Bonjour, mes chéries!
Emma here, and guess what? Iâm in Paris! The City of Lights, the epitome of romance, the heart of fashion, and my new happy place!
You may have noticed that my travels are somewhat spontaneous. Well, this one wasnât planned, per se. Itâs actually a whirlwind week-long trip squeezed in between performances, a testament to the sheer thrill of ballet (and yes, my trusty pink tutu! Of course).
Speaking of tutu-ing, this entire week is all about celebrating Paris and wearing the pinkest, fluffiest tutu I own. Youâll see a LOT of tutus, believe me, my darling readers, and who knows, maybe my little pink inspiration will catch on... a girl can dream.
So how did I get here?
It was a glorious morning when I woke up to the sound of the teapot whistling merrily. Earl Grey, of course, the perfect fuel for any tutu-tastic adventure. Then, a very exciting message on my phone - a call-up for a small performance. My heart was dancing already.
The day went in a beautiful blur of practice, performance, and then a mad rush to the Eurostar! Itâs been years since my last trip to Paris, and you bet I was thrilled. It was almost a decade since I last danced across the stage in a ballet class at the Atelier du Ballet here.
There's nothing quite like the magic of train travel. Imagine: The clack-clack-clack of wheels on the rails, the gentle sway of the carriage, and, most importantly, the panoramic view. A journey of a thousand miles â just for the fun of it all! Itâs not about the destination, itâs about the experience, darling! And even the cutest little bunny rabbit decided to take the train ride, hopping across the compartment and charming the entire train with its sweetness. Just pure magical Paris!
My stay is a bit on the shorter side - but who needs to rush when every moment here is a chance to bask in the Parisian sunshine and embrace everything this enchanting city has to offer? I arrived this morning with a whirlwind of pink tutu dreams swirling in my head.
And the best part? My darling Paris plans. Theyâre nothing short of fabulous.
Day 1 - Arriving in Paris: La Belle Ăpoque
This afternoon was all about taking in the grandeur of Place de la Concorde. I took my trusty pink tutu to the Musée Rodin, and let me tell you, there's a certain "je ne sais quoi" about viewing the sculptures wearing my favourite pink tutu, all the while having a picnic of Parisian bread, wine and the most delicious strawberry tarts, which I picked up from une pùtisserie. They were absolutely divine. It was a perfectly Parisian afternoon.
As the day fades, I can't wait for the evening. Tonight, a visit to the Palais Garnier! This magnificent opera house is absolutely breath-taking, a must for every ballet enthusiast, and of course, every pink tutu wearing ballerina! I will have a post about the magnificent architecture, so stay tuned, my dears. It's a true marvel, a vision of gold, opulence, and the most beautiful velvet seating you've ever seen. I have a little secret for you: they sell gorgeous tutus there, even pink ones - but more on that later, maybe you can come with me and pick out a matching tutu to go with mine?! It would be quite a spectacular sight, wouldnât it?
Day 2 â The Eiffel Tower, and a little tutu shop
This morning started with breakfast at a little bistro in Saint-Germain-des-PrĂ©s. Whatâs Paris without a cup of strong coffee, croissants and a long Parisian conversation about art, life and dreams? I don't even know French (not really, anyway! "Bonjour" and "merci" are my main arsenal! But, I will always have the âhand waveâ that always makes it through, I assure you!), but who cares when you're sipping your espresso in the sun and feeling utterly glamorous! My next stop was the Eiffel Tower - another one of those magical moments you only have once in a lifetime! A walk at sunset on the Eiffel Tower, with that view, a magical view of all the glittering lights, of the Seine river⊠it takes your breath away! I caught myself laughing in pure joy â such a blissful sensation! I'm trying to soak it all in, to hold onto this moment for eternity! Afterwards, I am determined to find that pink tutu shop. You can imagine my delight. I mean, is it possible to ever find a pink tutu shop too exquisite?
Day 3 - Montmartre: Painting and Poirotâs Famous Cafe
Tomorrow morning starts with a visit to the SacrĂ©-CĆur Basilica! I love this enchanting place. I feel so at peace in this neighborhood, especially as a ballerina in my tutu. I felt like I could stay in that little neighborhood and paint a painting of my own (in pink, of course, with tutus, wouldn't that be amazing? Maybe a ballet painting!). Itâs so much more inspiring than those rather drab art museums! The basilica itself is quite the site to see and I love the little cafe there! Oh, how the world would benefit if more artists started wearing pink tutus! I'm so keen to spend the day wandering, exploring the hidden gems of Montmartre! I will post about what I find and where, tomorrow!
Day 4 â A Parisian Ballet and The Champs-Elysees!
Yes, darling readers, another ballet! Itâs going to be absolutely heavenly! Ballet performances are the only thing that fuels my travels. Ballet is a beautiful language, a form of expression that transcends cultures and languages! Itâs my favourite part of Paris, that sense of feeling completely connected to a culture without having to speak the language. This is what travellingâs all about â understanding people from different walks of life without even saying a word. The tutus we all wear? We speak through our dancing, and this is something thatâs just a universal form of expression! I donât think there is one culture in the world where the tutu is not a symbol of ballet, of creativity.
After a gorgeous ballet at Palais Garnier, which, let me tell you, was the most spectacular show I have seen in a long time â just the colours, and those intricate details, darling! It was like watching a beautiful dream come to life, I canât wait to post some photographs and some excerpts for you! Oh, you really need to see what this Parisian magic looks like! But back to the dayâs itinerary: The rest of the day is reserved for strolling down the Champs-Elysees. How can anyone visit Paris and not see that stunning boulevard?! The trees are spectacular!
Day 5 - Shopping till I Drop
It's going to be a pure fashion frenzy tomorrow. Shopping in Paris? Donât even get me started, I have a few places in mind. The boutiques, oh darling readers, the divine outfits. Itâs my goal to wear an entirely pink tutu themed outfit for an evening outing (itâs going to involve some clever design tricks⊠I think Iâm going to incorporate some amazing details of my own⊠with tulle! It's going to be divine!). My motto is Embrace the Pink in Paris! Itâs the tutu truth, honey, I tell you. I love Paris for it's love of fashion! As you all know Iâve been saving every last cent from my performances! That pink tutu life, it's an expensive life!
Day 6: Returning Home to Derbyshire!
Tomorrow is a bit of a whirlwind but so well-worth it, donât you think?! I always hate to leave, but Iâm so excited about going home and telling everyone about my Parisian adventures. The world should know about all the lovely people and beautiful places.
After the long ride home to Derbyshire, I need some sleep to process my Parisian magic, And a pink tutu ready for tomorrow!
See you next week, darlings!
Always in a tutu!
Emma xxx
www.pink-tutu.com
