Traveling In
My World
It was not
Harlem, but it was my best trip to France
yet…last summer’s visit to the Cote d’Azur
(translation from French: By the Sea).
In particular, the
cities of Cannes (having celebrated 60 years of
cinema in 2007), Antibes for it’s cultural
animation, Mougins for golf and gastronomy and
the perfume capital, Grasse. In celebration
thereof, the quad cities have branded in a
tourism campaign as “Euphories,” as in a state
of euphoria. And I can promise that if you so
dare to visit, you will share in the surreal
feeling thereof!
Cannes
We rolled into
Cannes via the Nice Airport, by way of Air
France, whose business class is far nicer than
ever before. The newly configured seats recline
to nearly flat, are well spaced from all
neighboring seats and quite comfortable.
Overnight accommodations were arranged at a
series of hotels in order to feel the many
flavors of the destination. The first stop was
Hotel 3.14 (www.3-14hotel.com), a hip, funky,
colorful hotel anchored around the theme of
sensuality. So sensual that the mini bar was a
virtual sex shop…dildo’s and all! While it may
sound shocking in our sexually repressed
society, the French think nothing of it and
neither should you until the mood strikes among
married couples, of course. Intimate in size,
the property has a spectacular rooftop pool with
Jacuzzi, live DJ and bar with a brother who
makes an amazing cocktail concoction all of his
own! Waking up the following day I got out for
an early morning run along the Croisette–the
main drag where Gucci, Dior, Gautier, Farragamo,
Cartier, Boucheron, Dolce & Gabana to name a
few—have boutiques. In between are major hotels,
restaurants and the Palais—home of the world
renowned Cannes Film Festival. Each year the
Palais also has an amazing summer line-up of
international DJ’s, dance parties and
international artists. With an overload of bling
on one side, a majestic stretch of beach, sand
and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea on the other
(and a few neighboring islands in the distant
view), it’s where you definitely want to bring
your sexy (body and swimwear), or be ignored.
Musee de las
Castre is Cannes’ old town where you’ll find
tons of bargains on clothing, great Epicurean
shops, produce markets, bakeries, restaurants,
wine shops and more. It’s a good place to blend
in with the locals.
Ferries depart
throughout the day to neighboring islands such
as Sainte Marguerite, where I got to visit the
Museum of the Sea, walk the botanical path and
feel the island in general. The beauty of the
Mediterranean Sea really blew me away, as did
the next day’s journey to the island of Saint
Honorat, where I had mass with the monks,
followed by a tour of the old monastery.
Although the entire mass was done in French, it
was culturally unique to “service” as I know it
with Bishop Eddie Long! The next hotel sat
nestled midway up the mountainous city of Cannes
and about six or seven blocks back from the
Croisette. In particular, I loved the elevated
views of the Mediterranean at this recently
renovated, boutique property featuring
contemporary elegant decor.
www.hotel-renoir-cannes.com
Humor struck upon each journey to and from the
hotel while passing through L’Aurberge
Provencale in Musee de la Castre) where the sign
reads: “Le Chinks,” Chinese restaurant. Oh how
interesting and unique are our cultural
differences when we travel!
The last two
nights in Cannes were spent at the renowned
Palace Hotel Martinez. Ranking among the hottest
of the hot palaces in Cannes, the Martinez is
also home to the restaurant La Palme d’Or, a
must do experience in Cannes. Each item on the
menu is elegantly displayed on a plate of art.
And when you order tea, a cart full of live
green herbs is rolled near to your table, then
cut and placed in hot water bringing new meaning
to a term—“a fresh cup of tea.” Although the
service is excellent at the Martinez, some of
the rooms remain in the post 80’s era. Just hope
that unlike me, you don’t get one!
www.hotel-martinez.com
Mougins
We departed
Cannes for the quaint village of Mougins where
spectacular views of the distant French Alps,
valleys and sea below abound. The winding
mountainside community has tons of small art
galleries along pathways laden with colorful
flowers at every turn. After a walking tour we
stopped for a lunch fit for a prince at Relais &
Chateaux’s Le Mas Candille Hotel Restaurant &
Spa. Never have I been let down by Relais &
Chateau.
