Friday, June 27 through Monday, June 30
After a bomb scare at LAX [Los Angeles Airport] we are held over at a security check point then evacuated from the Bradley International Terminal to the street outside where we stand with hundreds of other amid drug-sniffing K-9s and news vans. Five hours later, we board our plane bound for London, [England] for a plane change at Heathrow to another plane bound for Nice, France. Upon landing, we rent a car and drive to the tiny village of Mougins and our Bed and Breakfast where we stay for three days, our base for exploring the countryside of Provence and the French Riviera. We have lunch one day at Le Chateau de la Chevre d'Or [Inn of the Golden Goat] which is a restaurant high above Monaco on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Another day we drive to Cannes so that we can tell our filmmaker son Jake that we saw where the Cannes Film Festival is held every year. We shop there for Becky and Molly, too.
We swim one afternoon on the beach at Antibes and the last day, we discover our favorite village: St. Paul de Vence. A tiny village complete with castle walls surrounding it and a gorgeous view of the countryside. Here we see Ted Turner strolling in Bermuda shorts and flip flops and we realize that he is also there to attend the International Television Festival in Monte Carlo...and is in fact to receive an award that night in the opening ceremonies.
Tuesday, July 1
Arriving by car to Monaco, Laurette [my wife] and I drive the curving road past the enormous yachts in the harbor, and into the front of the Hotel de Paris. Fans wait outside for pictures and autographs. Once in our room, which is enormous and elegant, from our balcony we see the small street below with Dior, Bulgari, and Celine shops below. We eat dinner in the Hotel de Paris in the dining room overlooking Monte Carlo. We finish with a chocolate souffl� for Laurette and a Grand Marnier souffl� for me, each the size of a pizza, topped with gobs of fresh whipped cream.
Wednesday, July 2
Drive to Nice for a visit. Our only free day. We helicopter it back to Monte Carlo with LeeLee Sobieski, who is arriving to promote a French television movie she's in.
Thursday, July 3
Press day at the Grimaldi Forum. Seven hours of TV, radio, print interviews, and photo [opportunities] with journalists from all over the world: Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Finland, and more. The cast of 24 is assembled (except for Keifer Sutherland who is shooting a movie somewhere), Kristin Kreuk from Smallville and other actors, directors and producers from different countries.
The evening we attend a cocktail reception at the Residence of the Prime Minister of Monte Carlo, where we meet the Prime Minister and his wife. The view from their hillside residence is stunning, overlooking the harbor and the marina with enormous yachts docked throughout. The weather is warm, but the light over the harbor is amazing with the blue sky and sea from the cliffside terrace.
Friday, July 4
Day begins with breakfast in our room. A small tarte with the American flag marks the holiday. Morning photo shoot with [photographer] John Paschal in the old town of Monte Carlo. We have special permission to have photographers with us in front of the Palace. There is security everywhere. Fans come up to me for autographs causing a commotion. A camera crew from Access Hollywood and Nancy O'Dell are also there shooting. They see the excitement and come over to interview the fans and me and my wife Laurette. She tells us she is here for the festival and to interview [H.S.H] Prince Albert.
That afternoon we spend time at the Monte Carlo Beach Club relaxing after the morning excitement. We run into Doug Davidson from Y&R and his wife Cindy and their kids. We all talk. Laurette and I rent a jet ski (Laurette at the helm) and ride out all along the coastline looking at the enormous homes. After this, Laurette and Cindy Davidson take a tandem parasail ride behind a speedboat as Doug and I take pictures safely from the shore.
That evening, we are invited to the Royal Palace to meet H.S.H. Prince Albert at the cocktail reception in his gardens. We walk through the courtyard and are lead through an archway where the Prince is standing with his entourage and photographers and camera crews to greet us. He is very cordial and accessible, seeming almost more American than the Minister and his wife. We talk about his recent rip to Prague and our stay in Monaco. From there we see the Minister of State and his wife. She takes us on a personal tour of the grounds and we discuss the mutual trials of raising children today. Some things transcend all barriers. We meet many actors, producers and dignitaries.
From the Palace we go to a wonderful 4th of July party at the Beach Club. We come down the steps with a wonderful couple we met at the Palace, Neil McDonough [Band of Brothers, Minority Report] and his fianc�e Ruve. We arrive to a crowd of photographers. Jennifer Finnigan [Bridget] and I are photographed with [H.S.H] Prince Albert, along with Doug and Don Diamont [Y&R, Brad].
Saturday, July 5
More press at the Grimaldi Forum during the day. This one is shorter, only two and a half hours.
The Closing Awards Ceremony that night is complete with red carpet, big lights and lots of photographers. Very different from American gala events - more sedate.
We spend a good deal of time waiting for the Prince to arrive since protocol tells us that we must all be in attendance before he appears.
After the Awards Ceremony, we head to The Sporting Club dinner theater for the Gala Dinner. The stunning theater includes a grand surprise. After a sumptuous dinner (champagne, lobster, duck, wine, dessert), the roof completely opens as the entertainment begins. Natalie Cole's ballads soothe our souls, and then the night's officially over. But not unofficially. We head to the casino where we win BIG, REALLY BIG. After that, we're in the Hotel de Paris bar when in walks Natalie Cole. We got a chance to thank her for the lovely concert and just chat.
Sunday, July 6
Early AM, wake up and helicopter to Nice airport for flight all the way back to L.A. through London and back to suburban L.A. life with our kids and the cats!