Page 175 - HH Jan 2023-Dec 2024

IN THE

LIMELIGHT

WHY CANNES HAS CAPTURED THE
IMAGINATION OF THE RICH AND

FAMOUS SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY

BY SHAFQUAT ALI

t’s where the stars descend… mountains smiling from a distance. If
Not surprisingly I decided to this was not picture perfect, what was?
behave like one as soon as I Indeed, we all know Cannes as the
landed at the Nice Cote d’Azur film festival city. But what most of us
IAirport on my way to Cannes. don’t know – or realise – is that the
There were two ways of getting to the ‘star’ of the French Riviera would have
upscale French Riviera town: by been no less magical without the
limousine or by chopper. festival; film stars simply add to its
No prizes for guessing what I opted sparkle!
for. Well, I walked into the crisp As we swooped down on the
morning with the wind from the glamorous Riviera town, it didn’t take
helicopter blades blowing straight on to long for me to realise why the rich and
my face and plonked myself next to the famous of the world choose to descend
pilot. As I tugged my seatbelt, we had here for a fashionable holiday.
lifted off the ground – and before me Luxurious villas and majestic
started unfolding the magic of the five-star hotels with sweeping views of
French Riviera. the Cote d’Azur, well-heeled
Deep blue skies with the sun playing vacationers in expensive cars and
and seek from above, crystal clear water nattily dressed men and women
gently lapping below and snow-capped strolling down the boulevard, it was

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