Ciao Mondo! : The Cannes Film Festival

Everyone said not to go to Cannes because the film festival was going on and that I'd never get a hotel room. Never say never.

I did find one for around 70 Euros (up 'til now I had only been spending around 25 Euros at hostels) although it was the size a a closet...it was clean so no problem. Mission: George Clooney.

It was only around 30 minutes or so from

Nice. Cannes was gorgeous. Lots of cool boutiques and outdoor cafes. I took a walk along the water and over to the Film Festival. My hotel was only a few blocks from where the action was. Unfortunately, if you didn't have any "credentials" which includes a badge with your picture on it...you weren't getting in to anything.

Around evening time I noticed people in "evening wear" loitering around the main theater. Apparently, this is when the feature films are shown and evening wear is required to get in. I saw some people hanging around holding signs reading: Invitation Fair Game SVP...which means they wanted an invitation to the movie Fair Game please (S'il Vous Plaît)... about the Valerie Plame incident...starring Sean Penn. I have no idea if anyone ever gets in. I stood there and tried to get a pic of myself in front of a "Cannes Film Festival" sign...and broke my damn tripod in the process. Damn it. Plus, no sig

n of George Clooney except for the random cardboard cut-out Ocean's 11 poster. Damn it again.

I continued walking all through Cannes and even stopped and had some lunch on the beach. There were a few attractive, topless young women on the beach. I saw a few 15 year-looking kids milling around that I was sure were trying to ogle them...but they paid no attention. I love Europe and how nudity isn't such a big deal here. If I so much as walk down the street here in E

gypt with short sleeves you'd think I must be naked. It's ridiculous.

I heard that movies are played on the beach. I was so exhausted but I wanted to experience that. I went back to my hotel and got changed to party...because I wanted to that too. I had a nice dinner...alone...and then headed over to the theater on the beach. They had beach chairs set up and gave out nice white blankets, thankfully, because it was pretty cold. The films are free and seats are first come first serve. Tonight's movie was "The Girl Hunters." An

old Mickey Spillane, film noir flick. It must have been digitally remastered because the picture and sound were flawless. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but I made it.

Afterwards I headed over to one of the few (if not the only) party tents that didn't require you to have an invitation. Music was way too loud (maybe I'm getting too old) but everyon

e looked like they were having fun. I was really hoping someone would come over and talk to me. One older, distinguished gentleman came over and stood next to me for about 1/2 hour. I contemplated striking up a conversation with him myself but then it occurred to me that maybe he doesn't even speak English. He finally walked away and I was bored so I headed off to bed. After all, it was 2 a.m. anyway.

I checked the train schedules on line before I went to bed and it looked like I would have to catch the 10:30 train to Barcelona if I was going to have any hope in making it there the next day.