I'm so out of touch with the Hollywood scene.  When I was heading over to southern France a couple of weeks ago on vacation, my sister said, "Say 'hi' to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for me!"    I don't read the tabloid magazines or watch the entertainment news shows, so I had no idea one of the world's most famous couples was living in France...or that Angelina was about to give birth to twins in Nice, France, where I was staying. 

It turns out Brad and Angelina live only 75 miles from Grasse, a suburb of Nice, where I spent my vacation.   Maybe I didn't run into them because I was operating on a slightly smaller budget than they do ;)   I'm guessing that's why I never bumped into them at the Nice McDonald's when I'd go in to order a hamburger and fries.   "Le M and Petites Frites, s'il vous plait."  Love that French cooking!

So, since I didn't even know Angelina and Brad were there, obviously I didn't head to the French Riviera to stalk them.  Actually, my good friend and former co-worker--John Curley at KING-TV in Seattle--invited me to join him and his family on their Riviera vacation.  John had decided to compete in the Ironman Triathlon in Nice, and asked if I wanted to videotape the competition for a story at his station.  He said I could stay with him and his family, and KING-TV would provide my airfare for shooting the footage.

One of the only things I love more than travel is traveling cheaply!  So my wife and I figured it was an offer that was too good to pass up, and I should go.   (I've begun the process of nominating her for sainthood, by the way). 

Videotaping the Ironman competition was pretty intense.  I was right in the middle of the athletes as they emerged from the swim, then spent 8 hours videotaping bicyclists from the back of a motorcycle on steep, winding roads through the French Alps.  It was a 16 hour day in blistering heat, capped off by my friend crossing the finish line just 1/2 hour before the cutoff time.  (He headed straight to the medical tent for much needed i.v. fluids).

After recovering from the big Ironman shoot, I took a train trip to Monte Carlo and Italy, where I had the chance to test out my college Italian.  Nobody slapped me or arrested me, so I must have at least been in the ballpark with the language.   Or maybe they didn't have the heart to tell me I had just offered to marry their dog, instead of ask them where the train station was? 

I also really enjoyed the day I spent at the beach near Cannes.   (By the way, the beaches around Cannes are sandy.  To the east in Nice and Italy, they are covered with stones).   The weather was perfect, which was a good thing since many beach goers were short on clothing.  Remember:  It's France.   I'll leave it at that.     

Something else I'll always remember is when the waitress surprised me with a birthday crepe (candle and all) on my birthday, the night before I left France.  

The flight home was a real treat.  It's not often you don't want an 8 hour flight to come to an end, but that was the case for me this time.   That's because British Airways had a deal with KING-TV to book the flights in First Class, if there was space available up front.   After a nervewracking wait to find out if it was sold out,  I was cleared for First Class about 30 minutes before the flight from London to Chicago.  With an 8-course meal, single malt scotch, and a spacious seat that folded down flat into a bed (they even give you pajamas!) it was definitely a big step above the Nice, France McDonald's.   Even though I never saw them in France, for 8 hours on that British Airways flight, I felt like Brad and Angelina!

It was great to see a new corner of the world and my old friends.    As a wise traveler once told me, the best part about travel is breaking up one's routine, experiencing new places and cultures, and most of all, coming home again.  It's good to be home!

(Please tell me about your favorite vacation memories).