Feb 05 Last day in Cannes, reminiscence of the Roaring Twenties!

We’ve spent our last full day in Cannes… Under a gray sky, one like we’ve seen every day since we’ve arrived, but for a few hours of sun on one day. Under such a cloudy sky, with such cold weather and such a high level of humidity, it is hard to think of the French Riviera as a glamorous prized destination. Yet, this place has known glorious days…

Alex being a fan of literature, we decided that on our last day, we would go to Juan-les-Pins, a half-hour drive away from Cannes, where many American writers used to spend their summer during the Roaring Twenties… We wanted to see that place where the Fitzgeralds spent their time with the likes of Hemingway, that town in which “Tender Is The Night” took place, where so many other artists, musicians, painters & poets found inspiration…

Having a lot to do during daytime, we left our apartment at 8:00pm, and headed to the city. One place in particular we wanted to see was Hotel Belles Rives, former Villa St-Louis, summer house of so many of them… We got there, drove past it, found a parking spot, and it’s all excited that we arrived face to face with a hotel that was closed. Closed! We didn’t even know a hotel could close… But we guessed that it would only open again in March or so, when the French Riviera came back to life. Juan-les-Pins, in January, is a dead city… You see no one walking in the splendor of her streets, and hotels, restaurants and bars alike are definitely closed, waiting for sunny days to come back before they open their doors again. So we walked past the hotel, thinking that we might as well walk the streets, who knows what we could find… That is until we realized that the gate leading to the garden terrace was not locked. Careful not to be seen by anyone, we made our way in, and came face to face with a breathtaking sight. It was night time and we couldn’t see much, it was cold and humid, but for an instant, it was a usual summer day on the French Riviera during the Roaring Twenties all over again… We had a peek through the huge glass doors of the hotel, letting us see the remains of a period frozen in time, long gone but not forgotten… We then walked a little more in town, where the bars, clubs and restaurants usually burst with life… Reminding the Cuban architecture, the presence of Hemingway, who spent a lot of time in Cuba, in that city, was easily noticeable!

It may not be the Roaring Twenties anymore, but its spirit is still very alive… Looking at the city and thinking of that period I so love, I couldn’t help but think of Your Favorite Enemies… After all, everything we are, this way-over-the-top, unreal and circus-like vibe that surrounds us is not much different from what I imagine those years were like. I mean… who can say they have a family that spreads all over the world the way we have? Our family may make no sense, but it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever been given to see… 🙂

Back in Cannes, Jeff showed us around his favorite place, Le Suquet, what they call the “Old Cannes”. Narrow backstreets made of stone, where no cars are allowed, with ancient architecture… We came back to our apartment after a little while, where we shared a moment of communion, like we do every time we leave a place… Bordeaux wine, bread and cheese… To this freedom we have of simply “being”, as we are, with no constraint, and to the happiness it brings. And yes, we had to drink our wine in regular glasses… No wine glasses where we are staying! Not so typically French, but hey, the wine was good… and glasses aren’t enough to alter a moment such as this one!

It is right now 4 am as I am writing this… I am surrounded by one of the most famous snoring turbines, someone who talks while sleeping, and someone who listens to the Montreal Canadiens hockey game just a little bit too loud…

We are soon leaving for Barcelona, where we will be filming the band’s next official video clip!
More details will come very soon! 🙂

– Stephanie

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