NICE (Cannes)

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NICE (Cannes) 22nd May 2007 (Tuesday Sunshine and 29º)

Today we hit the breakfast tables at Hotel de Kent with a spring in our step. You see today is the day that we could be discovered as the next big thing!

After a robust breakfast of croissants and jam we bundle into the Focus and head in the opposite direction to yesterday’s action - we are heading south to Cannes and the Film Festival.

After a beautiful drive we park about 2 kilometres from the centre of things and catch a bus into the zone. The ticketing equipment on the bus is AES Prodata, which will not mean anything to most of you, but for us ticketing junkies it is notable for it is the same brand as we have in Sydney on our STA buses (I promised you excitement!!).

The Lonely Planet Guide describes Cannes thusly…………”It’s the money of the affluent, spent with the nonchalance of those for whom it is no object, that continues to keep Cannes expensive Hotels, fancy restaurants and exorbitant boutiques in business, and its yachts as big as ocean liners afloat.”

We arrive to see crowds hanging around all the major Hotels waiting for a glimpse of a star or starlet. I am bored after 3 minutes but note that when we are leaving town some 5 hours later that the same people are still hanging out at the same Hotels waiting for that glimpse.

Everyone is walking around looking as though they are someone or want to be someone. There are of course the obligatory lanyards complete with dangling ID cards. The more access you have the more you get to look down your nose at the ‘lanyardless’ of which there are very few. Without your ID you are not going anywhere in this Town.

We have lunch in a little café come restaurant and listen (discretely) to the conversation at the next table. The older chap is some sort of director and the young fellow and his female colleague are trying to stitch up some sort of deal for him to shot a film and they will distribute it through international channels blah blah blah. Not sure if it is all a big wank but it doesn’t matter because this is exactly the conversation that I want to hear when I am sitting down for lunch in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival - it was almost as if they were paid actors to make my Cannes experience complete.

After some shopping and 5 minutes in a queue to see a Movie (which I soon discover wasn’t starting for another hour) we realise that pretty much everyone is just swanning around waiting for something (anything!) to happen. It is a place to see and be seen and the air of expectation hangs in the air but never comes to fruition. Oh well that’s show biz I guess.

On the way home we take the coast road and cruise though such wonderful places as Cap Antibes and Golfe Juan. We drive past the Hotel Du Cap where James Packer and Erica Baxter are to be married next month - it is some pile.
We stop in Golfe Juan for a drink at the Meridian on the Beach - and let me tell you it IS ON the beach. The water is lapping almost at our feet as we enjoy an ice-cold beer and a glass of white wine - so this is how the other half live.

Deb buys some shoes and we head back to Nice for dinner on Rue Masanna and back to the Hotel De Kent, which we now sing about as De Lightful, De Licious and De Lovely!

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Photos

Lunch in Cannes
One of those places where deals are done and people are there to be seen.

Red Carpet
Another Hotel with Celebrities therein.

Lights! Cameras! Inaction!
Lots of stuff goin on but nothing happening.

Ticketing Machine
Yes I know it is sad that I take photos of Bus Ticketing Machines whislt I am on holidays.

Near Hotel Du Cap
This shot is taken next door to the Packer's Hotel hideaway at Cap Antibes.

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