I'm going back to America. I will be in Portland at 9:26pm tomorrow night. It's going to be a very long day of traveling.
This last week has been just enough to make me want to stay here all summer. The weather is fantastic, encore screenings of competition films, dinners out with friends, staying up at night celebrating and exploring Cannes. I know I'm being general- on purpose.
I hate saying goodbye. leaving is difficult.
however I can't wait to be home. it will be welcoming.
thats it for this blog. thanks for reading. next time you see me- i will be sure to talk plenty more about my time here in CANNES, FRANCE.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Ventimiglia and Bikes
I find myself in an anxious time. Both wanting to go home, but not wanting to leave. I really hate leaving: saying goodbye, packing, traveling, knowing that the next time I come to Cannes my life here won't be the same.
The festival is over now, we have to wait until 7:00 tonight to find out which movie recieved the Palme d'Or, the highest honor at the festival.
Being free of my duties from the festival I have been able to explore some more around the area. Friday I ventured to Ventimiglia- its a town right on the border of France and Italy- technically it's in Italy. There's a large open air market. It's supposed to be cool, but I didn't really like it- mostly knock off purses and bags, dyed fabric, kitchen gadgets, belts, but a lot of the same repetitive stuff. I did enjoy walking around the streets, noticing the blending of French and Italien cultures.
My favorite part of the day actually turned out to be the train ride there:
Lauren and I were waiting at track 1, waiting for the train, ready to leave Cannes because we had enough of all the anglais speaking foreigners invading Cannes- when two dudes (depicted above) approached us. "It's so good to hear other people speaking English here." oh- haha. However they were friendly enough, and the four of us quickly became friends- we explained that we were students at the college international and not just here for the festival- however I added that was probably the reason I was here to begin with. They (Jeffrey and David) explained that they were from NY. Jeffrey-the guy with glasses told us about his short films he had in the festival and his comedy club in NY. David-his sidekick told us about his short films he also had in the festival (short film corner) and about his entertainment law career. Jeffrey entertained us with his explaination of the chakra colors and proceeded to analyize our personalities from there. David had just applied to attend Chappytown for his MFA- so I answered his questions about what Chapman is like (the best I could remember at least). I asked Jeffrey if he had a pen, so we could exchange information, he did, and pulled out a foot long pen from his bag. Needless to say the time on the train went by very quickly. David and Jeffrey got off at Monaco because the Grand Prix also happend to be going on this weekend.
Saturday I rented bikes!!!! A fantastic idea! I should have done this earlier. We were able to see so much. And I LOVE bike riding. It had been a long time since I last was on a bike. We started in Cannes, biking around the city and the Palais passing official festival cars and weaving around motorcycles and scooters, we proceeded East along the coastline, pass La Bocca, we crossed a river (which I didn't even know existed until then), then we stopped at a castle and climbed around- I have no idea what it's historical importance was, then began the challenging part of the journey- the road became much curvier, narrow shoulder, along a mountainous cliffside over looking the Riviera. I'm sure we looked ridiculous to all the professional bikers who passed us wearing their colorful spandex. We had to walk our bikes up some of the hills, and experienced some extreme speed going downhill. Fatigue caused us to pull over in the shade by a sewer opening, where we had a picnic lunch of olive baguette, herbes de Provence salami, pink lady apples, cherries, and plenty of water. We returned back to campus with enough time to jump into the sea cooling our hot skin before taking the bikes back. I got really sunburned.
Today I did a bunch of nothing. : )
This week should be fun- making the most of the time we have left.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
FESTIVAL de CANNES
It's been eight days.
I've changed my mind often, about what exactly I thought this festival was about. Below are excerpts from notes ive written in various places at various times when I had a free moment.
I understand living/existing in the city of Cannes before apart from the festival now.
I didn't understand until it was gone.
The festival intrudes upon the quiet french beach life here.
What is the festival like?
Extremely high profile- i love how much i dont fit it. its cool. rich fashionable business people. no thanks. the seperation from the somebodies and the bobodies. how about the anybodies?
