Hello darlings! It's Wednesday, and you know what that means! Another fabulous pink-tutu-infused adventure for you all. This week, I've flown (well, more like trundled – a pony took me to the train station!) all the way to Prague, the city of a hundred spires! And oh my, let me tell you, this city is practically bursting with magic. It’s a city I’ve been yearning to visit for years. And just like every Wednesday, this is the day for my Pink Tutu travel blog! You know I’m obsessed with the history and culture of dance - and you all know I simply cannot resist a good bit of fashion!
It's no secret that this girl loves a bit of ballet – especially in a pink tutu! In fact, you can't deny that pink and ballet just go hand-in-hand, like, well, ballet shoes and toe shoes. And, this week, I've been graced with the opportunity to catch a simply spectacular ballet performance. You know, Prague is practically overflowing with gorgeous buildings, amazing history, and a real touch of that romantic fairytale charm that just melts my ballerina heart. Plus, they've got such delicious food - even the humble sausage is something else in this beautiful city. The other day, we tried the best klobásy on a big juicy pretzel (they love those here!).
Anyway, I digress. I was about to tell you about this divine ballet performance. This past weekend (that would be September 16th), the Royal Opera House here in Prague put on the most sensational rendition of Giselle! It was just beautiful. I felt like I was in one of those old romantic ballet stories they teach in school – full of magic and heartbreak. The story was just so moving, I thought my heart would burst! It was also nice to see that some of the steps haven't changed too much in hundreds of years, even if the costumes and style of presentation is, naturally, completely different. Oh! You'll love this detail, you lovelies. The ballet itself, even the choreography and some of the names of the characters and their movements, is very, very old – I learned that it's originally based on a 150 year old folk tale from Bavaria – Bavaria! Who would have guessed it? That makes me think the dress the ballerina who plays Giselle wears has probably inspired tutus for centuries! I think it’s just delightful! There’s something magical and almost nostalgic about finding the root of our ballerina roots, isn’t there? And, of course, nothing beats a good story. And this ballet? Well, it has just that: a tragic, beautiful, wonderful story. Honestly, you could practically see tears rolling down the cheeks of the entire audience.
But I don't want to spoil everything for you if you're ever lucky enough to see Giselle. Oh, just thinking about the performance makes me want to whip out my old dancing shoes. If you ever get the chance to see it, definitely give it a go. Just like me, you'll probably want to go to your favourite ballet shop after and get a brand new tutu – preferably in the softest, most beautiful shade of pink, of course. You've all probably guessed that I've picked up quite a few new tutu pieces from here in Prague – and even managed to sneak a few of the city's fabulous old tutus into my collection, ha! It’s almost become a mission for me now, gathering old and unusual tutus – I mean, when a great, beautiful piece is being retired, they don’t just throw it in the bin, do they? I really believe each tutu should be loved forever – and I know how much these beautiful items can be passed down between families. Oh, you’ll all just love my new additions from Prague – some of these things even date back to the 1930s! The most wonderful detail, I feel, is how they're not just from Prague! One of these tutus came from the Moscow Ballet – oh, what a fantastic thing to add to my collection, and a great reminder of all those wonderful ballet adventures I've had and yet to come. I was so, so happy, especially as I managed to get this from a lady who’d danced with the ballet for ages and has a long family connection to dancing – that’s just the sort of thing I find so interesting. Don’t get me wrong – nothing will ever compare to the thrill of finding a long forgotten vintage tutu that has had an equally romantic, fairytale-esque story all of its own. The tutus that are in the shops, lovely though they are, don't quite capture the beauty of a vintage tutu, do they? Just imagine – the hours that it took, the fabric that was used! Honestly, sometimes I really think the tutu could even tell its own story! I’ve certainly come across a few stories in my tutu travels. Some lovely and heartbreaking, but all so, so intriguing! But I digress – this Prague post isn't just about tutus – well, almost. It is about exploring the city's amazing streets. I am on the hunt for ballet memorabilia – not just from the 1930s but from any era you can imagine! Oh, what a treasure trove!
