A Slight Detour: Cannes, France
Nowadays, whenever Cannes, France is mentioned, almost immediately red carpets, hordes of media, and glowing actors in a gorgeous, glitzy setting on the coast comes to one's mind. That's all very well and true, but Cannes has a history that goes deeper than the film industry itself. Let's take a step back to the Cannes of the early 20th century... What was once a quiet fishing village along the Côte d'Azur, Cannes exploded in popularity among Europe's elite and wealthy individuals with the finished construction of Boulevard de la Croisette in the 1860s. This was a wide boulevard carved out along the seaside where one could see and be seen by those taking their winter vacations in Cannes. Soon extravagant hotels, villas, and casinos built up along the Boulevard de la Croisette. This elegant location eventually received the touch of nobility when Lord Henry Brougham, a former Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, visited Cannes and decided to build a villa. This endorsem...