INTERNATIONAL
This festival is pretty crappy though in terms of numbers and statistics. this is really the first time i have seen the effects of how horrible the world economy is. i hear the words ECONOMIC CRISIS, or some variation of that, all over the palais. the parties are downsized. less people everywhere. its all over the trades. thats all the business people talk/complain about.
my boss richard has the same joke he uses whenever someone asks how he is or hows it going:
Hey Richard, how's it going?
Ok. But ok's the new excelenet.
followed by middle aged man laughter.
sure the entertainment bussiness still makes money but considering this is supposed to be the largest film festival in the world and is covered almost as heavily as the olympics or the world cup- theres not much action. less tourists. less attention. less celebrities. -but i dont care about that.
what i have come to care about is business.
THERE ARE LESS BUYERS. oh no. here in the lerins in the palais, specifically at lighning entertainment R7S8 I work as an intern. Technically you could say I'm helping to sell films at the Cannes Film Festival, but really I'm a receptionist doing the bitchwork for the "industry" that my chosen major hinges upon for any sort of success. Admist the mundance-answering phones, making schedules, and running tickets, deal memos, and scripts to various personnel- i do take pride in being a face for lighning entertainment- we have some good movies. Taking Chances is a romantic comedy staring Justin Long. Human Contract features the directorial debut of Jada Pickett Smith. And we are presaling a gangster movie called The Irishman staring Dustin Hoffman. Of corse we also sell movies like The Reef- a horror film about sharks, throwback to Sharky anyone? And we also have a nice selection of erotics. Erotics at Cannes... hmmm.
I like to meet people and help direct inquiries, even the stupid ones, and especially in ones in different languages. Previously having no knowledge of how distributino among the film industry happens, I have managed to act knowledgable enough about our company to show clients trailers and catalogues, analyize audiences at our screenings, and distinguish the meaning behind industry jargon dropped casually. I'll be glad when my internship is finished to allow me more time to explore more of the festival life, but in some strange way I'll miss the forced importance of it all.
Seeing movies. Now, at first I was really disappointed, because my badge has very limited access and powers. In fact it's considered a technicians badge... It has a big N on it. for NO perhaps. its still possible to see movies regardless of the badge you have, but there is a whole system of tickets and colors and restrictions, and lines to wait in. And being that most of my time is spent at work, I don't have time to stand in line all day for a movie. Luckily as the week has progressed I have learned more and figured out the best ways to get into movies. Here are the movies I've seen and what my experience has been like:
L'Épine dans le Coeur de Michel Gondry. A documentary about his aunt, who is a teacher. I liked the movie because it was a personal look into a French Filmmaker's family. It had the simplicity of a home movie, with the exception of two scenes that were animated. Michel Gondry was present for the screening, so was most of the principal crew, and his aunt, the theater was smaller, an intimate experience for me to be surrounded by such imagination and creativity.
Then I tried to get into Precious, but failed. bummer. cause i read the book.
Les Yeux sans Visage de Georges Franju. 1960s French horror/frankensteinesk film about a doctor that tried to replace women's faces if they were damaged. obsessive freak. a good movie to watch with an audience, everyone was squirmy and apalled together. I sat next to a French old man in a white suit.
Dogtooth de Yorgos Lanthimos. A new Greek film that ultimately explained how self torrment and destruction are the only escpae to isolation and brainwashing. However the extreme amount of incestual sex scenes really bothered me, and I found the movie to be very distant from its audience.
I Love you Phillip Morris. Yeah!!! Finally something I could laugh during. Jim Carrey-reminded me of his role in Liar, Liar- and Ewan McGregor were fantastic. The tone and point of the movie held consistantly. Refreshing to see a Gay Romantic Comedy in a lighthearted tone.
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS DE QUENTIN TARANTINO.
Hey Jen, do you want a ticket to the 12 oclock screening of Inglourious Basterds.
YES!!!