I have to say that this city’s cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, and stunning bridges (so many, oh my!) have practically stolen my heart. I know this may seem cheesy, but the architecture in Prague is so beautiful – it really makes the city feel magical – as if it has a fairytale heart, or maybe just because they’re such good cooks – whatever the reason, I am completely enamoured! You know I’ve taken to visiting all the museums I can (and wearing my fanciest tutus to do so!), especially the ones where I can see some historical fashion exhibits!
And, you know me – a real shopaholic – it's been practically impossible to resist browsing the quirky local shops. In particular, the boutiques near the Old Town Square just made my head spin. They had so many delicious dresses, scarves, shoes and hats, it just blew my mind! It’s so easy to go on a shopping spree when you're somewhere like Prague - or even Paris – you feel as though you’ve slipped into one of your favourite classic ballerina stories. There’s so much drama, and romanticism. Plus, the fashion here is divine, just as graceful and timeless as a ballet – which is, of course, a great source of inspiration for my tutu wardrobe!
What else? Prague also seems to be a real haven for artists, artisans, and musicians. It just adds to this wonderfully romantic and dreamy atmosphere – you feel like you’re walking through a classic ballet - Cinderella, maybe, The Sleeping Beauty. Prague does, you see, have that romantic element. I can't get enough of this dreamy old city. The colours and the views – well, I haven't had to change a single one of my outfit choices for this entire trip, it just goes with absolutely everything. So you'll just have to wait to see some of the looks that I have been working with. My fashion blog, though a separate enterprise to my pink tutu travel blog, will feature a couple of Prague-themed fashion posts that you can enjoy for all my new outfits I've been able to wear during my visit. They really have gone well in this stunning city. It's not even a competition: I definitely want you all to visit this fairytale city – in your favourite pink tutu, of course! The shops here have such good deals. Just this past weekend I picked up a truly vintage tutu from a fabulous vintage store. Just imagine a gorgeous, bright pink tutu with sparkly embellishments all over. I thought I'd be unable to resist. Plus, the price was such a bargain! There are vintage markets at the end of the week – one at the edge of the river – they really do have so much charm – even if my feet did ache a little at the end. But no matter how many shops I went to, I couldn’t just go through without picking up a couple of new pair of dancing shoes – it would be quite rude to just wander through the market without indulging!
Now, you must be wondering – how does this travelling ballet princess fund her adventures? I’ve been very lucky in getting a lot of local ballet contracts here, with plenty of dancing gigs that let me meet new people and share the passion that I have for this art! A great perk for having a dancing job is that I'm invited to so many ballet performances (and sometimes even invited to participate!). Oh, my days, I absolutely adore having my own ballet performances and sharing this wonderful gift that dance has given to me, in every city I get to visit. This week has been just amazing. And guess what else? The lovely locals have already asked me to put on my own ballet performances during my trip. Honestly, this city really is the perfect stage for this passionate ballet-loving heart!
But my trip to Prague, sadly, can't last forever. You’ll never guess what though! I have another fantastic city all lined up – in just a couple of weeks – and you know I won't be forgetting the pink tutus for it either. However, this week, you know the only thing that is going to fill my head, is all the memories I made during this lovely journey – it's practically perfect. But enough about my trip – you’re going to love hearing more about my next adventure! For the last post this week I’ll let you know a bit more about some of my favourite Prague souvenirs – like, oh, did you see how pretty this vintage ballet journal is? My grandmother kept it so nicely. Oh, and I’ll let you know where to buy that vintage, soft pink tutu (with sparkles! – I couldn’t help myself). And I'll try to get some pictures up for you of all my travels in Prague, you can see how beautiful this amazing place is! You’re going to adore this place! Don't worry - there are also some special little outfits in store!
So, be sure to come back next Wednesday for my next Pink Tutu adventures - it wouldn't be a Pink Tutu travel blog without my lovely, amazing readers. You just know that it's going to be a very busy week here in Prague – oh, this city is magic. Don't forget to stop by again! I’m just getting started! Don't be a stranger.
Emma xx
