Monday, June 30, 2008 - Day One

They came from NY, Wales, Detroit, San Diego, New Jersey, Washington, Virginia and Chicago to stay at the more-than-fabulous four-star boutique Hotel 3.14 that all the gals swore I must have decorated. And the riddle of the month...why was it named that?


The hotel was the brainchild of the daughter of an airline pilot who was able to delve into civilizations and cultures as varied as they were captivating. She wanted to bring them together in one place and the result was the Hotel 3.14 in Cannes, an establishment that invites you to explore five floors with different scents, colors and atmospheres belonging to the five continents. You simply MUST visit this website to get the true experience of it, http://www.3-14hotel.com/site_gb/home_gb.htm

Anyway, while the gals mixed, mingled and introduced themselves (they did not know each other) in the bar area of our hotel, I slipped out to the hotel restaurant next door to set up the opening night dinner and told them to meet me there in 15 minutes. All weary from travel, I planned a casual dinner at The Carlton Hotel adjacent to our hotel and close to La Croisette, within walking distance.




I had gift bags made for their arrival, which was on their seat when they arrived at the restaurant. Black tote bags emblazoned in rhinestones Mikki’s Bday Bash July 2008 French Riviera (did the rhinestones surprise you?)


There was an event card at their table setting and a cookie that had my picture and the date, and a place card for assigned seating. Every night I would change the seating arrangements so they got to meet and know each other. Inside their gift bags was a journal to keep for the week with Carpe Diem! (another surprise?) and their name in calligraphy on it (thank you, Michele). They had a lavender candle with an engraved cover and a silver frame engraved so they could put the group picture in it when we returned AND a hot pink luggage tag that said in French, "Est-ce que mon derriere semble plus grand avec cette valise?" which translated means, “Does this luggage make my butt look big?" A good laugh and a good beginning to the week!


But wait, I digress. In the middle of dinner there was a fireworks display over the yachts cruising the Med, as good as any we'd ever seen. We sat mesmerized knowing full well that the French celebrate July 14th, Bastille Day, so we could find no reason for this but enjoyed the synchronicity of it.

I had them all introduce themselves by how they all knew or met me.
We had relationships as long as 47 years and some as new as under a year. I had a different question planned for each night, the opening one was, “Tell us about your worst date ever." We laughed, we ate, we drank, we shared stories as only women do. We crashed from jet lag.