Buongiorno, darlings! It’s Emma here, writing to you from the fabulous city of Milan, Italy! This week’s blog is extra special as it marks my very first post from the fashion capital of the world! The streets are a flurry of chic style, and let me tell you, the shopping is simply divine!
Oh, and let’s not forget the beautiful ballet! Milan is home to the Teatro alla Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. They also put on amazing ballet productions. I can’t wait to catch a show. Just imagine - twirling under the sparkling chandeliers, wrapped in the romantic whispers of the most beautiful theatre in Italy. The very thought sends shivers down my spine, and it's all because of the magical combination of pink tutus, ballet, and breathtaking Italian architecture. Swoon!
But before I delve into my adventures in the city, I just had to share a little secret. You know I adore travelling, but getting here took some planning - especially since I finance my travels with my ballet performances. And, as I am on a tight schedule, I can't always afford fancy trains! (Though I do love them... I'm absolutely mad about travelling on a speedy high-speed Italian train! Such elegance!)
So, how did I manage to reach this amazing city? I'll tell you... It was quite an adventure! It began with my usual dance marathon week, followed by a few extra gigs to get that travel fund going. And then I booked my favourite method of travelling – good old fashioned train journeys, changing lines a few times. Honestly, it’s the perfect way to meet people and see the countryside – especially when I have my trusty pink tutu for company. I just couldn’t help but grab a few cheeky pictures at the station too, dressed up in my best ballerina outfit. The life of a pink tutu blogger – a fashion dream come true, I tell you!
But Milan is calling... Bellissimo! It's time to explore, indulge in a spot of shopping and maybe even catch a delightful afternoon ballet performance. And of course, I’m going to be wearing my pink tutu at all times! Pink just suits Italy! The colours here are like sunshine on the Tuscan countryside – golden and shimmering. I just have to find a local market to see if I can find some gorgeous silk scarves to go with my pink tutu! (Don't you think a pink tutu with a sparkly golden scarf would just be heavenly? Just picturing it, makes me happy!)
Day One in Milan: Ciao, Bella!Oh my goodness! The air itself is sparkling in Milan. Just stepping off the train I was greeted by an abundance of amazing boutiques! Ciao bella indeed!
Right after leaving the station, I saw this divine little boutique selling the most delicate, lacey tutus, perfect for twirling through the cobblestone streets! Oh, the colours – emerald green, sky blue and my favourite, of course, a dreamy rose pink tutu! How can a ballet dancer resist?
Can you resist?
Well, I certainly didn't! I just had to buy it, even though it took a hefty chunk out of my shopping fund. It’s such a lovely reminder of this magical trip and it looks fabulous with my pink sparkly tutu, (which is what I'm wearing in the photo for today’s blog! The new, little pink tutu is resting prettily on top of my bag).
The first thing I did when I reached my hotel, was take a proper look around this city. Milan is one of the most historic cities in Italy – brimming with history, art and beauty! What better way to take it all in than a nice long walk through the city centre, stopping for some coffee at a sidewalk cafe – a treat I had completely forgotten! I'm quite partial to the tea in Derbyshire, so coffee is such a lovely change!
Later this evening, I’m heading to one of the most famous Italian restaurants for a delightful evening of authentic Italian cuisine and, of course, to pick out a new piece of pink jewellery! A pretty pair of earrings maybe…
The streets of Milan have a magic charm, especially in the evening. The architecture and everything glows under the city’s beautiful lights. It’s absolutely magical. I’m already imagining my perfect, glamorous evening. This city feels so much like a fairytale! It’s like the setting for my dream ballet – and, of course, I’m going to have a whole new pink outfit to dance in. You can never have too many pink tutus and, to be honest, a sparkly pair of new ballet shoes would go down a treat.
The rest of this evening is entirely mine – to indulge in this magnificent Italian city and to twirl a bit – just a tiny bit!
Day Two: Ballet Inspiration and Afternoon Delights!Day Two – and already I've met some absolutely fantastic people – and the fabulous atmosphere of Milan continues to inspire me.
Oh, you just have to visit Teatro alla Scala! The outside alone is stunning! It feels exactly as if you've stepped into the world of a glamorous ballet production. All of this incredible detail and a stunning sense of timeless glamour. It felt wonderful to step into the theatre and feel the energy of countless actors, dancers and performers from all over the world. It felt fantastic to just sit in that beautifully decorated room and imagine all of the incredible plays, operas and ballets that had graced its stage over the years.
I’m already dreaming of seeing one of the spectacular ballet shows, and, of course, dancing to my favourite piece – The Nutcracker - right here in the heart of Italy! Just the thought of it brings such joy, I can’t help but twirl at the mere thought of it! That's how this beautiful city makes me feel!
This city really is a kaleidoscope of inspiration! In fact, every single part of it just seems to feed my creative flow – especially the fashion! The shops are filled with the most fabulous tutus and they've definitely got me planning an impromptu ‘tutu photo shoot’ – to share with you, my dear Pink Tutu readers. After all, you deserve a glimpse into my vision!
You’ve gotta know I spent the day going shop-a-holic – it's impossible to resist the stylish Italian fashion!
So I have one more pair of exquisite ballet shoes for dancing in Milan - this time a dazzling bright pink colour. I had to match my new little pink tutu. You can see a photo of the two new shoes (as well as a photo of me trying to take a photo in the middle of a very fashionable shop – which was a little tricky!)
This evening I’m off to explore a different side of Milan – and find some new restaurants! I’m aiming for somewhere small and cosy, for a light evening meal. My love of pink even extends to my dinner! My favourite colour of Italian pasta has got to be pink, and when in Rome... well you know the rest! Ciao Bella, Milan!
Day Three: A Ballet Lesson in Milan!Milan is truly all about the elegance of movement – especially for a ballet dancer, it feels like the entire city swirls around me, so this afternoon I thought it was high time I had a lesson – and there just happened to be a wonderful dance school with beautiful pink ballet shoes and pink and white leotards - they knew what they were doing, obviously! I felt immediately at home as soon as I stepped through the door! The floor had those beautiful shiny boards, you know, the kind you see on TV during ballet shows – so chic.
A tiny bit of embarrassment crept in (don't tell anyone!), because for once I wasn't the one teaching ballet.
Instead I was getting a little reminder myself of some of my best techniques. This little reminder will really help my technique! It so feels like an excellent day! A real treat for me – just what I needed to refresh those dance skills before I go back to my regular classes and prepare for more shows. I've definitely got an exciting performance planned in Derbyshire coming up – all pink, naturally, because... Well, just imagine all that pink fabric and sparkles against that big green stage. It will be magnificent! I already have my tutu and my costumes planned – a dazzling dress for the final performance scene!
And that's all for this week, darlings. Stay tuned for my next blog where I’ll be telling you about my pink shopping spree – don’t worry, it involves a little bit of help from the beautiful ladies who own a special store called ‘Tutus For You’ in Derbyshire, UK. (I really did have to write it with a capital T, that's how important this shop is for a tutu loving ballerina!).
Before I go, though, let me know in the comments - where should I go next on my pink travels? (Remember, travel fund from performances! Every dance show is important! Don't worry, though - I will always manage to travel! )
Until next week, ciao for now!
Your beloved, Pink Tutu Ballerina, Emma x