My boss, Mathilde, gave me her ticket!!!!completely unexpected, I downed my espresso, switched badges with an intern from a rival distribution company, and dashed away to the Lumiére theater- the largest theater of the Palais. Someplace I had only dreamed about stepping foot in. I pushed through the crowd. Smiled. Said Bonjour. Scanned Badge. Torn ticket. Metal Detector passed. I was walking up the steps of the red carpet. not really walking more like feet hop dancing - almost like a prance. I took my seat in the HUGE theater. I think I sat in the French people section- there were lots of French people around me. I sat and read quietly until the movie started. Opening credits, lots of cheering, this was one of the most highly anticipated films of the festival- and i was there! The movie was good, not as good as the hype held it up to me. It wasn't as much of a war film as I thought it would be. And I thought the title was misleading, The inglourious basterds, didnt really drive the plot as much as the revenge plot did. I like how Tarantino built the film for the Cannes festival audience: international, different langauges, film lovers. The movie could be sharpend, maybe a good 15 minutes, the end of the second act felt really long. I want to talk with more people who saw the film already and get some more opinions.
Today I recieved two more tickets under the certain regard selection: Morrer Como um Homen de Joao Pedro Rodrigues and Á Deriva de Heitor Dhalia. With unlimited potential to follow.
Oh yeah, I should also say I really don't want to leave.
I've changed my mind often, about what exactly I thought this festival was about. Below are excerpts from notes ive written in various places at various times when I had a free moment.
I understand living/existing in the city of Cannes before apart from the festival now.
I didn't understand until it was gone.
The festival intrudes upon the quiet french beach life here.
What is the festival like?
Extremely high profile- i love how much i dont fit it. its cool. rich fashionable business people. no thanks. the seperation from the somebodies and the bobodies. how about the anybodies?
INTERNATIONAL
This festival is pretty crappy though in terms of numbers and statistics. this is really the first time i have seen the effects of how horrible the world economy is. i hear the words ECONOMIC CRISIS, or some variation of that, all over the palais. the parties are downsized. less people everywhere. its all over the trades. thats all the business people talk/complain about.
my boss richard has the same joke he uses whenever someone asks how he is or hows it going:
Hey Richard, how's it going?
Ok. But ok's the new excelenet.
followed by middle aged man laughter.
sure the entertainment bussiness still makes money but considering this is supposed to be the largest film festival in the world and is covered almost as heavily as the olympics or the world cup- theres not much action. less tourists. less attention. less celebrities. -but i dont care about that.
what i have come to care about is business.
THERE ARE LESS BUYERS. oh no. here in the lerins in the palais, specifically at lighning entertainment R7S8 I work as an intern. Technically you could say I'm helping to sell films at the Cannes Film Festival, but really I'm a receptionist doing the bitchwork for the "industry" that my chosen major hinges upon for any sort of success. Admist the mundance-answering phones, making schedules, and running tickets, deal memos, and scripts to various personnel- i do take pride in being a face for lighning entertainment- we have some good movies. Taking Chances is a romantic comedy staring Justin Long. Human Contract features the directorial debut of Jada Pickett Smith. And we are presaling a gangster movie called The Irishman staring Dustin Hoffman. Of corse we also sell movies like The Reef- a horror film about sharks, throwback to Sharky anyone? And we also have a nice selection of erotics. Erotics at Cannes... hmmm.
I like to meet people and help direct inquiries, even the stupid ones, and especially in ones in different languages. Previously having no knowledge of how distributino among the film industry happens, I have managed to act knowledgable enough about our company to show clients trailers and catalogues, analyize audiences at our screenings, and distinguish the meaning behind industry jargon dropped casually. I'll be glad when my internship is finished to allow me more time to explore more of the festival life, but in some strange way I'll miss the forced importance of it all.
Seeing movies. Now, at first I was really disappointed, because my badge has very limited access and powers. In fact it's considered a technicians badge... It has a big N on it. for NO perhaps. its still possible to see movies regardless of the badge you have, but there is a whole system of tickets and colors and restrictions, and lines to wait in. And being that most of my time is spent at work, I don't have time to stand in line all day for a movie. Luckily as the week has progressed I have learned more and figured out the best ways to get into movies. Here are the movies I've seen and what my experience has been like:
L'Épine dans le Coeur de Michel Gondry. A documentary about his aunt, who is a teacher. I liked the movie because it was a personal look into a French Filmmaker's family. It had the simplicity of a home movie, with the exception of two scenes that were animated. Michel Gondry was present for the screening, so was most of the principal crew, and his aunt, the theater was smaller, an intimate experience for me to be surrounded by such imagination and creativity.
