Cannes

Bonjour!

I'm currently in Perpignan, France (on the Mediterranean, just on the border to Spain). I'm doing a French language course here and the French is coming along quite well. This morning I learnt how to say " Can I please try this on?" and " yes, I'll have it," so my wallet may be in for a beating this afternoon!

After the last blog, I went back to my hotel room and had a shower, and tried to make myself look presentable for all the movie stars I would be meeting! I didn't quite know what would be happening, and when it would be happening (and didn't know how, or where to ask) but I did know where it would happen, if anything was going to. So, I assumed that if there was going to be a premier, it would probably start around 8pm, so I headed out to the Palais de festivals at around that time. Wrong, Lisa! Apparently, movie premiers start a bit earlier than that, so by the time I got there, they were cleaning up the red carpet. I didn't realise this, however, as it looked to me like they were getting it all ready for people to arrive. So, I hung around there for about an hour, until my stomach started growling, and I decided to go and get some food. When I returned, after my dinner, there were a lot more people standing around, and about half an hour later the doors to the Palais opened, and out walked George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, and others from Ocean's 13! It turns out the famous guy that walked past me earlier that day was one of the stars of the film (I've forgotten his name again, but it's something like Don Chevrie).

I managed to get a few photos of them all, but you will have to get out your imaginoscopes when you look at them to recognise George, Brad, Matt etc.

The next day, I made sure that I made it to the Palais a little earlier: This time I managed to see them all arrive. I saw Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes and a couple of other people associated with the film We own the night. Once they had all gone in, I then went and had dinner (and had the best creme brulee EVER!) then watched them all come out again once the film had finished.

Unfortunately; I didn't see any celebrities just roaming the streets in Cannes. I don't know where they hang out, but it wasn't anywhere where I was!

I spent the rest of my time in Cannes wandering around the streets and relaxing by the pool. I think Cannes is a good place to relax (and shop, if you can afford and are willing to pay the asking price on the designer clothes they sell). It reminded me a little of Hawaii. They are very relaxed about nude bathing over here, also. I knew there were some nude bathing beaches, but I was a little shocked when the old lady by the pool at my hotel got her gear off (well, her top, anyway)!

Unfortunately, I only had two nights in Cannes, so on the Saturday, I left it until the very last possible minute to check out of my hotel. It was the nicest hotel I've stayed in in France, and I'm sure it will remain so (I'm not planning on staying in any more 4 star hotels while I'm here). I think when I turned up on the Thursday, grotty and sweaty and lugging my back pack, the lady at the front desk thought that I was in the wrong place. I was surprised that the doorman actually let me in!

I caught the train from Cannes to Montpellier, and stayed one night there. It was a bit of a reality check going from a 4 star hotel to a youth hostel, and a pretty ordinary hostel at that! When I got to my room, I went to make up my bed, but found that someone had put their books and an empty cardboard box up there. All the other beds were taken, so I put the books and box on the floor and made my bed, then went out to find some food, and take a look of the city.

I have decided that I'm going to have to make an effort not to base my opinions of a city on the place I'm staying in, as my first impression of Montpellier was that it was a dump! On second sight, however, once I had wandered around the city a little, and found a nice park, and square, I actually found that Montpellier is quite lovely! I sat on a bench in the park to eat an apple and banana I had bought from a near-by grocer, when a man decided that I looked like I needed some company and sat down next to me and started speaking to me in French. I told him that I didn't understand him, and he explained to me that he was saying that I was beautiful! I thanked him, then he started saying something else to me in French, so I told him that I didn't understand and I left and sat down near a group of people who were watching some young boys play chess. I had been warned that French men think that women on their own must want company, but this was the first time that I had experienced it!

When I returned to my hostel room, there was a girl there, who started talking to me in French and pointing at the bed. Once I explained to her that I don't speak French, she asked me in English if I had made that bed? I said "yes, that's my bed" and she said "well, I like my things to be put on the shelf, I don't appreciate them being put on the floor". I said "sorry", but only because she could speak only a little english, and I wasn't sure if she would understand "well, why the bloody hell didn't you put them there in the first place, instead of my bed?" and also, I had to share a room with her that night, and didn't want to get off on the wrong foot AGAIN. I had a bit of a chat with her, and her name was Magalie and she was from somewhere in France. I think she was a little rude, actually, but I put that down to the language barrier. The next day, however, I saw her in the city and I waved at her as she passed, but she either didn't see me, or she pretended not to. I think it was the latter!

I noticed that there were quite a few police around Montpellier. When I was waiting for my train, a woman in police uniform walked past and she was followed by a group of three men in army uniform and carrying machine guns! It was very intimidating, I felt guilty and I hadn't even done anything!

On Sunday May 27th I caught the train to Perpignan.

I'll write more about Perpignan and what I'm doing here soon, but right now, I need to go and eat!

Take care
Love,
Lis x