Sorry it's taken a little while to write this post. As you can imagine I've been busy settling into my new job and making new friends. Also the weather has been pants so I have not been able to go out much to explore. However, since last Tuesday evening the Cannes Film Festival has been running (hence the bad weather). I had planned an amazing trip to gorge myself on the glitz and glamour of the festival but also to hop on a boat to the Ile St Marguerite which is about 20mins from Cannes.
My day began with thinking I had work, but no one turned up in the office by 10am. I was extremely confused by this, even though I know they're normally late, but usually someone is there earlier. But no, then I remembered that it was a bank holiday and last time that meant no one was in. So, i packed my bags and upped to Cannes for the day... But by the time I had caught the shuttle to the tram, bought some lunch, caught the train it was almost 1pm! 40 minutes later I arrived in sunny Cannes. Not quite what I was expecting. Not the instant glamour, just another normal city train station with normal city streets. Until I reached the Boulevard de Croisette.... This is where things changed! So many people everywhere. Many dressed in smart suits, the smell of expensive aftershave lingering in the air. Then there were the ordinary Joe Bloggs mingling in trying to glimpse someone famous.
Sadly no, I did not see anyone famous when I walked past the red carpet on leading up to the Palais des Festivales. I quickly gathered the information I needed from the Office de Tourisme cleverly located inbetween two red carpets and headed in the direction of the old port. The main aim of my day really was to visit Ile St Marguerite.
This is one of the Lerins islands which are located just off the coast of Cannes, this island in particular is most famous for it's fort, Fort Royal. Incarcerated within this fort during the 17thC was the original Man in the Iron mask. Now the film with Leonardo di Caprio does this island no justice! It's beautiful at only 3km in width. Easily to walk in an afternoon.... Unless like me with a bad ankle that's strapped up, causing me to determinedly hobble most of the way!
The second I stepped onto the island, I noticed and eery calm. There was almost no noise save for that of the water and the few tourists that had decided to escape the hustle and bustle of Cannes. My first stop was the Fort, albeit a bit smaller than I expected, it too had an eery presence that no doubt was due to it's turbulent history. During the 16thC the island was owned by monks who then passed it onto the Duke of Chevreuse, who began building the fort. However the island was soon captured by the Spanish and it took 2 years for the French to win it back. But before this the island and its smaller sister island were both raided over the years by Saracens. So, walking through the battlements imagining the bloodshed that had occurred over this small patch of land made me feel, hmmm, I'm not too sure. Potentially insignificant I think.
It took a good 2 hours to walk the island but then this was in gale force wind! It was beautiful covered in eucalyptus and pines with pathways all over the place, and I hardly met another soul walking around. it felt like I had been transported to the island in The Voyage of the Dawntreader (A Narnia book for you non geeks out there).
Anyhow, after a good couple of hours a meandered back to the ferry port, bought a muffin and made my way back to mainland. I decided to walk further along the Promenade de Croisette and this time there were men in Tuxes and women in glamorous dresses in the hustle and bustle, obviously making their way to some exclusive screening or some such. I walked past numerous designer boutiques, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and the list goes on. The only problem was the sheer volume of people. I was being pushed off the pavement barged past and all sorts. But all in all, I got a true feeling of the glamour and glitz with the numerous sports cars going past, the chauffeured vehicles, the diamonds, the security in the shop doorways. However, I never saw a famous person much to my dismay, but I was not so crass as to hang out with screaming crowds until I saw one. I was just hoping to glimpse someone. But hey ho that's the way it goes!
And this little fella, Paul, I named him/her by Dragon Point, with a bother or sister cat. Very friendly and walked with me for a bit. I could have quite easily brought them both back :)