Tutu Tuesday in Montereau-faut-Yonne, ÃŽle-de-France, France
G'day from Paris, darlings! It's your girl, Ellie, back with another Tutu Tuesday, and this week, we're heading just a little bit outside the city to the beautiful town of Montereau-faut-Yonne in the ÃŽle-de-France region. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Ellie, why the suburbs?" And to that, I say: "Darling, there's more to life than the Eiffel Tower, you know! France has a rich history of ballet, even outside of Paris, and I just HAD to share this with you."
So, here I am, sporting my favourite **classic Romantic tutu** in a **beautiful blush pink**. This fluffy beauty is perfect for twirling and pirouettes in any Parisian alleyway (or, in this case, a stunning cobbled street in Montereau-faut-Yonne). Think a flowing tulle skirt and a fitted bodice - classic, elegant, and absolutely timeless! This style has been a staple in the world of ballet since the early 1800s and I love its simple elegance and how beautifully it catches the light.
Speaking of ballet history, Montereau-faut-Yonne is actually home to a fantastic local ballet company. You'd be surprised by the amazing talent you find even in these smaller communities. I even took a class with them! It's a little bit of a change from my usual barre class at the Conservatoire in Paris. Let's just say the French ballet teachers have a different style to their Aussie counterparts - a little bit stricter, a little bit more classical. I wouldn't say my French is strong enough for complicated barre instructions but my French friends all agree that I made an admirable attempt.
While my ballet skills aren't quite strong enough for a performance with the Montereau-faut-Yonne company yet, it was definitely an eye-opening experience. I even tried a bit of *chassé* with one of the dancers - much easier than it looks! The dancers are incredible. They even put on regular shows, too. The "Grand Theatre" isn't the same as the Paris Opera House, but it's still charming - full of history, with intricate carvings on the walls. I could just picture ballerinas twirling in this beautiful building back in the day - pure fairytale magic.
After all that twirling and *chassé*, I treated myself to a classic French *café au lait*. Of course, with the weather warming up, the delicious **green sorbet** with its **refreshing minty flavour** was a must! So refreshing, so good. It just goes to show, even the tiniest corners of France hold a special charm that really inspires.
#tututuesday #montereaufautyonne #iledefrance #balletfrance #balletlove
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my little detour outside of Paris. I am always looking for a bit of Parisian history, charm, and local colour and I hope to find a new Parisian neighbourhood to explore in a few weeks, too!
I have to share some of my fave places to grab a classic *café au lait*: Cafés au Lait Spots to Explore!
* Café Charlot, near Place des Vosges (3rd arrondissement, Paris).
* Café de Flore, one of the famous cafés in St Germain des Pres (6th arrondissement, Paris)
* Café Coutume, near the Marais (3rd arrondissement, Paris)
Stay tuned for another #tututuesday coming up in a couple of weeks, but if you need a bit more ballet fix now, make sure to give me a follow and tag me in all your ballerina moments.
Much love,
Ellie