Yes, We Cannes!

Let me tell you about the French: They are the most giving, charitable, polite people in Europe. Always smiling and waving hello, holding the door, never pushing in line, and always willing to help you understand whatever is being spoken. They never pee on the street, and when a girl walks by, they simply keep their comments to themselves and tip their hat in respect. And they smell great.

If you believed any of that, Ive got some Francs I'd like to sell you. I hate to perpetuate stereotypes, but for the most part, everything you've heard is true. Rude. Arroagant. And that's just the cats. The French believer that everyone in the world should speak French, not English. Yet many deperately want to be and act American. Many times here in the South of France, Ive encoutered people who immediately start speaking French to me, and when I tell them (in French, thank you) that I dont speak French, they all do this little thing where they lean back and go "Ohhh..." and look me up and down. It's the only country in Europe Im told where they are surprised when they encounter someone who doesnt speak French. Yet they all speak English here, but dont want to admit it.

The French Rivera! I arrived in Marseille to find that the Sun was still shining somewhat. Apparently, the locals say that the weather is uncharacteristically (i spelled that wrong) wet. Here's me in a border town of Spain and France. Not my first baguette, but my first apparently that Ive tried to play like a guitar.





I took this really awesomely cheesy tourist train to the top of the hill to go to a church that looks out over Marseille.





Here's me being American.





So many building way down below, and they all look the same. And check out that pink eye dispenser - only 50 cents!





Very windy hear. I was happy to be wearing a new shirt. H&M is everywhere in Europe. (yea!)





The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Marseille: trash. Trash is everywhere.





My host Jorin (left) and some of his friends. He was one of the lucky ones to have a balcony. We spend time angering birds with our presence.





Jorin jamming on the guitar, and me on the harmonica. Theres a sweet video of this, but like everything else in France, this computer is stubborn, slow, and hates me.





NICE! Here in Nice the beach is all covered in rocks. No sand. And there are bulldozers combing the beack 2 or 3 times a day. Is this a weird sight or what?





A cool sight here: This boring sculpture is only mildly entertaining because its the birds favorite bathroom. Zoom in and look at the top. ahahaha





I snapped this Asian couple videotaping themselves throwing rocks into the ocean. They were having so much fun. This was fun to watch.





This woman, Theresa, is famous here. She was actually in my guidebook by name. She makes this egg type pancake called "socca" and its really good (pictured in front of us). She found out that i was from America and started showing me pictures of her two very attractive daughters who live in New York, and boasted that she was going there tomorrow. I dont think I ever saw her without a cigarette.





This old French man caught on that I was trying to take his photo.





Today took a day trip to Monte Carlo, which sounds great but actually turned out to be a snoozer. They are all set up for the Grande Prix, so until that happens, all the streets are blocked off with these big bleachers. But just imagine fast cars here.





Then I took the train the other directions and went to Cannes! I met up with this other couch surfer guy I had never met before and we explored the city.





Today was opening day of the Cannes Film Festival! It was PACKED.





Check out all of the semi professional photographers trying to catch a glimpse of the celebs. A French policeman grabbed my arm once because i wasnt walking exactly where he wanted me to be. By this time, I was sick of the French, so I shook him off and told him to watch it, and then he and three other policemen mad-dogged me as I walked away. Whatever, Pierre.





Here's all the professional photographers in tuxs snappig pics of celebs on the red carpet. I saw Sean Penn, Dennis Hopper, Eva Longoria, Aishwarya Rai, Natalie Portman, Julianna Moore, and Danny Glover. Click here to see Eva Longoria.









Here's Natalie Portman.





My new friend Adam caught me in front of the free beach movie screen. They'll be showing such films as Enter The Dragon and Blazing Saddles here for a week and a half.





The gem of the Festival - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull preimeres on Sunday here. I thought about trying to come back for it, but seriously, its a zoo, and it would just be arm and arm with tourists. I cannot wait to see this film!






I dont think my videos are gonna appear in this post. Again, I blame the French. Off to Italy tomorrow for some more beach action. Dont know where Im staying, but it will be an adventure for sure!