The View

LOVE AND THE VIEW

When we first see something beautiful or fall in love, the object or subject of interest draws our attention effortlessly. We tend to ignore all signs that point to trouble

Normally, when I reach a destination, I rent a car, put my things in it and look around for a place to stay. But here I was being handed everything on a platter. I mean where could I find a better view or a cheaper price? If I was being hoaxed, I had nothing to lose.
(Ch. 2, page 25)

I noticed that some of the room furniture had taken a beating. One of the five legs of the round coffee table was missing and the small stool that stood next to the vanity table was knocked on a corner. But it was a fact that the room and its view really looked much better than the picture I was shown down by the jetty.
(Ch. 2, page 29)

As time passes, we must pay more or work harder to continue to enjoy the view or feel love. If we are poor or lazy we must move on

“I’ll miss the view,” I said.
“It’s nice, isn’t? You know, it’s only Bona Vista that has such a nice view of the Village.”
“What about the hotel next door?”
“They’re booked to a package tour.”
“Ah well. But there must be other places, with different views.”
“For sure.”
“Listen, I am a visitor here, and I don’t know my way around much. Can you perhaps help me find a good room with a view?”
“How much do you want to pay?”
“What I am paying here, I guess.”
The plump girl smiled.
“With this money, I couldn’t get you a stretcher in a back alley!”
“No? Why not?”
“Because the Ios festival starts tomorrow, and Ios will be so packed, it will sink.”
“So what?”
“Prices will skyrocket! Don’t expect to pay anything less than a hundred. Not for a room like the one you have.”
“A hundred?”
She nodded.
“But I am paying fifteen right now.”
“Well right now, anything above the cost of changing linen is a bonus. Tomorrow things will change.”
“Tomorrow I’ll have nothing to write home about,” I said.
“That’s life.”
“But this is crazy. Are you telling me that backpackers have this sort of money?”
“Backpackers will still pay nothing. But the police don’t let them settle down anywhere. They have to run and hide, and sleep in out of the way places, or down the beach. You want a view. And of course you carry a suitcase.”
“What if I can’t afford this sort of money?”
“Well, I can try to find you a family that rents a room in one of the alleys. The camping clubs at Mylopotas are nice and quite inexpensive. And there is always Folegandros.”
“What is Folegandros?”
“A nearby island where a good view costs next to nothing.”
(Ch. 11, page 111)

At some point we understand that falling in love is merely a trick of nature and from life’s tourists we become travel agents.

“And how long will you stay with us, Mr Curtis?”
“I guess it will depend on the view, and the price of course.”
“Do you like our view?”
I looked into her eyes.
“It’s stupendous. But what about the price?”
“We’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse. So, how long will you stay?”
“For as long as you’ll have me.”
“I’ll have you forever,” she said.
I pinned her against the door and kissed her full on the lips.
“And so the fairy tale ends,” I said. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way in real life.”
“I know. First I’ll start hiking the price…”
“…Meanwhile I’ll be bored with the view. So, it will be only natural for me to look at other rooms, elsewhere…”
“…Until the day you find something better and move out.”
“I hear there’s a nearby island called Folegandros where a good view costs next to nothing.”
“You are unusually well informed, Mr Curtis.”
“I should be. I am a travel agent.”
(Ch. 22, page 208)