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Boulevard de la Croisette during Cannes Film Festival

Cannes 2014 blog report

Luxury travel blog » Places to Travel » Europe Travel » France » Cannes 2014 blog report
May 16, 2014 by Carol Perehudoff

This post may contain affiliate links.

“Oh, look. People are waiting for someone to come out of the Majestic Hotel. I wonder who?” I nudge my friend Kristine as we’re crossing the street on the Boulevard de la Croisette, the major beachside thoroughfare in Cannes where much of the action around the Cannes Film Festival takes place, and where my Cannes 2014 blog report begins.

Waiting for celebrities in Cannes Majestic Hotel
What are we waiting for?

“Who are you waiting for?” Kristine asks a woman as we pause in front of the hotel.

“I don’t know,” the woman replies with a sheepish look. “We’re just waiting.”

“I don’t know either,” admits the girl on the other side of Kristine.

Cannes is a waiting game

That’s when I realize that the Cannes Film Festival is like Waiting for Godot. If you’re not waiting in line for a movie, you can wait for a star to turn up or for a press conference to start.

Press waiting for press conference at Cannes 2014
Journalists waiting for a press conference Cannes Film Festival

Or you can just … wait. Like the crowd outside the Majestic Hotel. Because that’s what the Cannes Film Festival is, a great big star-studded star-watching extravaganza. While some people are obviously busy wheeling, dealing and buying distribution rights, for others waiting in Cannes is an occupation unto itself.

I’d go so far to say that during the film festival, it’s one of the best things to do in Cannes.

Cannes 2014 blog report from Boulevard del la Croisette
Boulevard de la Croisette

 

There are worse places to wait

It seems like a waste of time but I have to admit, as Kristine and I continue down the Boulevard de la Croisette, that if you’re going to wait, you might as well wait in Cannes.

The weather is balmy and sunny and that particular South of France sharp-shadowed light makes everything seem luminous. The air is fresh and tanged with salt, palm trees are waving, paparazzi are milling and almost everything else you could want to see is here.

Boulevard de la Croisette during Cannes Film Festival
A good place to wait

The luxury of star-gazing in Cannes

And just possibly – with all the running around we do in our day-to-day lives and the social media we have to keep up with and the late work hours and all the stress and worry of just trying to get through a  day – the fine art of waiting, simply waiting and watching, might be more than a novel way to waste time, maybe it’s a luxury.

Crowds outside the Palais during Cannes Film Festival
Waiting outside the Palais

The wisdom of the street gawker

Maybe these street gawkers are on to something after all. (Notice how I neatly separate myself from the street gawkers here in a vain attempt to appear as if I’m above things like that.)

Wandering Carol on Boulevard de la Croisette Cannes
What, me wait?

Everything happens on the Boulevard de la Croisette

As Kristine and I cross the street and walk back down the other side of the promenade, the beach side, we see a stage is set up and a young man is being miked. At least that’s what Kristine says. I can’t see him.

“The one in the grey T-shirt with red stripes,” she says.

“I don’t see anyone in a grey T-shirt with red stripes!” I say.

Finally Kristine takes off her sunglasses. “I mean the guy in the white T-shirt,” she says.

“Oh, him. Well, who the heck is he?”

Two French girls turn around in horror. Another young French woman says, “You don’t know who that is?”

“Uh, no.” But that’s not saying much, because I never know who anyone is. That’s why I carry ID around with me at all times, in case I get confused about myself.

“It’s Jerome,” says the woman. “He’s a big star in France. On Youtube.”

“Oh, good,” I say. Now I’ve officially seen a star. Even if I’ve never heard of him.

Cannes 2014 blog report beach scene
We could just wait on the beach

Celebrity Cannes

A few minutes later, as I’m trying to decide whether to go to Nice for day, explore some other French Riviera cities, or stay here and wait, we notice a swan-like Asian woman posing for photographers. This really is someone. I think. (Not that Jerome isn’t. No offence Jerome fans.)

Actor Jeon Do-Yeon at Cannes
Jeon Do-Yeon

It’s Jeon Do-Yeon, the Korean actor who is on the main jury along with French actor Carole Bouquet, director Sofia Coppola, Iranian actor Leila Hatami and President Jane Campion (oh, and there’s four men on the jury, too. Let’s give them a big hand for being so successful and cute!).

Non-celebrity sighting at Cannes 2014

No sooner do I see Jeon Do-Yeon, and I’m pretty sure it’s her, than I notice two statuesque girls dressed up in  short shorts and policeman caps a few feet farther down the promenade.

Starlets at Cannes
We are sexy and you should photograph us!

 

They’re putting on roller skates and posing for photographers and getting as much play as Jeon Do-Yeon, because they’re perfect starlet fodder for the (some 4,000) journalists and paparazzi who have descended on this little seaside town.

It’s a perfect moment really, where the talent of a jury member and the short shorts of hot babes get the same level of attention, and it almost inspires me to wait in a line-up somewhere, just because this is Cannes.

 

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Category: Celebrity, Europe Travel, FranceTag: South of France

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

Previous Post:Children at Seychelles CarnivalCarol and Lina’s Seychelles Carnival Adventure
Next Post:Cannes Film Festival opening nightPromenade de la Croisette during Cannes Film Festival opening night

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. R Minton

    We are loving these. The Jerome bit is hysterical in the other blog.

  2. A Taste for Travel

    Unlike TIFF where it always seems to rain, waiting in the sunshine at the Cannes Film Fest looks like fun. Those roller skating girls are adorable

  3. Lina

    Good thing you got to practice your waiting skills in Seychelles! Buses and celebrities have a lot in common.

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