Then I tried to get into Precious, but failed. bummer. cause i read the book.
Les Yeux sans Visage de Georges Franju. 1960s French horror/frankensteinesk film about a doctor that tried to replace women's faces if they were damaged. obsessive freak. a good movie to watch with an audience, everyone was squirmy and apalled together. I sat next to a French old man in a white suit.
Dogtooth de Yorgos Lanthimos. A new Greek film that ultimately explained how self torrment and destruction are the only escpae to isolation and brainwashing. However the extreme amount of incestual sex scenes really bothered me, and I found the movie to be very distant from its audience.
I Love you Phillip Morris. Yeah!!! Finally something I could laugh during. Jim Carrey-reminded me of his role in Liar, Liar- and Ewan McGregor were fantastic. The tone and point of the movie held consistantly. Refreshing to see a Gay Romantic Comedy in a lighthearted tone.
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS DE QUENTIN TARANTINO.
Hey Jen, do you want a ticket to the 12 oclock screening of Inglourious Basterds.
YES!!!
My boss, Mathilde, gave me her ticket!!!!completely unexpected, I downed my espresso, switched badges with an intern from a rival distribution company, and dashed away to the Lumiére theater- the largest theater of the Palais. Someplace I had only dreamed about stepping foot in. I pushed through the crowd. Smiled. Said Bonjour. Scanned Badge. Torn ticket. Metal Detector passed. I was walking up the steps of the red carpet. not really walking more like feet hop dancing - almost like a prance. I took my seat in the HUGE theater. I think I sat in the French people section- there were lots of French people around me. I sat and read quietly until the movie started. Opening credits, lots of cheering, this was one of the most highly anticipated films of the festival- and i was there! The movie was good, not as good as the hype held it up to me. It wasn't as much of a war film as I thought it would be. And I thought the title was misleading, The inglourious basterds, didnt really drive the plot as much as the revenge plot did. I like how Tarantino built the film for the Cannes festival audience: international, different langauges, film lovers. The movie could be sharpend, maybe a good 15 minutes, the end of the second act felt really long. I want to talk with more people who saw the film already and get some more opinions.
Today I recieved two more tickets under the certain regard selection: Morrer Como um Homen de Joao Pedro Rodrigues and Á Deriva de Heitor Dhalia. With unlimited potential to follow.
Oh yeah, I should also say I really don't want to leave.
Monday, May 11, 2009
My Life before the Festival
Today I got my Badge. The 62 Festival de Cannes . I enjoyed walking to the Palias today to the acrediation. I told the man with the beige suit that I was with Mainline Releasing. He told me I could go in. Then I waited in queue with what looked like the members of the press: dudes with hats and beards, ladies with high heels and pencil skirts, and people holding binders with papers. I couldn't sleep last night.
Tomorrow I meet at 11 am at R7/S8 in the Lerins for set up and to meet my employers. Then I will actually know what I will be doing these next 10 days. In the meantime I can only imagine. The city of Cannes has already started to explode: restuarant and store prices have increased, buses and trains are filled, cars line up at stoplights, and beaches are covered with people. I also went shopping, and got a sweet white suit jacket to rock on the riviera.
This weekend was fantastic as well. Saturday I went to Gorges de Verdon and really honestly thought i found heaven on earth. We ventured in a paddle boat, rounded a large turn from the lake to the river, where the gorge narrows, and upon coming out of the turn found ourselves viewing three large waterfalls all in a row. It was pure beauty and I'm honestly sad for anyone who has not seen such amazingness before. Saturday night we went to Baoli- the nices club in Cannes, and got rejected. That was funny not fun. But it wasn't much of my scene anyways, everyone was really really really rich. Sunday I went to Juan les Pins, to go shopping, because stores are open on Sundays there. It was another awesome French Riviera town. The only thing that sucked was knowing that in 3 weeks I will have to leave this greatness.
I got my email back from Riddle today saying: "While the faculty committee was intrigued by your project proposal, they have strong reservations about its suitability for the senior thesis course." Which means by May 29th I have to resubmit, this time an actual script and my reel. This will prove to be problematic being that this deadline completely corresponds with the time of the festival- which right now is all my little heart cares about...
