On the red carpet in Cannes, pointing to our many fans...
For our second day in the French Riviera, we caught the 9:44am train and 30 minutes later stepped off at the famous city of Cannes. Cannes is home to the world’s most prestigious film-festival each May, which shows even in the off-season as it is much more expensive and uppity than free spirited Nice. It’s promenade feels like eerily like West Hollywood and is filled with the likes of Gucci, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton, while boasting a certain air of superiority that is also present in Monte Carlo (perhaps because they both play host to major international events catering to upscale audiences.)
If you get tired of the rocks in Nice jump a quick train to the sand in Cannes!
Cannes does, however, boast a great sandy beach where we spent the afternoon swimming and sunning… and refreshingly did not have to pay to use it as in Italy. (I think the French may have the best beach system in Europe: free, clean public beaches and the option to pay for the Lido with additional amenities.) The water temperature was 75 degrees F and felt as good as it looked. We did of course also pose for the obligatory “Red Carpet” photos – and I vowed to return to Cannes ONLY if one of my films is screening. (Outside of football, the film industry is my dream.)
The main street in Cannes could easily be Beverly Hills...
... filled with fancy hotels that host movie stars each spring.
When we’d had our fill, we jumped a quick 10-minute train to Juan Les-Pins, a neighboring beachside community that is much lesser known. While Nice, Cannes, and Monaco all attract mobs of visitors, Juan Les-Pins has a sort of Orange County charm and is just quiet after spending time in the other cities. It was actually recommended to us from Claudio, and we learned from a local that it is the top spot for British visitors… and once I spotted the beach I could see why:
Perfect sand in Juan Les-Pins...
Beauty and the Beach.
The sand at Juan Les-Pins is perhaps the nicest sand I have ever felt – sparkling white and as fine as powder!
If I can provide any “Rick Steves-esque” travel tip for the region, it is to spend at least a day of your French Riviera getaway on the beach at Juan Les-Pins!
Candy Necklace!
A fantastic lunch of salad, panini, crepe, and fries... doesn't get more French than that!
~ J. Twice
1 comment:
Hey you guys - we spent the last three days of our Italy trip in Juan les Pins and as I mentioned before the beaches are the best on the Riviera. So glad you discovered them. It is a great little town to relax and just wander and eat.
Terry
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