Buongiorno from Milan! I’m absolutely buzzing, it’s Wednesday which means a brand new Pink Tutu Milan blog post! You wouldn't believe what's been happening. I'm in Milan for the second time this week (it's a bit of a whirlwind!) because of the absolute thrill of seeing two ballet shows in a row. Oh, and a bit of shopping, obviously. Who can resist a trip to Milan? Not this ballerina, that's for sure!
My journey from Derbyshire felt just a little bit more glamorous than usual. The tram ride to the train station took me past a sweet little flower shop. You know I couldn't resist buying a gorgeous bouquet of pink roses, they matched my favourite tutu, which I couldn’t leave at home of course, even if the weather's not ideal for tutus right now. There was a touch of spring in the air but I felt a little more confident with a huge, fuzzy pink scarf keeping the chill at bay!
Speaking of my tutu, you've no idea how much attention I get wearing it on the train! Every other person smiles, sometimes a little hesitantly, but still! I like to think I’m encouraging everyone to let loose, to be a bit more adventurous. One day everyone will be wearing a tutu, that’s my dream. Honestly, I'm a firm believer that the world is a little bit brighter and happier when everyone's sporting a little bit of pink and tulle.
You know, a train journey in a tutu can make the world go by just a bit faster. I did my usual train ritual; popped some tunes in my ears (all very dramatic opera, naturally), tucked into a cup of peppermint tea, and did a bit of people-watching. This time I was on the look-out for potential pink-tutu converts. I swear I spotted a young couple giggling, he had on a pair of rather snazzy pink socks. You see? The pink tutu effect, slowly but surely working its magic.
Anyway, when I finally arrived at Milano Centrale, the excitement kicked in. The station is massive, just the kind of grandeur that appeals to this ballet fanatic. You’d think I was going to see La Scala, which, by the way, is just a few trams stops from the station and is still on my to-do list, but I was actually heading a little further out of town, to the Teatro Dal Verme, to see a matinee of Giselle performed by Teatro alla Scala’s ballet company. It was amazing! Such beautiful storytelling and of course, incredible dancing. The passion and power on stage… oh, I was totally blown away. The whole experience reminded me exactly why I love being a ballerina so much!
Then after a bit of an amazing afternoon, guess what I did next? Shopping, of course! And not just any shopping. Oh no! Milan's not just about fashion; it's about fabulous, fabulous fashion! And I was determined to find the perfect tutu to wear to the evening performance, you just can’t be too prepared can you? I started in the bustling Via della Spiga; there were little independent boutiques everywhere bursting with stunning colours and amazing clothes! But nothing compared to the tutu-tastic shop I discovered down a tiny back street near Duomo. It’s a hidden gem I tell you! With floor to ceiling shelves packed full of all sorts of twirling goodness. The owner was a total sweetie, a bit of a tutu-enthusiast herself, we got on like a house on fire. You wouldn't believe how she even had an extra sparkly pink tutu specially for me to borrow. I practically begged for it. And guess what? It fit perfectly!
Then it was onto the theatre for another night of fabulous ballet - this time, Romeo & Juliet at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi, another incredible venue that felt like stepping back in time with the opulent decor and breathtaking architecture. I love how every performance feels like such an intimate and special event, and when I slipped into my beautiful tutu at the end of the second show, I knew I had to share the excitement with you all!
Here’s the thing, when you're passionate about something, the best way to experience it is to completely immerse yourself in it. For me, that means living, breathing, and even dancing my heart out in my pink tutu. I know it might seem like an unusual approach to travel but hey, who said life has to be predictable?
So, until next week, my lovelies. Catch you next Monday when I'll be spilling the beans about another exciting adventure - I'm thinking I’m off to Paris!
With a twirl and a sprinkle of fairy dust,
Emma
xxx
P.S If you want to keep up with my adventures between blog posts, you can follow me on Instagram! @pinktutues
*Here’s to more pink tutus, more incredible shows, more breathtaking cities and, of course, more amazing moments for us all. Let's go on some adventures together! *