Tomorrow I meet at 11 am at R7/S8 in the Lerins for set up and to meet my employers. Then I will actually know what I will be doing these next 10 days. In the meantime I can only imagine. The city of Cannes has already started to explode: restuarant and store prices have increased, buses and trains are filled, cars line up at stoplights, and beaches are covered with people. I also went shopping, and got a sweet white suit jacket to rock on the riviera.
This weekend was fantastic as well. Saturday I went to Gorges de Verdon and really honestly thought i found heaven on earth. We ventured in a paddle boat, rounded a large turn from the lake to the river, where the gorge narrows, and upon coming out of the turn found ourselves viewing three large waterfalls all in a row. It was pure beauty and I'm honestly sad for anyone who has not seen such amazingness before. Saturday night we went to Baoli- the nices club in Cannes, and got rejected. That was funny not fun. But it wasn't much of my scene anyways, everyone was really really really rich. Sunday I went to Juan les Pins, to go shopping, because stores are open on Sundays there. It was another awesome French Riviera town. The only thing that sucked was knowing that in 3 weeks I will have to leave this greatness.
I got my email back from Riddle today saying: "While the faculty committee was intrigued by your project proposal, they have strong reservations about its suitability for the senior thesis course." Which means by May 29th I have to resubmit, this time an actual script and my reel. This will prove to be problematic being that this deadline completely corresponds with the time of the festival- which right now is all my little heart cares about...
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
berlinberlinberlinberlinberlinberlinberlinberlinberlin
I knew I was in Berlin when; I heard the techno beats waiting for the SBahn at the graffiti covered station and the wurst/sewer smell intermixed with the Berliner's voices conversing in German. Many of my preconcieved notions of Germany were true, but much of what I encountered over this weekend I would have never thought was going to happen.
Friday, mainly a day of travel. Ashley and i set off from Cannes, Flew out from Nice, Switched plains in Munich, and landed in Berlin. Lufthansa does a good job. We had comfortable seats and ham sandwhiches. Upon arriving in Berlin we found our hostel- The Generator- the biggest in Berlin. Our room was with 14 other beds and Ashley and I were in different sections of the room. No problem, except the other men that I was with didn't speak english. Friday evening Ashley and I walked to the TV Tower, it was a good location to first search out cause we could see it getting larger as we were getting closer.
After our walk, we got back to the hostel with just enough time to head out with the infamous bar crawl that we were recommeded to by our friends at the college who had stayed at the Generator before. Ashley and I were excited to take on the night, just us two- 'Don't worry we got each others' backs' ... The bar crawl included 3 different bars and then - Matrix, a night club. Much happend this night including beer and jager shots, we met lots of people from different places. Worth noting was the tall guy and Geegle, his friend, from Switzerland, an actor from Dollhouse on Tv- who Ashley was a fan of and he bought us plenty to drink after we told him we recognized him from such as amazing show, the Australian tour guide- who Ashley quickly worked her charm on and ended up leaving with him. Now, this would seem a problem, leaving me in a country where i dont speak the language, intoxicated enough, and alone.
However I was not alone:
Admist the techno beats, drunken laughter, and Germanic Language, I hear: "Portland, Oregon"
I just turn around
"Did you say Portland?"
"Yeah, Portland, Oregon."
"Not Poland?"
"Yeah, we are from Portland."
"No way, me too!!!!!!!"
Then I wasn't alone.
In Berlin German, I happend to meet two guys from Portland, Kurt and Tyson. Quickly bonding over Portland love, peace, and harmony, we had a fantastic night of meeting other people, learning about Germany, drinking, dancing, and the like. To my delight Kurt left and Tyson and I spent the rest of the time together, and once the club scene died out, we managed to take on the city streets and find our way back to the hostel. Unsure if we will ever see each other again, it was a fantastic night. I would have never thought I would have gone to Berlin and end up connecting with Portland.
I have found this to be a reoccuring situation in retrospect throughout my time abroad, the more I learn about other cultures and countries the more I learn about my own.
Saturday Ashley had not returned, and my phone was locked in her locker, concerned, but not wanting to waste the day, I set out for a walking tour, hoping that when I came back to the hostel she would be back. I hoped the Australian tour guide was worth this.
