Beautiful Boats and Sunshine!

Aaah Cannes, city of the rich and beautiful and the next stop in our holiday!

When we awoke and peeked out of the cabin window with crossed fingers we were over the moan to see clear skies! At last – the summer dress could be donned – fabulous! Dressing for breakfast we headed up in high spirits to the restaurant for breakfast. Greeting Alex, who was on door duty – he made a pointed comment about our legs making a much appreciated appearance. Giggling like schoolgirls at his flirting we filled up our plates for breakfast and took a seat. Gracing our places, as had happened every day since we first requested them, were 2 mugs of tea. Hot and strong!

A quick gossip with some lovely ladies from Scotland – who we discovered had been on the Celebration at the same time as us the year before – and stuffed with a fry up, we headed back to the Cabin for a wash up and to grab our backs before waiting in line for the tender to shore. Now Cannes is the only port we can’t dock into. Apparently it’s due the water not being deep enough, but personally I think it’s because all the private yachts take up the space! Not that I'm complaining – I love a good boat!

Onto the shuttle boat we boarded and were met at the other end by our tour guide for the next couple of hours. We had decided that although we could have ventured further to Monte Carlo we a) didn’t have the money too and b) didn’t want another intensive trip and so we stayed local, opting for the walking tour of the old city and some shopping time. Our guide was in shock at the lack of layers we were wearing (and by we, I mean everyone on the ship) but at a very pleasant 21 degrees C. there was no way we would have covered up – even if they did think it was cold!

The tour started with a stroll around some of the lower city, where our guide pointed out the effects of the areas association with the film industry – where murals had become something of a tradition and a specialised talent.

 The streets of the old town

An example of the wall art thats become so popular

The trip then took us to the top of the tallest hill in Cannes, giving us a view back to the harbour and across the city as a whole. At the top of said hill we came to an old Monastery which had been built as a safe house and watch tower from the invading forces throughout the ages which attacked by sea. It was a beautiful place and is now a museum, but it was the views which really inspired us.

 The Monastery - Bell tower: the face is called Brian! hehe

The wall to the Monastery

 Back down over the town - more wall art

Back down to the harbour

Coming down from the monastery and through the winding back streets we then came to the old markets – where food from the local region was in abundance and the flowers were stunning a so cheap. If only we could have got them back to the UK – sadly we could not. Whilst in the market we purchased a couple of apples to munch on – only I swear these things were the size of a small melon! By the time I was half way through I was convinced that I wouldn’t have to eat again for the rest of the day.

Heading on we made our way down the sea front promenade, passing the statue of Lord Brougham, an English gentleman who had discovered Cannes by accident and left only to bring his wife and daughter over from England. It was Brougham who began helping the area to invest in itself and much of the seafront remains today as he designed and help to build it.

 The Bandstand

The statue to Lord Brougham

Passing the statue and many, many more beautiful boats we came to the world exhibition centre – which is better known for where the Film Festival takes place every year. Sadly the red carpet wasn’t out for our arrival; rather an awful lot of purple carpet was in its place as a world trade conference was taking place. We took some time to walk around and spot the hands and names of actors who had attended Cannes through the years before we continued along the seafront to admire the architecture and history which remained. Almost half way down the crescent we came across a man doing sand sculptures for money, It’s only when you see how small he is next to his creation that you realise the magnitude of what he had built (and the fact it was only 11 o’clock made me question what time he started).

 Sadly no film stars at the exhibition centre

Sand Sculpture

When we reached the oldest remaining section of the crescent we were released to go shopping and although Claire and I did wander round the streets, everything was chronically expensive and so we decided to soak up some sun on one of the decking areas by the dock, enjoying a game of ‘who owns this boat?’ – especially when we discovered the boat called Octipussy was not just owned by a James Bond addict but actually Roger Moore!

 

  Aaah beautiful boats!

 

Heading back to the meeting point to wait for the rest of the group we began to make our way back to the Destiny. Back onboard we went to the restaurant for lunch before returning to the cabin to done bikinis to hit some sun on deck. Up on the top of the ship we claimed two sun loungers and Claire promptly fell asleep. Dozing on and off I vaguely paid attention to the afternoon quiz, mumbling out answers where I knew them and just generally people watching. About an hour and a half later I decided a drink was required and slipped my sundress back on to go to the bar. Grabbing a can of coke I poured it into the glass, leaving the can there rather than having to search for a bin 5 minutes later.

Just as I was heading back to the sun lounger I met Andy coming up the steps. He asked if we’d successfully managed to snag any rich men – pointing out that if we had, it would be highly unlikely that I would be back on board at this moment in time. Getting a chuckle out of him, he informed me that he was rather glad that was the case. Raising an eyebrow in question he replied that if Claire and I had run away, they’d have to find someone else to keep Neil entertained for the rest of the cruise and the staff would run out of gossip! Ha! Telling him that they were worse than a bunch of girls at a sleepover and that really, how much gossip could Claire and I be generating he assured me that it was enough, slightly concerned by his statement I said goodbye as he was called away by one of the other entertainment team, Paul, for rehearsals.

Returning to the sun bed I found Claire awake and I told her what Andy had said to me. Laughing at the comment about keeping Neil entertained she said we should do some digging around later to find out just what was being said below decks. Agreeing with her and pointing out it was probably mainly about our ability to drink, not sleep and if she was single, she rebuked and told me that as much I hated to admit it, I was not the ugly duckling to her swan. Laughing at her comment, I settled back to read for a bit as she dozed off again.

We headed down to start getting ready for dinner about half 4 and after spending nearly an hour curling Claire’s hair we had just enough time to go and see our friendly bar staff for a drink before dinner. Propping up the bar we watched as they did the same slight of hand tricks on some other passengers and bid them adieu and went down for food. Dinner as usual was a stunning affair and Elvis and Raymond (our waiters) entertained us throughout with different napkin folding. Whilst we were having tea, Alex came over to say hi before we bid him goodnight as we made our way to the show lounge just in time to see that nights spectacular – Africa!

Now this was, again, a show we’d already seen but it was fantastic the first time we saw it and even better this time round. Still humming the song ‘circle of life’ from the show we moved on to the Oklahoma lounge for our usual evening activates and found Neil and two glasses of wine awaiting us – awww bless! Asking him how he felt today, he told us he was much better and very glad that the forecast for the night was calm seas! We made light conversation whilst we waited for the game show that night to start – today…..the generation game! It was brilliant and disastrous from start to finish and thus had everyone in hysterics!

Show over and the second show of Africa also done, the usual mass evacuation of the two lounges took place as many passengers headed to bed, some went to the casino and others to the clipper bar. Glad to have some space to move again Claire and I claimed one of the circular seats for the remainder of the evening. Now these seats are big enough to seat about 12 people so plenty of space for us to stretch out on – or so we thought until some familiar faces popped up. Nick and Kane both appeared as usual looking for Neil (who was outside having a cigarette) so Kane joined him whilst Nick got the drinks in. Asking if they could join us we of course said yes. Shortly after they’d sat, Simon and Vincent – the sound and lighting techs also joined us and had just got their drinks when Sarah, Andy and Paul joined us.

The night mirrored those before, good company, good conversation and lots of laughs. By 2am, the shoes had long since come off and we’d probably drunk our way through a couple of bottles of wine apiece when we were about to turn in for the night.  With one more day of the holiday to go, we were sad it was going to soon be over but with Barcelona as our final stop, it was going to a fabulous last day and who knew what the night would hold in store?!