with our family I recall a view of the Champs Elysees and a little Patisserie on the corner from the little art nouveau boutique hotel room in Paris…The view of the French countryside in Provence where we stayed at a little place that was far from luxurious that had been a little chapel…A rented condo in the Wallstreet Building in Vail Village with a view of Pepi’s Gasthaus, The Hotel Gramshammer and a not too far off view of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. We rented a very basic condo from a man name, Gene (I found on VRBO)from Kanas City for many ski trip with the kids from the ages of elementary school to recently. For us, A room with a view cannot just give you a lovely vista to look upon, it can evoke memories of good times and times well spent.
A room with a view can also be a state of mind as well as a place. Thinking back on the movie, “A Room With A View.” Lucy must have felt that George made her feel comfortable and at ease rather than the man she was engaged to. The right significant other or long time friend can do that to us. They give us that feeling of “I can be myself and don’t have to be on edge or on guard.” The right people in our life give us a sense of being part of a team and respite from the world. Our family can give us that feeling. Think of the feeling you have when you are a young adult and on your own and you go back home or to a grandmother or favorite Aunt’s home for a holiday and you walk in, it has the scent of good food cooking, you give your Mom, Aunt or Grandmother a hug and she is either wearing her ‘known for perfume’ or she smells like what she is cooking and it just makes you feel welcome and like you belong here, based on memories of the past. It’s a feeling hard to describe but it feels special.
Think of the spouse who has seen you at your best and worst and still loves you. The person you are a team with, both giving more than their share. The last person you say good night to and the first person you see in the morning. The person you look forward to sitting down to dinner with at the end of the day and you know, no matter what you two face, you’ll get through it without animosity or “it’s your turn to take out the garbage” you both work together to get the job done, what ever it is. When you have the right person, it doesn’t matter where you are, what the view, first class or coach, the most important thing is that the two of you are together and “the room with a view” can be a quiet dinner at home, just as easily as dinner at the five star restaurant, and the point is the two of you are sitting across from one another sharing time together.
Finally, a “Room with A View” can be a place that is a little bit of all. It can be the place you live that is just comfortable. It could be the dorm room that you and your Mom make special with family photos a favorite quilt or treasured mementos, a rental that you put your own person touches on that you share with your spouse/family. It could be a special room in your home where you are able to enjoy your favorite hobby like quilting or sewing and you enjoy listening to music or reading your morning devotional with your cup of coffee that makes you feel centered and balanced. Any of these give you comfort and can be your room with a view leading to many Great Days ❤️