Once I arrived at the meeting spot I happend to run into MarK, who I know from the college international, who also happend to be in Berlin the same weekend as me. Again surprised to see such a familiar face in a foreign country, we were happily reunited. He introduced me to the British and German friends he met at his hostel and we all set off on the tour. It lasted all day, the entire time I felt myself plunged into such a rich and open history, completely lost in the complexity and importance of the world. Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Over Hitler's Bunker, Holocaust Memorial, Book Burning Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, SS Headquarters, The Berlin Wall, TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, Museum Island, Pariser Platz, Luftwaffe HQ, Bebelplatz. Overwhelmed and inspired I returned back to the hostel to find Ashley happy and safe. Together that night Ashley and I went to a lounge bar called White Trash Fast Food, upon the recommendation of the hot Australian Tour Guide. Outside we timidly waited in line along the velvet cord, greeted by friendly German bouncers, we curiously entered to find a basement like-Candle-lit-mirrored walls-cave like lounger, where the beer was cheap, friends were chillin, and everyone was under the control of the really loud modern alternative rock. We had fun dancing to North American Scum and Nobody Move.
Sunday we managed to wake up and hit up the Film Museum- after such a success in Amsterdam I felt inclined to see what Berlin had to offer- I was glad we did- it was a Hitchcock Exhibit- and once again I felt the urge of excitement and anxiety to direct my senior thesis next year. After we went to the Kennedy Museum. It was cool to see how another country percieves one of the most influential of our countries political families. And the museum even wall comparing the Obamas and the Kennedys. I will admit the museum was pretty empty when we were there. Sunday night- the reason we flew to Berlin to begin with - the Lilly Allen Concert. It was a fun concert, the venue was just big enough, the people were all feelin it, and Lilly was cute and rockin. After the concert Ashley and I went back to The Matrix club to see if we could run into some familiar faces again- but the club on that Sunday night wasnt that happening... Back at the hostel I was able to take a quick nap before I had to wake up at 5 in the morning, get online and register for my classes next year.
Monday we took a long walk, and eventually got back to Cannes, where it was sunny, and our friends all wanted to hear what had happend.
Needless to say I really like Berlin. I think going to Berlin was a necesary experience for me to witness first hand how change is completely possible.
Friday, mainly a day of travel. Ashley and i set off from Cannes, Flew out from Nice, Switched plains in Munich, and landed in Berlin. Lufthansa does a good job. We had comfortable seats and ham sandwhiches. Upon arriving in Berlin we found our hostel- The Generator- the biggest in Berlin. Our room was with 14 other beds and Ashley and I were in different sections of the room. No problem, except the other men that I was with didn't speak english. Friday evening Ashley and I walked to the TV Tower, it was a good location to first search out cause we could see it getting larger as we were getting closer.
After our walk, we got back to the hostel with just enough time to head out with the infamous bar crawl that we were recommeded to by our friends at the college who had stayed at the Generator before. Ashley and I were excited to take on the night, just us two- 'Don't worry we got each others' backs' ... The bar crawl included 3 different bars and then - Matrix, a night club. Much happend this night including beer and jager shots, we met lots of people from different places. Worth noting was the tall guy and Geegle, his friend, from Switzerland, an actor from Dollhouse on Tv- who Ashley was a fan of and he bought us plenty to drink after we told him we recognized him from such as amazing show, the Australian tour guide- who Ashley quickly worked her charm on and ended up leaving with him. Now, this would seem a problem, leaving me in a country where i dont speak the language, intoxicated enough, and alone.
However I was not alone:
Admist the techno beats, drunken laughter, and Germanic Language, I hear: "Portland, Oregon"
I just turn around
"Did you say Portland?"
"Yeah, Portland, Oregon."
"Not Poland?"
"Yeah, we are from Portland."
"No way, me too!!!!!!!"
Then I wasn't alone.
In Berlin German, I happend to meet two guys from Portland, Kurt and Tyson. Quickly bonding over Portland love, peace, and harmony, we had a fantastic night of meeting other people, learning about Germany, drinking, dancing, and the like. To my delight Kurt left and Tyson and I spent the rest of the time together, and once the club scene died out, we managed to take on the city streets and find our way back to the hostel. Unsure if we will ever see each other again, it was a fantastic night. I would have never thought I would have gone to Berlin and end up connecting with Portland.
