Two months ago, when the possibility of taking a trip to Cannes, France came up, I didn't actually believe it would ever come to pass. Now, I write this from the perfect little apartment just a few blocks off the Croisette, the main drag along the beach here in Cannes and arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world. This is something my friends and I quickly noticed as soon as we landed at the airport in neighboring Nice, which is located right on the beach.

Photo by Rachel Gilman

Photo by Rachel Gilman

Cannes, for those who don't know, is a French city located along the French Riviera. It is predominantly known for the festivals it hosts throughout the year. The most well-known of these festivals is of course the Cannes Film Festival, which is what brought my friends and me to the gem of a place, as well as what gave it its association with much of the glitz and glamour you typically see alongside it.

Photo by Rachel Gilman

On the surface, Cannes is a fabulous beach town where the rich and famous play by day and dress to the nines by night before heading out to party. Beneath that, it is filled with small, interconnecting streets, dozens of amazing restaurants, and some of the most beautiful architecture you will ever come across (especially when you're a New Yorker and are more accustomed to skyscrapers than old brick villas).

Photo by Rachel Gilman

While on the streets of the city, you'll find everything from luxury brand sports cars parked up and down the blocks, to perfect scenes of the beach from every intersection. The previously mentioned Croissette is the central point of Cannes. It is similar to the Coney Island or South Beach boardwalk, except here you'll typically find woman in Christian Louboutons and ball gowns just as easily and you'll find someone eating gelato and crepes.

Photo by Rachel Gilman

That reminds me -- the food is amazing. Seeing as the city is located so closely to Italy, there are many, many Italian restaurants all over the place. My friends and I have stood in the middle of the street, closed our eyes, and spun around to point at a place, and have yet to have a bad experience. Of course, the best ones are usually those spent at locations with a view. When surrounded by all of this beautiful scenery, it's hard to remember there's a bigger real world out there you'll eventually have to return to. But that's sort of the point of Cannes: the ultimate getaway.

Photo by Rachel Gilman

And of course, no Cannes festival experience is really full without the opportunity to dress up, pretend for a moment you're a famous star yourself, and grace the red carpet with the likes of the best and brightest in the entertainment industry. It's the sort of thing that is genuinely "once in a lifetime."

Photo by Rachel Gilman

Next week, I'll actually bring you some of reviews of the films from the festival, but for now, it's on to more sun, stars, and sweet treats.