Day 1: Arriving and Exploring Cannes
When we first arrived, Daniel, Carson, and I realized we had all been on the same flight, so we decided to explore Cannes together. It was my first time seeing the city, and walking around with them made me feel much more comfortable and excited about the trip. Later that night, I met my roommate, Manuela, and we went to dinner together. We also had our first class meeting, where we discussed the upcoming program and what we could expect from the experience. I did not know anyone before going on this trip, so this first day helped calm my nerves and made me excited to start meeting everyone.
Day 2: Cannes Market, the Famous Sign, and Catamaran Cruise
The next day, we explored more of Cannes and visited the beautiful fresh farmers market. I loved seeing all of the colorful produce, flowers, and local food because it gave us a chance to experience a more authentic side of the city. We also had a really good lunch before walking up to the famous Cannes sign, which overlooks the entire city. The view was absolutely beautiful and gave us one of our first opportunities to take pictures together.
Later, we went on a catamaran cruise, which was honestly one of my favorite and most unforgettable parts of the entire trip. Being on the water with everyone was so much fun, and it was a great way for our group to become closer before the festival started. That night, my friends and I went out to dinner together.
Day 3: Monaco and Monte Carlo
The following day, we traveled to Monaco and saw the famous Monte Carlo Casino. My friends and I explored the city, visited Dior, and found a small restaurant where I had some of the best pasta of the entire trip. It was so good and made the day feel even more special.
We walked around Monaco, took pictures, explored different stores, and saw the Prince’s Palace and the beautiful churches. The views overlooking the water and the city were truly remarkable. Monaco felt completely different from anywhere I had visited before, and it was amazing to experience a place that I had heard so much about in person.
Day 4: Antibes and Nice
The next day, we visited Antibes and went to the Picasso Museum. After the museum, we had time to explore, shop, and walk around the town. Antibes genuinely became one of my favorite places from the entire trip. I loved it so much that my friends and I returned on one of our free days after the festival.
We also had an amazing group dinner and spent time shopping around Antibes. It was such a cute, calm town, and I loved its small streets, local stores, and overall atmosphere. After Antibes, I went out in Nice with another group of girls and our tour guide, Arthur. It was so much fun to explore Nice at night and experience what going out there was like.
Day 5: Théoule-sur-Mer and Our Class Dinner
On our final pre-festival day, my friends and I found a random, quiet beach in Théoule-sur-Mer. This ended up being another one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. It was genuinely one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, with clear water, unique rocks, and incredible views. Because we found it unexpectedly, it felt like our own hidden place and made the experience even more memorable.
Later that night, we had our class dinner at Waikiki Plage. The food was so good, and it was by far one of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever visited. The restaurant was directly on the beach, and the entire setting felt unreal. It was the perfect way to end our pre-festival days and celebrate together before Cannes Lions officially began.