I have found this to be a reoccuring situation in retrospect throughout my time abroad, the more I learn about other cultures and countries the more I learn about my own.
Saturday Ashley had not returned, and my phone was locked in her locker, concerned, but not wanting to waste the day, I set out for a walking tour, hoping that when I came back to the hostel she would be back. I hoped the Australian tour guide was worth this.
Once I arrived at the meeting spot I happend to run into MarK, who I know from the college international, who also happend to be in Berlin the same weekend as me. Again surprised to see such a familiar face in a foreign country, we were happily reunited. He introduced me to the British and German friends he met at his hostel and we all set off on the tour. It lasted all day, the entire time I felt myself plunged into such a rich and open history, completely lost in the complexity and importance of the world. Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Over Hitler's Bunker, Holocaust Memorial, Book Burning Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, SS Headquarters, The Berlin Wall, TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, Museum Island, Pariser Platz, Luftwaffe HQ, Bebelplatz. Overwhelmed and inspired I returned back to the hostel to find Ashley happy and safe. Together that night Ashley and I went to a lounge bar called White Trash Fast Food, upon the recommendation of the hot Australian Tour Guide. Outside we timidly waited in line along the velvet cord, greeted by friendly German bouncers, we curiously entered to find a basement like-Candle-lit-mirrored walls-cave like lounger, where the beer was cheap, friends were chillin, and everyone was under the control of the really loud modern alternative rock. We had fun dancing to North American Scum and Nobody Move.
Sunday we managed to wake up and hit up the Film Museum- after such a success in Amsterdam I felt inclined to see what Berlin had to offer- I was glad we did- it was a Hitchcock Exhibit- and once again I felt the urge of excitement and anxiety to direct my senior thesis next year. After we went to the Kennedy Museum. It was cool to see how another country percieves one of the most influential of our countries political families. And the museum even wall comparing the Obamas and the Kennedys. I will admit the museum was pretty empty when we were there. Sunday night- the reason we flew to Berlin to begin with - the Lilly Allen Concert. It was a fun concert, the venue was just big enough, the people were all feelin it, and Lilly was cute and rockin. After the concert Ashley and I went back to The Matrix club to see if we could run into some familiar faces again- but the club on that Sunday night wasnt that happening... Back at the hostel I was able to take a quick nap before I had to wake up at 5 in the morning, get online and register for my classes next year.
Monday we took a long walk, and eventually got back to Cannes, where it was sunny, and our friends all wanted to hear what had happend.
Needless to say I really like Berlin. I think going to Berlin was a necesary experience for me to witness first hand how change is completely possible.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Axon Provence
The sunshine, late nights on the beach, and newly purchased speakers have all been treating me far too well here in Cannes. So well in fact that this weekend I left- to Axon Provence. This is a list of where I went and some of what that entailed:
Ales- Van Gogh is a big deal here
Roman Arena
Night Café
Marché (another one) Provencal
Espace de Van Gogh- quote from a pamphlet "where the misunderstood genius spent 15 months of his life painting" The actual building was closed, but that didn't stop us from sitting around the fountain in the garden enjoying the sunshine.
Cathedral d'Images- very difficult to explain, this tops my list of coolest things ever, it was an exhibit of Picasso's work projected three dimensionally all over a big cave, accompianied with music, and it was really cold.
Les Beaux de Provence Village. Medival Ruins. Just like Helms Deep. Except more French. There was a catapult show. We had audioguides. I climbed around.
Avignon
Our Hotel was right by the Palais des Papes (The Pope's House).
Fancy Dinner: Veggy Soup, Salmon, and Cottage Cheese.
Hanging out of the hotel windows, just like the brady bunch.
Out to Red Sky. Bar. Large Outdoor Seating Area. Started to rain ( yesssssssss) Everyone flocked under one umbrella, we were lucky to get a space. Molly and I were the only nonFrench people there, no one bothered us, able to observe, decided that Avignon people are chill and not pretentious, off in the rain to meet up with our other friends at the Irish pub, Born in the USA was playing (????)
