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Has anyone ever been to the casinos at Monte Carlo in the French Riviera?

How is the gambling there? Do they have the same games there that you would find in the casinos in the US? Do you have to get dressed up even to step in the casinos? How many casinos do they have? any info would be helpful, I would love to go there one day.

3 comments - What do you think?  Posted by - 06/01/2010 at 2:45 PM

Categories: The French Riviera   Tags: , , , , , , ,

Has anyone ever heard of or attended the Creative Minds in Hollywood/Cannes program?

I stumbled across the site some how a few weeks ago, and I am really thinking about joining the program but I haven’t been able to find ANYONE who has even heard of it or attended it. I would really like to know if it’s worth the money before I go out there.
Here’s the website: www.creativemindsinhollywood.com
They also have this program in Cannes and thats for like filmmakers…anyways if anyone can give me any information on this I’d really appreciate it!!!

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by - 03/31/2010 at 1:55 PM

Categories: Cannes   Tags: , , , , , , ,

Has anyone ever been to Cannes during the Film Festival?

I was and I loved it!!!
Space Bluesman: I didn’t go to see the famous celebrities, I went for the great atmosphere! There is a such a great buzz around the place!

2 comments - What do you think?  Posted by - 02/21/2010 at 10:57 AM

Categories: Cannes Film Festival   Tags: , , , , , ,

Cycling Holidays in Provence – Heading South Easier than Ever for School Group Holidays

Zipping off to the southern reaches of France has become easier for school groups since the advent of daily flights from various airports around the UK to the likes of Lyons, Nimes, Nice and Marseilles.

The sunny and chic but one time elite Riviera is no longer just the preserve of the rich and famous.

While some high falutinâ?? types may bemoan the loss of its exclusivity, most of us celebrate the chance to parade the palm tree promenades of Nice, meander around the side streets of the casino capital Monte Carlo, take an hour or two to go celebrity spotting in Cannes or watch the world pass by in from the quiet of a tree-lined avenue in Aix-en-Provence.

Here, too, is chance to relish the rustic scenes which inspired great artists from Monet and Manet to Picasso and Degas, savour the food and wines which they savoured, take in the rustic scenes which so fired their imaginations, visit the one time â??Papal kingdomâ?? of Avignon.

Museums and art galleries offer a glimpse of great artistic and historic works and a walk around in hillside village trails in the Alpes Maritimes and the Var valley provide an insight as to how the Impressionists found the inspiration to produce such masterpieces.

This is now a region where international businessmen, film moguls and stage and screen celebs come to play, or seal deals while enjoying the comfort of the sun on their backs. Gazing at the rows of gleaming luxury yachts moored in Mediterranean marinas is an activity in itself – one which defies â??credit crunchâ?? headlines. Swish hotels and high priced restaurants are patronised by a designer suited clientelle. Flashy convertibles turn heads as they get caught up in Franceâ??s obligatory town centre traffic jams.

But dinted Renaults and standard model citroens also hold their own in the line. You do not have to â??come from moneyâ?? to enjoy the infinite array of rich vistas here, nor to explore market plazas or village squares, to sit by an ancient sculptured fountain or dip your feet into cool river waters.

This is a holiday spot to be enjoyed by all â?? a delight for school parties, gap-life travellers, or groups of retirees.

For those whose pockets arenâ??t too deep, there are mouth-watering menus aplenty, terrace cafes affording ample opportunity to people watch at leisure, while savouring a mid-morning coffee or chilling out with a glass of wine. Accommodation choices range from family and school group camp sites to self-catering apartments, country gites for rent, and friendly family-run hotels.

High temperatures in summer make it a favourite for annual holidays, and budget airline services have now turned the Cote dâ??Azur, in particular, into a popular destination for weekend breaks.

Cannes, a short hop from Nice airport is centre of the media spotlight every year as it hosts the worldâ??s most famous international film festival. Here you can stroll by the fashion houses and perfumeries of the Promenade La Croisette or catch a glimpse of whoâ??s enjoying nouvelle cuisine at the famous Palme dâ??Or restaurant, visit venues frequented by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, pick up film festival memorabilia, take in a movie at a city cinema.

But it is not just Hollywood stars who are attracted to Cannes. Over the years it has been a port of call for artists of all generations – home to Picasso for ten years, a destination favoured by Renoir, Chagall and Matisse. More modern day artists now display their works at the weekly crafts and antiques markets near the town hall a stoneâ??s throw from the old port marina. Tourists can board the quaint â??little trainâ?? for a city tour, discover hidden away historic churches, elegant boulevards, the Palais des Festivals, Palais Croisette, casino plazas and flower markets.

From the marina visitors can take a 15 minute ferry to two unspoiled islands across Cannes Bay – St Marguerite and St Honorat. With their ancient forts, chapels, Roman relics and museum pieces, they offer a green and secluded rest from the more mainstream tourist trail.

It is easy to get about along the southern coast, on foot, on bicycle, by, bus, coach or train.

