Monthly Archives: May 2005

Such an intangible quality, fame. You take the train from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Cannes on a crystal-clear Sunday in France, and you know there will be famous people there. Woody Allen and his wife Soon-Yi on Friday attended the opening of … Continue reading →

By the beach, we came to an area that was roped off and heavily protected by police. Very ordinary people were arriving, seemingly from shuttle boats from one of the big hotels. Perhaps because of the rope and the police, … Continue reading →

Nearby, a crowd had gathered to stare at a long line of empty black limousines. Each had the lovely logo of the festival painted on it, along with a driver in dark clothes who looked as if he was probably … Continue reading →

In front of the festival hall, a large band was preparing to play, and the conductor seemed just about to raise his baton, perhaps for a practice fanfare. But no music was made, and it was getting late for our … Continue reading →

To remember all the famous people we didn’t see at the festival, we stopped by the official festival boutique and bought two handsome caps and t-shirts. We also brought home two copies of today’s free festival edition of VARIETY. One … Continue reading →

It’s an odd community which forms quickly each month at the Institute de Français. On the one hand, you feel as if you know these people intimately, because you see them struggling in a foreign language, without their usual ability … Continue reading →

Axel, a student in my class, points out the location of Le Parc National Mercantour, which he expored last weekend and discussed in his expose on Monday. He even brought pieces of a traditional mountain cake which was served in … Continue reading →

Brasserie Le Surcout, Villefranche-sur-Mer Darlene, a.k.a. Fifi, works on her homework this morning at a sidewalk cafe 10 minutes from our apartment. While I was at the newsstand next door buying Le Monde and Liberation, she had a moment of … Continue reading →

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Last weekend, a rare day of sunny weather made for good walking on the promenade along Villefranche harbor. Below, a scene from our daily hike home from the main shopping area of Villefranche. The jumbled arrangement of cars and buildings … Continue reading →