March 10

The harbor of Cannes, France. This morning I woke up tired, but energized by another day of exploring France! Running on cappuccino, we first went to St. Paul de Vence--a small commune about 40 minutes outside of Nice. Charming to it's core. Small shops, narrow streets, fresh macaroons, happy "Bonjours!" and incredible views. We only had an hour in the town, but I enjoyed speaking to a few shop owners and taking a few too many pictures. Next, we were carted off to Cannes, the city famous for its film festival. The water was stunning. A few crazy people (my guess is that they were visiting from Iceland) were swimming in the water. There was a bustling antique market that sold everything from vintage designer clothing to handmade jewelry to water colors. I enjoyed a spot-on Niçoise salad in the sun at a cafe near the water. We were able to see the theater where the film festival is held and the famous stair case that is covered in red carpet for all of its celebrity visitors. Next, we made the quickest of stops at a perfume factory in Eze called Fragonard. Though my dry hands loved the free Argon oil samples, I thought the stop was silly. I would much rather have had more time in Cannes, as opposed to touring a factory. All-in-all, it was a great weekend, though I felt like I was back in high school again. Because the trip crammed five city visits into a less-than-48-hour-trip, I don't feel like I really experienced France or learned a lot about culture. My eyes came home impressed by all the sights and views, but my brain felt a little culture-deprived. Not a regret at all about the trip, simply an observation about what makes traveling worthwhile and meaningful for me.