La Striscia Larga

The breakfast was bare minimum, and the room and bathroom felt very run down. It’s a very basic place, and this stay reminded me that the cheapest option isn’t always the best. We got there before sunset. My husband brought our packed food and drinks out so we could eat at one of the outside tables and enjoy the view. We’d moved the table into the sun. The “host” came out shouting and waving her arms, saying “IMPOSSIBLE, IMPOSSIBLE!” and “BREAKFAST,” then dragged it back to where it had been. I messaged the person I’d been in touch with, and thankfully he sorted it out so we were “allowed” to sit there. He mentioned the motorbike parking and asked us not to block it. I think it was mostly a communication problem: we don’t speak Italian and she didn’t speak English. Still, it left a sour taste. If she’d greeted us and kindly gestured toward the bike parking with a smile, everything would have been fine.