Frequent local buses and trains offer the options for one, two or three centre trips, to explore vineyards, enjoy the local culture, take part in hiking or cycling holidays â?? or simply to discover secluded beach spots along the coast. Summer or winter, there is a rich choice of those.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by - 02/16/2010 at 1:44 PM

Categories: La Croisette   Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

What to Do in France? Learn French in France and Have the Best Time Ever

If you travel abroad and learn French in France, you will find remarkable places to visit and enjoy all day long. France entertainment ranges from amazing beaches to mountain scenery; from refined cities as Paris to the unique flatlands of Lille in the north; from tasty wines to aphrodisiac cuisine; definitely a country worth the visit, a great chance to learn French in France!

During your stay and while you learn French in France you shouldn’t miss the city of Rochelle, an incredible historical landmark of high towers and water surroundings. Find the Old Harbour and enjoy boat trips to nearby regions or just relax in one of its many beaches while you learn French in France.

A visit to the Eiffel Tower is definitely a must as you learn French in France. The iron construction beside the Seine River was believed to be a waste of money during early periods; now it is considered the most distinguishing tourist feature of France and more than 200 million of people have already visited the tower. If you learn French in France surely this is the best place where to start you trip.

For those interested in the past of France Chartres Cathedral is the greatest gothic cathedral of the country. While you learn French in France also learn about its history and visit this remarkable construction that will take your breath away with its superlative architecture.

Learn French in France and also enjoy outdoor sports and astonishing landscapes in the French Alps. You can practice all type of winter sports in its high slopes, from which Mont Blanc is the highest. Also enjoy deep blue lakes, natural forests and the incredible valley where you can do shopping and dine in beautiful restaurants.

If you come to learn French in France, drinking a national wine and enjoying a typical dish is the most pleasant delight that France has to offer.

Visit the city of Champagne, the home of the delicious drink. In Champagne you will have the chance to hear about the history and the process of production of this renowned wine. In Champagne you will not only learn French in France, but also about world drinking culture.

Cultural events in France also flourish as time goes by. Learn French in France by enjoying famous cinema productions and festivals. France is home to the Cannes Film Festival of international recognition as well as the Nice Jazz Festival. The Bastille Day is an entire day celebration that commemorates the end of the monarchist rule in France. For those coming to learn French in France and wish to enjoy an amazing sport event, Paris offers the huge Roland Garros Stadium where every year the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament takes place, with famous stars as Roger Federer, David Nalbandian and Rafael Nadal.

Another sport widely practice in France is Golf. So if you have come to learn French in France, you can combine your French courses with a golf course to make your stay more entertaining. This sport has been practiced since the 19 C. and today you can find more than 500 golf courses offered in France. So learn French in France while enjoying this traditional sport ritual.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by - 01/23/2010 at 8:18 PM

Categories: Cannes Day Trips   Tags: , , , , ,

Film Festivals And Film Makers? Everything You Ever Wanted To Know

The national film festival of Cannes is celebrated for about 12 days in May. More than 200,000 people which includes film makers, film fans and many star gazers gather at the Croisette to take part in the national film festival. On the 12th and the final day around thousands of film are screened and many careers are launched and like another film festivals disappointment shows. More than 200,000 people gather. Also many stars form all over the world come here and grab attention.

The filmmaker has to do many things like writing a script, shooting the film, editing and then it has to be distributed to the public. This totally depends on how complex the subject is and also various problems that would come up while making the film.

Development: The idea of the filmmaker or any story that a producer finds is first transformed into a script. The source of the story can be many like it can be from a book or some play, or it could also be remake of a older movie. An outline synopsis is prepared as soon as the story is chosen. This breaks the movie down into various scenes, which are of one paragraph each. This is made into a treatment of 25 to 30 pages, which describes the characters, and the mood of the story.

Based on the story a screenplay is then developed which is then edited again and again until the story becomes viable. At this time the filmmaker would want to contact the film distributors to know how these films are doing in the market to make sure the film becomes a success. The film is now presented to its financiers. If they are impressed with the film then they will offer financial backing for the movie. This may be major film studios or a major film council or even independent financiers.

Pre-production: the production company banner is made and an office is opened for it. The company is made and then a life is given to the story on a story board and is drawn out using the help from concept artists and illustrators. The estimate budget for the movie is laid at this time.
The film maker then hires the crew which is determined by the estimated budget for the film.

Production: the filming for the movie starts now and more and more crew will be required. To help manage this stage in a film making process a director is hired and he will in charge of everything that happens.

Post production: The film shot will be of more running time and hence has to be edited and the best scenes are chosen and are made into a proper movie.

Distribution: the movie is then released in theatres and then is formatted according to the need. The press releases, posters and other materials are published and proper advertising is done. Now enough publicity is given to the movie and then it is launched.

However, for the independent filmmaker, all you need is a working script and you are on your way!

The competitions in the film festivals are usually open only to normal narrative films, but sometimes documentaries are also introduced. For example: Michael Moore’s controversial documentary ” Fahrenheit 9/ 11″ walked away with the prize in year 2004. The film makers are welcome to enter both features and shorts. There are awards in each category.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by - 01/09/2010 at 6:56 PM

Categories: Cannes Film Festival   Tags: , , , , , ,