Cannes

As I boarded the plane with my new Revo suitcase (came with 4 wheels and a 10-year warranty) I began to get excited as nearly everyone on board spoke French. In just a few hours I'd be landing in sunny Cannes! Right as I was about to sit in my assigned seat, the woman next to me was trying her hardest to speak in English, requesting that I exchange places with her husband. Of course it didn't matter to me, so I gladly obliged.

I sat down next to 2 young girls, about my age. I introduced myself and asked where they were headed. What are the chances, but they were heading to San Remo for their ACLE orientation! They were asking questions throughout the entire ride about my experiences from last year, the camps, host families, what to expect from orientation, if there was really a salsa party at the end of orientation, my favorite memories, etc. I barely got any sleep on the plane because of the uncomfortable seating, and was rudely awakened once when someone in the aisle bumped into my head.

I got off the plane, and we met up with another girl who was going to the ACLE orientation. We got our luggage, but the newest girl's went missing. While she was giving the airport her information, I went to use the restroom. Typically in Europe, the stalls have a little green or red sign on the door, indicating if the stall was occupied. This was true for this restroom, so I casually opened an unoccupied door. To my surprise, a woman was standing directly in front of me with her pants around her ankles. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed as I quickly shut the door. I heard a crackling voice come from behind the door, "I guess I should have locked the door...?" Yeah, ya think!?

I helped the girls order their bus tickets to San Remo as I bought mine to Cannes. I wished them luck and we went our separate ways.

I met Gabrielle at the bus station in Cannes, drudged up the hill to her beautiful apartment (equipped with garden), and immediately hit the beach. The sun felt so good on my body and I was so tired that I couldn't find the energy to flip over, even when I felt myself starting to burn. The entire week I've been suffering from an abnormally reddened buttocks.

That night we went to an Irish pub and met 2 genial bartenders, Michel and Jason. We conversed in the empty bar, got free shots, stole a water gun from behind the bar, and slipped out the back door to make it back to the apartment. All in good fun.

St. Paul de Vance

Antibes

The next few days were spent sightseeing at St. Paul de Vance, Antibes, and the Island of St. Marguerite (prison of the Man in the Iron Mask). We also toured a Picasso museum, went to an Absenthe bar, and had to use our creative thinking when we found ourselves in a restroom with no toilet paper. Good thing I asked for a receipt with my last purchase!

Island of St. Marguerite

At nights, we cooked our own food and ate in the garden by candlelight. We went back to our Irish pub to visit our 2 favorite bartenders and to return the water gun, but the place was so crowded that they didn't have much time to talk. We went to McDonald's instead, and still have the water gun.

Another notable night was when we went to some other French bar. We met 2 cute Austrian men, one of which proposed to me on the steps of the red carpet where the film festival took place. It was hilarious.

Before our epic outings, Gabrielle introduced me to a pip-poppy new song which we've danced to at least 10x a day. I'm totally bringing it back to the states with me. Feel free to watch the Jedward twins singing "Lipstick" on youtube ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x77sOUQhZU

I also learned what plimsolls are, bought a new sun hat, realized that I have an obsession with pine cones, and discovered what happened to the kid from Free Willy.

Our plans are up in the air for next week due to limited hostel availability in Florence, but we're somehow going to end up in Milan. Hopefully we'll meet up with our past camp director Pinuccia!