The island is only connected by a ferry during the day – I don’t know all the times yet, but the last ferry leaves for the mainland about 5:30 this afternoon, it is a proteced place and there is no development, in fact the few buildings are shabby and “lived in” in a charming way. The people working here, the guides for the fort, waiters and a handful working in a boat repair yard seem happy , perhaps it is the pace of place with no cars and you have to wear practical clothes to walk everywhere – 1000 euro shoes would last oly a few minutes.
I am here recovering from the intensive work I have been doing for the last 12 months rebuilding our home in Montblanc VillaRoquette  - once upon a time I was a commercial photographer so a friend who has a commission to record the life of Cannes for an exhibition and asked me to help for  few days – mostly carrying equipement for her – so I am a “photo-caddy” – for me it is the perfect break – simple food, beautiful weather, scenery people pay millions for and an atmosphere unique in the world.
I am sitting outside one of the 17th century buildings, probably housing for one of the officers garrisoned on th Fort – I do’t know if it was build for a Spanish officer or French – I can smell coq au vin being cooked for lunch and as I am writing this on my Macbook in the courtyard, the tourists to the fort assume I am one of the staff and frequently stop to asl me questions – I can only grin and give a gallic “shrug” although I sometimes point to a remote building and state with authority that that must be what they are looking for – as yet no one has returned to complain.
