Experiencing history in the making in France

Every adventure we have ever embarked upon has involved mystery, mayhem and enough suspense to fill a novel. It’s the stuff that makes life interesting, but a little bit scary. It’s also the stuff that may make the unsuspecting traveler a little wary to go abroad. Near misses and close calls add excitement and amusement to our trips and we always return home with amazing stories, sometimes even tragic ones. In spite of the fear that enshrouds U.S. departure and traveling overseas, I am becoming quite the adrenaline junkie, like those special people that bungee jump from hot air balloons. I am often waiting for the next cataclysmic event…I may be a little twisted…

This go ‘round there was no bungee jumping involved but there was an earthquake in Northern Italy when we were there. The quakes have continued even as recently as today in the city of Novi Di Modena. When we were in India there was a bombing just a block from our 5 star hotel at a hospital in protest against a rival medical establishment. Also while in India, there was a deadly earthquake on the border of India and Nepal. This seems to be becoming a habit for us.

I will add, though these calamities may be fascinating to be experienced from a distance, as it makes for interesting conversation and aligns our lives with a little piece of history, we do not take lightly the fact that we are so blessed to return home each time unharmed. Unfortunately, these kinds of natural disasters and acts of violence would take place regardless of whether we were there or not. Yet, these strange and random events help to remind us of our mortality and the fact that there is an Entity that exists that is larger than ourselves. We are grateful that we have not become the story line, but that we are able to return home to tell the story.

With that said, every story we have to share is not on the fore mentioned level of intensity, but they are intriguing none the less. While in France we were fortunate enough to experience some of the fan fair of the world famous Cannes Film Festival. The historic and exciting Grand Prix was being held in Monaco at that same time. We ran out of time and did not get the chance to slip over there but we heard it was equally as impressive.

In Cannes, we saw the red carpet that the stars were going to grace later that evening and we walked the path they walked and explored the marina filled with their million dollar yachts. History met modern day when we experienced the timeless hotels and casinos where the likes of icons such as Marilyn Monroe stayed when attending the festival.

There were reporters interviewing tents set up with Microphones, bright lights and cameras. We couldn’t make out just which stars were being interviewed at the time, but it could have very well been Gulianna and Ryan dissecting fashion with Tom and Katie. As a matter of fact Tom Cruise’s poster was front and center of the festival upon entering the beginning of the hot spot.

All the important brands put their best stock on display in eye catching, pricey ads and exhibits. The new Mercedes SL 500 boasted a distinctively fresh design after maintaining virtually the same body style for nearly two decades. Then there were the restaurants and high end shops that lined the streets. Surely we could only look in these venues as purchasing anything would have set us back…way back…but we dreamed for awhile, wide eyed and awe struck as we peered in.

We walked the French Riviera (Nice) beside a beach that was washed by ocean water of four different shades of blue. This peaceful and serene backdrop was the birth site of one of the most famous set of Twins in Hollywood, (not to be confused with Dem Babies, another famous twin set). The Brangelina clan flew to Nice, France to quietly give birth to their boy/girl twins. We drove past the now famous hospital.

Courtesy of People.com

Hospital of the Jolie-Pitt Family

At every turn there were historical sites to see, famous monuments and buildings, serene beaches and unsullied waters. We tried to take it all in. We tried to sear it all into our memories so that we would have magnificent memories to share and a story to tell…stay tuned there's more.