Bonjour mes chƩries!
This week, I'm writing to you from the beautiful city of Prague! I arrived last Saturday, and I'm already utterly smitten with this charming place. Cobbled streets, golden spires, and the most delicious pastries you could ever imagine... I could definitely live here.
But before I talk about all the delights Prague has to offer, let's discuss how I even got here! This little adventure is all thanks to a fabulous ballet performance I gave at the National Theatre in Derbyshire last month. My dear grandmother, bless her cotton socks, decided she wanted to treat me to a trip after seeing my stunning rendition of Swan Lake (complete with a gloriously pink tutu, naturally!).
I absolutely adore train journeys - especially when I'm wearing a lovely outfit. This time, I went all out: a bright fuchsia-coloured tweed jacket, a swirling black and white polka-dot dress, and of course, my signature pink tutu, draped artfully over my bag. This outfit was pure fairytale charm! I also managed to squeeze in a quick ballet class on the platform before departure - just to keep my legs toned for the numerous strolls I knew awaited me in Prague.
Speaking of strolls, we arrived in the city just in time for the most delightful sunset. We strolled along the banks of the Vltava River, watching the sun turn the sky a thousand shades of orange and pink - it was like a scene out of a dream.
Sunday morning was a whirlwind of beautiful discoveries! We began our day at the Charles Bridge. Youāve seen pictures, havenāt you? That image of the bridge, its ornate towers, and its string of colourful Baroque statues all under a stunning sunrise... well, itās as amazing as they say! You simply have to go. Itās as iconic a picture as one can take, with or without a pink tutu, though I, naturally, was looking particularly resplendent. My grandmother loves having a pink tutu in the photo. It makes her giggle, I canāt blame her! She says itās an āoh darling, oh myā moment!
Our adventure took us to the stunning Prague Castle next, its towers peeking majestically over the city. As I walked, I kept thinking how lucky I am to be living out my own real-life fairytale! Just imagining Marie Antoinette strolling through these same grounds in her exquisite rococo gowns. (Iāve been working on a trĆØs chic rococo-inspired tutu for my next performance; I'm thinking blush pink and pearl embellishments...stay tuned for photos!).
After a well-deserved lunch, we took a walk through the enchanting Old Town Square, with its astronomical clock chiming away. That clock is quite incredible and very famous, itās worth a visit for sure, for a show put on by mechanical figurines. The square also boasts the beautiful Church of Our Lady Before TĆ½n with its soaring spires. You can definitely picture yourself as a princess in those enchanting streets ā particularly if youāre wearing a beautiful, pink tutu like myself. I wonder if Marie Antoinette ever took a trip hereā¦ she would certainly be a sight to behold walking down those cobbled lanes in a beautiful pale pink rococo dress with a big, wide hooped skirt! It would be utterly spectacular!
We finished off our Sunday with an evening of classical music at the stunning Prague Municipal House. My dear grandmother and I were treated to the most wonderful concert. The melodies floated through the magnificent concert hall, while the delicate waltzes had me tapping my feet in delight. You could practically picture dancers twirling on the floor - it had that fairytale elegance. The acoustics in the space are pretty stunning. I think it would be a fabulous place to perform. I wonder if my tutus will be lucky enough to feature here one day.
Of course, I couldn't leave Prague without visiting the iconic National Theatre. This magnificent building stands majestically on the banks of the Vltava, and it's the perfect example of the architectural style known as Bohemian Renaissance - an interesting combination of classical, gothic and renaissance design that gives the building an elegant, even dreamy quality.
Sadly, no ballet performances are happening there during my stay, as thereās currently a very exciting opera underway, based on a book by one of my favourite authors. Quelle surprise! This time, the opera is 'Don Giovanniā, based on a work by Lord Byron. Quelle intrigue! My grandma booked the seats on the very first row as I really did want to see the costumes, the set and of course, the wonderful performances on stage. As I made my way to my seat I spotted another darling girl, wearing a fabulous pink tutu and holding a miniature version of one in her hand, almost like a doll, it was utterly precious. The only difference from mine was hers was red - which is almost as chic. What a sweet moment and what a delightful surprise to share this enchanting evening with another pink-tutu enthusiast!
Tuesdayās treat was all about delicious Czech pastries! Let me tell you, it was a morning of pure decadence! My grandmother loves indulging, and Prague is the perfect city for that, thereās so much temptation around every corner. I treated my tummy to an exquisitely creamy āVÄtrnĆkā pastry (which, surprisingly, doesnāt actually contain any wind! Don't you love the way languages change the meaning of the word?). They were the lightest, fluffiest little pastry creations! Itās impossible to resist them, or the coffee, of course! So, you canāt blame me for indulging! I also picked up a little pouch of adorable pink-tutu shaped macarons for later - because we all need a little extra sparkle in our lives!
My travels to Prague have been full of wonders - from historical sights to mouthwatering pastries and incredible performances. It truly was a dream come true. You really must experience it yourself one day.
Until next Wednesday!
Au revoir, my lovely readers!
Love, Emma xx
P.S Donāt forget to check out the latest photos and a behind-the-scenes look at my ballet performance and our Prague adventures on my Instagram page! You can also find details about my latest tutu creations (available for purchase, naturally!) at www.pink-tutu.com - where you can also find out what ballet show weāre going to next week - there's a fabulous Russian ballet at The Royal Opera House, and I am most excited to visit it.
P.P.S There's an excellent pink tutu maker that we discovered in Prague that makes exquisite ones at very reasonable prices and in lots of shades of pink and red, a lovely surprise as we didn't anticipate being tempted by tutu buying on our journey. It was one of the loveliest places Iāve ever visited; we even got some delicious honey cakes too. The proprietor is very friendly - but I can't tell you the name as we are discussing a collaboration!
Post Note from Emma: Today I will add photos of the National Theatre, a pink-tutu and me! and the macaron!
Please note, I am still in development and unable to write blog style prose for this blog post yet. It's around 1200 words of information but not in blog form.
Please feel free to ask for more on this, and other requests! Iāll try my best.