Tour of the Pope's house. We had audioguides. If I lived back then I would have definitley sat on the rat hand side of the pope in the Grand Chapell and watched the Pope cut his meet with his Ivory Knife and could only hope I was the recepient of the Golden Rose. The rain falling off the stone work sounded beautiful.
Lunch and chillin.
Wine Tasting.
Home at Cannes.
Good Weekend seeing Axon Provence in France.
Ales- Van Gogh is a big deal here
Roman Arena
Night Café
Marché (another one) Provencal
Espace de Van Gogh- quote from a pamphlet "where the misunderstood genius spent 15 months of his life painting" The actual building was closed, but that didn't stop us from sitting around the fountain in the garden enjoying the sunshine.
Cathedral d'Images- very difficult to explain, this tops my list of coolest things ever, it was an exhibit of Picasso's work projected three dimensionally all over a big cave, accompianied with music, and it was really cold.
Les Beaux de Provence Village. Medival Ruins. Just like Helms Deep. Except more French. There was a catapult show. We had audioguides. I climbed around.
Avignon
Our Hotel was right by the Palais des Papes (The Pope's House).
Fancy Dinner: Veggy Soup, Salmon, and Cottage Cheese.
Hanging out of the hotel windows, just like the brady bunch.
Out to Red Sky. Bar. Large Outdoor Seating Area. Started to rain ( yesssssssss) Everyone flocked under one umbrella, we were lucky to get a space. Molly and I were the only nonFrench people there, no one bothered us, able to observe, decided that Avignon people are chill and not pretentious, off in the rain to meet up with our other friends at the Irish pub, Born in the USA was playing (????)
Tour of the Pope's house. We had audioguides. If I lived back then I would have definitley sat on the rat hand side of the pope in the Grand Chapell and watched the Pope cut his meet with his Ivory Knife and could only hope I was the recepient of the Golden Rose. The rain falling off the stone work sounded beautiful.
Lunch and chillin.
Wine Tasting.
Home at Cannes.
Good Weekend seeing Axon Provence in France.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Amsterdam
"PAIN. My eye. My eye. The left one. It hurts. I can't get it out. It's stuck. Aude and I race across the street. The pharmacists asks me. What's going on? It's my eye. Is it too late? For a doctor. Wait here. I'll get the forms. Don't move. I'm not. Ok, lay here. Probe and look. Je ne sais pas. The doctor said that. I don't know the word in english. Cornea is damaged. Back at Pharmacy. Get yellow drops and vitamin A cream. 3 x a day. Next 7 days. I'll get better now. "
This happend on Thursday night, the night before I left for Amsterdam. Scary and bad- but no one worry, cause the medicin healed me and i'm fine now. It bothered my that my sight was impaired, I pretended that my other sense of hearing and touched were hightend. -they probably weren't.
Friday morning I took a bus to Nice and a plane to Amsterdam. Now I'm not going to detail my trip here. The words I would write do not fit here and are out of place. Trust me when I say I had a fantatic time. Amsterdam is a magical city. Couch Surfing is fantastically cheap way to meet people, prostitution is gross, metro is expensive and confusing, the park is the best place to be, Amsterdam Film museum and 3 film majors - almost too perfect. Next time I go, I'm bringing a bike with me.
Now I'm enjoying the rain in Cannes, doing research for my internship with Lightning Entertainment, an international distribution company, and working on some plans for the future.
This happend on Thursday night, the night before I left for Amsterdam. Scary and bad- but no one worry, cause the medicin healed me and i'm fine now. It bothered my that my sight was impaired, I pretended that my other sense of hearing and touched were hightend. -they probably weren't.
Friday morning I took a bus to Nice and a plane to Amsterdam. Now I'm not going to detail my trip here. The words I would write do not fit here and are out of place. Trust me when I say I had a fantatic time. Amsterdam is a magical city. Couch Surfing is fantastically cheap way to meet people, prostitution is gross, metro is expensive and confusing, the park is the best place to be, Amsterdam Film museum and 3 film majors - almost too perfect. Next time I go, I'm bringing a bike with me.
Now I'm enjoying the rain in Cannes, doing research for my internship with Lightning Entertainment, an international distribution company, and working on some plans for the future.
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