Well today was a work day, so we where off to Cannes by train. WWI, Inc.had been retained by Robert Lubliner of Lubliner and Trent from Chicago several years ago to find one Catharine Zago. Mr. Lubliner was a second generation movie theater mogul and his family had started in the theater business in the very beginning in the 1920's. When you talk to him it is like a talking history book of the old days in movies. His story is fascinating. He tells of memories of the depression as child and of the family being evicted from their home and him sitting on the curb with the nanny, cook, chauffer and his sisters. He has known many of the 30's to the 70's movies stars, producers, and film promoters from Jack Warner to Earl Flynn. I could go on and tell many many stories of Bob's, but that is for another day.
In the early 50's he came to Europe to romp with the rich and famous. He and his buddy where staying at the George V, the premier hotel in Paris, and he met two ladies that shared an apartment near by. One was named Catherine Zago and the other was a lady named Ursula Andres, both aspiring actress's. They became, shall we say friends, and traveled around Europe.
Our job was to find out what we could about Catherine and so far that had not been much, but I figured the movies stars come to Cannes once a year, so we may find out something there.
The train arrived on time and we started the adventure. Cannes is not an exciting place. There is a very small old town and then the rest is mostly new and modern. We walked through the market, followed by the Police Muncipal, and up to the old cathedral to get and overview of the city. We had to set on a bench and wait for the cruise ship people to clear out. That took about half an hour and then we where pretty much alone. It is a nice view from high up there but nothing spectacular. We walked back down the hill to the waterfront and answered many questions from the Princess Cruise ship customers who had dared to venture out on their own. They where looking for the really interesting part and where could they see some stars. At least they are out of the USA and "sort of" seeing the world.
If the rich and famous live in St. Tropez, Cannes is where they park their boats. There are at least 5 marinas that I saw in close proximity to Cannes and all had so many yachts that the 70 and 80 foot ones looked small.
We walked the water front. At 1pm is was not very crowed but by 4 pm it was full. They do love their sun. There where some nice sand sculptures on the beach and you where expected to through money. Being a poor American I did not. You have all seen the pictures of the topless sunbathers on the beach. Some are offended, but to me it is no big deal. Except,when the ones on the beach are the great-grandmothers of the girls you see the pictures of ! We covered the back streets, which where of interest, but could have been any upscale part of any town in Europe. We found a nice Kebab shop for lunch with a lovely lady order taker who talked us into adding a little hot sauce on the Kebab. It was a great idea.
We visited a few places and talked to a few people and then headed along the water front past the Carlton and Martiniz hotels to the adjacent town of, of all things, Palm Beach. It is the home of even bigger yachts.
By 4pm we where done and took a break in the lovely rose garden on the water. A little rest and we where off to the train station where we caught the non-stop back to St. Raphael and home to the Jardine d'Angele et de Marius for a couple of Martini's.
St. Tropez is a place I would visit again but Cannes I will not go out of my way for. It was pretty, glad I checked it off, but there are far prettier and more interesting places.
Ken Wilson
"Certainly, travel is more than seeing of sights, it is a change that goes on deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."
"Certainly, travel is more than seeing of sights, it is a change that goes on deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."
