JUAN-LES-PINS--For the past week, everyone has been preoccupied with the G-20. Not because of our knowledge of the world monetary crisis but because of an additional 12,000 armed security forces on street corners, intersections and just about anywhere between Cannes, Nice and Grasse. More than 5,000 dignitaries and 3,500 journalists arrived for the two-day meeting. The hotel industry, in off-season, had the equivalent of 35,000 nights. The price tag—20-million euros--apparently falls upon taxpayers.
For most people, Cannes became an “occupied” city. Residents and workers had to have a badge to enter. Many shops and companies closed because employees and clients could not get in. Fishermen received compensation not to go out. And there were two submarines nearby. . . .
No one wanted to attract attention! We were on the “qui vive”—carrying our identity papers and following the code de la route (it’s very detailed in France) to the letter. We avoided locations where security forces had gathered . . . . But then we needed gas.
We pulled into a service station where gendarmes chatted beside the only island of working gas pumps. My debit card did not work. We backed and maneuvered to another pump. The hose did not reach the far side the of car. Could we ask the gendarmes to move over?
“What’s the matter—your bank card is not cooperating?” they commented, laughing.
I guess they understood we were pretty nervous. During the G-20, no one checked our papers, but we did encounter traffic jams due to road closures.
Things should return to normal this week. And we will debate impact of the G-20 on daily lives and the economic effect of closing down and securing a major city rather than holding the event on a military base . . .
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