Later that
evening I had my first experience ever of a
counter-tenors concert. Each of the four artists
sang in soprano voices, which was quite amusing
at first. I mean, come on, how often is it that
we see men (some butch, others not so butch)
singing each song in its entirety in soprano?
Then it hit me…these guys are really talented!
Antbes
Here we toured
the seaside and fortified village founded by
Greeks at about 400 BC. Fondest memories
included a stop at a bar where they serve
Absente, the drink that inspired renowned
Vincent Van Gogh (who instead of water, mixed
his with cognac as a chase while smoking opium)
to slice off that damn nuisance of an ear of
his. At 68-76% alcohol (130-140 proof), it is
illegal to sell Absente in the USA. Blame it on
the Swiss, who introduced the drink to France!
Anyway, when you get to Antibes, look for a bar
called Balade en Provence, one of the few
remaining places where the drink is infused with
dripping water over a sugar cube and into a
glass. The taste is reminiscent of fennel and
anise—sort of similar to the taste of the Greek
drink, Ouzo.
Grasse
Although perfume
was born in Egypt, Grasse has a rich history of
perfume making. Back in the 18th
century, tanners and glove makers came up with a
process to camouflage the offensive odor of
animal hides with animal fat and jasmine oils
and also creating essential oils through the
distillery process. Grasse is charged with
being the birthplace of the modern perfume era.
In fact, of the 50 “noses” of the world–90% of
which are men-who spend a minimum of 10-years
studying fragrances to create all of the world’s
perfumes—most are somehow rooted in Grasse. A
little more on cologne: Perfumes are 24% pure
essence, with eau de perfumes at 15-18% purity,
eau de toilettes at 10-12% and cologne at just
6%. And one perfume is composed of between 25 to
250 essences. I discovered these facts and more
on a tour of the Fragonard perfumery, a must
tour if and when you get to Grasse. Best of all,
with the exception of perfumes, which are best
worn on the body at points that permeate heat,
fragrances should be sprayed on your clothing,
says the fragrance experts in Grasse. And I’ve
been doing it for years never to have had any of
my clothing discolored, etc., as a result.
Another
noteworthy experience is Confectionary Florian,
a factory and retail boutique where flowers are
turned into candy, syrups and other edible
delights. For my grandmother, who loves roses, I
purchased rose syrup for cooking and adding to
champagne (or in her case, lemonade), a jar of
rose jam and candied rose leaves–all of which
nearly brought her to tears for
tasting so good! The
confectionary also offers a cooking class led by
Chef Yves Terrillon and his son (while school is
out for the summer season). The son looks like a
little Harry Potter and the dad, who uses lots
of fresh flowers and floral syrups, can really
get down!
All
in all, the entire experience was euphoria. And
I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Still
to come, a travel TV series, personalized tours
and of course, books on extraordinary travel.
About Travel Journalist Michael Andre Adams
While attending
UCLA back in the mid 90’s, an internship at
CBS-2 in Los Angeles paved the way for me to go
on-air with Continental Cable’s “Community News
Report” show, where I covered the entertainment
beat.
With little regard for newsroom
antics and protocol, the one-year stint was
parlayed into a career in sales an marketing at
Midnite Express International. Throughout the
seven year journey there I began writing
entertainment features beginning with BET
Weekend Magazine, then Savoy Magazine, Gospel
Flava Magazine and numerous others. By this
time it was clear to me that mission is to
communicate. With God as the captain, I threw
caution to the wind and set out on a spiritual
journey to fulfill my destiny. In August of
2000, just one month out of the gate, I was made
an editor and advertising sales executive at
Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine. Under the
loving tutelage of travel industry icons Solomon
and Gloria Herbert, I learned the politics of
the travel and tourism arena. Soon after I
ventured out on my own to develop a now long and
growing list of print and broadcast outlets
where I serve as travel editor, travel columnist
and freelance travel contributor.
To
find out more about Michael Andre Adams call
818.554.1583 or email
michael@travelinginmyworld.com or
online at www.Travelinginmyworld.com
