NANO ZEN

The August summer heat and humidity in Cannes is always difficult for me. Lots of tourists, half of which seem to leave their brains at home. Combine that with all the noise from summer renovations (first there was a new real estate agent across the road, followed by a tanning salon that went on and on, and finally an apartment downstairs). Everyone likes to think summer is the time for wonderful warm and peaceful vacations, yet for myself peace and tranquillity come in the autumn and winter months; when people resume the rhythm of their day-to-day lives.

Still, Cannes does have many a calm moment: sitting in cafés drinking tea or wine watching the world go by; walking along the Croisette in the early mornings or late evenings; just being at home watching the sun set over the Estérel hills.

Summer along the Côte d’Azur can be glorious, once you get yourself out of traffic, park, find a table, get served a drink, and cool down enough to noticed that the world around you is beautiful.

On the way to Monaco to fix the music box at Stars’N'Bars, I stupidly got off the A8 at the Monaco exit, instead of the subsequent La Turbie exit, thinking that it was too early for lunch time tourist traffic into Cap d’Ail and Monaco (Monte Carlo Daily Photo). Oops! Well there was a convenient turn-about, so I opted to by-pass the traffic and go back up via La Turbie and enter Monaco via Beausoleil, which despite the detour was a far more enjoyable and smooth drive.

Looking out on the Moyen Corniche – La Turbie road.

It was late Friday night and I had an unexpected visitor come to Cannes and drag me out to wonder about the Cannes Film Festival. We eventually ended up at Croisette 72 café opposite the Martinez hotel for drinks and people watching.

This past weekend the Cannes Film Festival parties were subdued compared to past years. I didn’t hear any music drift down from the hills of Cannes through the night. Normally the first weekend during the festival has several loud late night parties. It wouldn’t be so bad if they invited some of the neighbours, like me; if I’m going to be kept awake, I may as well have some fun.

Regardless whether the festival is on or not, the early spring mornings in Cannes around av. Isola Bella are very peaceful. Only the steady rhythm of birds as dawn’s light rises and the last remnants of Jasmine scents are carried by the mild chill air.

Rising early on the last sane peaceful morning before the Cannes Film Festival (official site). Out walking Baka, before the morning run, in the lee of the hill of Super Cannes that is covered by lush green trees and plants, interspersed by many fine homes. Heady seductive scents waif down from above before the dawn light crests the colline.

Later, while running, having just passed the Colline de Saint Michel on the boundary between Cannes and Vallauris, I noticed a solitaire poppy on the rough cut hill, while opposite it one could see the Mediterranean Sea. I was struck by an image of loneliness and beauty.