Wednesday 19th December, 2012
Darling readers! Can you believe itās already December?! Christmas is practically upon us, and I just canāt believe how fast the year has flown by. It feels like only yesterday I was swanning around Derbyshire, twirling in my pinkest tutu, and now, here I am in Prague, a city straight out of a fairytale!
This weekās Pink Tutu blog comes to you live from the heart of Prague, where Iāve been galavanting around, taking in the sights, indulging in the local delicacies (a delicious Czech pastry shop I found called "Tatin" - what a divine find! I shall blog all about it next week!) and of course, seeing some incredible ballet!
I absolutely love Prague - itās a truly charming city. cobbled streets, charming buildings and fairytale architecture everywhere you look, and it's the perfect place for a girl with a passion for pink and tutus like me.
This past weekend, I took a delightful journey by train (always such a civilised way to travel!) from Dresden, Germany. It felt almost magical, gazing out at the changing scenery and glimpses of frozen rivers and sparkling snow, feeling like the heroine of a winter fairytale!
Of course, when I wasnāt gazing out of the train window, I was meticulously documenting everything, especially my ensemble. As always, a vibrant pink tutu was my go-to, paired with a fluffy pink bolero and matching fingerless gloves, all finished off with a jaunty beret, which was oh so practical with the chilly weather. Honestly, how could I resist such a wonderfully Parisian aesthetic?
Arriving in Prague, I made my way to the National Theatre - just gorgeous! This majestic building simply oozes historical grandeur, a place where countless performances and legends have unfolded. I couldnāt resist twirling for a few photos in front of the imposing monument to Dancing House - talk about an incredible architectural landmark. A unique blend of architectural styles, so chic, and perfect for a pink tutu selfie. Itās safe to say I had my photo taken with every beautiful detail Prague has to offer!
But this blog wouldn't be the Pink Tutu blog without a dash of ballet. Youāll be thrilled to hear that my travels are going splendidly and I had a magnificent evening at the Prague National Ballet on Friday. They put on the most beautiful production of āThe Nutcrackerā - simply delightful. I was in my element, lost in the magic of Tchaikovskyās music, swirling around with snowflakes in the Land of Snow, and mesmerised by the Sugar Plum Fairyās exquisite dancing.
I even found myself, gasp, doing a little impromptu twirling of my own at the theatre after the performance. Itās truly impossible to contain the urge to dance when such beauty is swirling around you! Of course, the audience found my passion for ballet endearing, so my impromptu pas de deux received a smattering of applause. Honestly, these are the moments that make life feel truly spectacular.
Speaking of spectacular, can we talk about the incredible costumes? The choreography, oh so breathtaking! I had to get my hands on some commemorative programmes and I must say, it wouldnāt be complete without a tiny touch of pinkā¦ You can guess what happened. I grabbed my handy pack of pink glitter (always a must in my handbag!) and ever so subtly, I added just a hint of it to my ballet programme. The perfect finishing touch, I must say.
Of course, no ballet trip would be complete without indulging in some ballet shopping, and oh, has Prague delivered! It seems my arrival triggered a little retail frenzy around the city. You canāt move without finding a little boutique or artisan shop tucked away with beautiful handmade tutus! You wouldn't believe the incredible craftsmanship of some of the handmade ballet outfits! Oh darling, youāll be happy to hear, I stocked up! But I am not sharing. This haul is going straight to the Pink Tutu closet!
And did you know that Prague's national ballet history is quite simply fabulous? Their first official performance was all the way back in 1787! Isnāt that simply divine? A deep history filled with amazing stories and elegant dances, just begging to be relived. I spent the better part of Saturday morning delving into all of the wonderful stories that Prague ballet has to offer. Just thinking about the ballet costumes, the sets, and the choreography all those years ago... sigh. How I yearn to turn back time and dance amongst the greats!
In a place like this, darling, it's impossible not to be inspired to twirl and be playful. I've been embracing every chance to explore and I simply love the way Prague is soaking up all the festive joy - all those twinkling lights and decorations! Itās like walking into a Christmas card.
Tomorrow, Iām planning to take a lovely walk along the river Vltava. I hear that it's particularly picturesque this time of year, especially when the city lights are reflected in the water. Thereās nothing better than the sight of sparkling lights reflecting against the crisp winter airā¦ And a perfectly pink tutu of course!
Then Iām planning on visiting the Charles Bridge (always wanted to walk over a medieval bridge!). My Instagram followers will be delighted with my ballet pose photo op by the Old Town Square Christmas tree! Who knew ballet was so photogenic?
As my trip winds down, I'll be wishing upon a star for an adventure back in the springtime, just as the almond blossom starts to bloom! The whole city smells of blooming beauty! Oh, Prague, how I could get lost in you for days.
Until next week, darling, let's twirl and sparkle in the spirit of Christmas!
Sending you all the best from sunny, and oh-so pink, Prague!
Your ever so devoted, Emma xx
*P.S. Have you been inspired by my travels and found yourself in a pink tutu moment? Tell me all about it! You can follow me on Instagram at #PinkTutuPrague or share your experiences in the comments below! Let's spread the pink tutu love! *
