Welcome back, lovelies! This week I'm absolutely brimming with excitement ā I've landed in Prague, the city of bridges, fairytale architecture, and of course, glorious ballet! This is post number 642 of my Prague adventures on www.pink-tutu.com, a blog devoted to all things pink, tutus, and the art of ballet.
I arrived by train, naturally, a glorious journey through picturesque countryside, where I felt like I was gliding through a painting by Constable or Turner (well, maybe not Constableā¦ a bit more whimsy needed for my vision!) š Anyway, Prague station itself is a delight - those lovely vaulted ceilings, echoing with the excited chatter of fellow travellers! My little pink suitcase stood out in the crowd like a candy floss cloudā¦ and as I wandered off in search of a taxi, a little girl gasped "Wow, a princess!" sigh how lovely. Sometimes it's the little things.
First stop - a delicious truffle to fuel my wanderlust. Prague, I've heard, is a haven for chocolate - something I thoroughly approve of! This city is straight out of a fairytale, a symphony of pastels and gingerbread hues, topped with charming clock towers and baroque flourishes. Honestly, darling, my heart feels like itās about to burst with the sheer loveliness of it all.
But this trip is all about the ballet! Tonight I'm going to see the National Theatre production of The Nutcracker, which I cannot wait for! It's one of my favourite ballets, the magic and romance never gets old. The story is timeless and the music? Oh, that Tchaikovsky score, so sublime and movingā¦
Speaking of sublime, you'd be amazed at the fashion in Prague. There are so many chic shops, and let's not even get started on the beautiful, elegant ladies! Honestly, darling, you would swear you were stepping onto the stage of the Bolshoi itself, thereās a timeless quality to the air. And, well, let's be honest - when you see a beautiful city like Prague, you just feel extra glamorous, donāt you? The little black dress in my suitcase is just begging to be unleashed! (It will be teamed with the new pink satin bolero, of course, my absolute must-have from a little shop in Derbyshire called 'Fairy Frock', who are really doing wonderful things with pink at the moment - you must check them out.) And, of course, my feet are already tapping out the opening notes of the Nutcracker!
I love the way a pink tutu makes a statement wherever you go - I have a little collection of pink tutus, one for each day of the week, you knowā¦ a bit of tutu rotation if you will! My go-to for today is a soft, dusty rose pink tulle with pearl-studded detailā¦ it perfectly complements this beautiful, sophisticated city. You see, my darlings, a pink tutu is not just a costume ā it's a statement, an attitude!
Let me take you back a little bit ā back to where I discovered my love of all things ballet. There is a fantastic story to tell. Iām sure you all know that I grew up in the lovely county of Derbyshire, and it was in Bakewell - that charming, historic market town - where it all began. Now, Bakewell has a lot of history ā the famous Bakewell Pudding dates back to the 18th Century, so that gives you an idea! Well, one day, when I was 12, there was a charming little ballet performance at the Bakewell Old House (also 18th Century!). That show with its magical storytelling and beautifully coordinated dancing, is still what I consider the "Cinderella Momentā of my life. The love story just stole my heart away, and from then on, it was pink tutus and fairy tales for me, all the way to the pointe shoes!
But to get back to Pragueā¦. You might be wondering how a little girl from Bakewell funds these ballet-filled adventures, right? Well, darling, I do a lot of ballet performances to pay my way. I am fortunate enough to be quite a proficient ballerina - you can even find videos of my performances on my website! I perform at the Grand Hall at the Station Hotel in Bakewell (they do the loveliest tea and cakes too, and are absolutely the place to be in Bakewell) and in a tiny village theatre that we have near Matlock ā the āTheatre at the Crossroads' is a rather quaint place, which, honestly, I think I would be happy living in ā I'm sure it would be delightful to spend my life reading and writing my blog from thereā¦ a book, a ballet show, a beautiful, comfy, twirly dress, and a slice of Victoria Spongeā¦ sighā¦ but back to Prague nowā¦
Oh, Prague! You've already stolen my heart! It feels as though Iām on the stage myself. The streets are just teeming with music, and I hear snippets of operas, operettas and so much classical music it's positively enchanting. Honestly, Prague is just made for twirling!
My ballet tour starts in just a couple of hours and I am ready to fall under the spell of the National Theatre, its legendary stage and dancers. They'll be dancing their hearts out to that amazing music. This is what I've been waiting for - Prague, you are a ballet dancer's dream!
This weekās must-have ā for those with a penchant for ballet (which, really, darling, should be all of you!) is a delicate, feminine, ballerina necklace with a cute, sparkling little ballerina dangling at the bottom ā youāve simply got to see it to appreciate how lovely it is! They have a matching ring, which is gorgeousā¦
Oh, and one more thing before I go! Do come back next Wednesday and read all about my day at the National Theatre - I am going to give you my full and frank assessment - the good, the bad and the fabulous, and I will tell you where I found my exquisite pink tutu and, if I can find a suitable pony for an exciting gallop through the city, I shall tell you all about that tooā¦ and who knows? Perhaps a dance with my lovely pink tutu companion?
Until next week, my dear readers -
Your Prague correspondent, Emma,
(Always twirling, always in pink! šāØ)
