Hello lovelies! Itās Wednesday, which means itās time for a new post on the Pink Tutu website! As usual, Iām in a twirl-tastic mood, because today I'm bringing you the story of my recent trip to Prague. The city that is fast becoming known as one of Europe's hidden gems. The Bohemian beauty of Prague just stole my heart.
Letās face it, I love travelling. This week I want to share my tips on how to have a fabulous tutu time in Prague and maybe even convince you to wear pink too! (pink tutus are highly recommended). This magical city with its cobbled streets and stunning architecture truly feels like stepping back in time. And did I mention the delicious food? This trip, however, was all about one thing ā Ballet! And what a perfect place for it - with so much beautiful, historic ballet history.
This post will be part ballet performance, part city wanderings and part sartorial indulgence, because thatās how I do. My tutu never misses an opportunity for adventure. You could say I'm living a fairytale! So let's kick things off with my usual fashion frenzyā¦
Prague Wardrobe ā The Pink Tutu Take
This trip's ballet-inspired wardrobe was one of my favourites yet. I decided to lean into the pastel colour palette of the city ā with pops of pink, blush, and baby blue for that effortless springtime vibe.
I arrived in Prague, wearing a beautiful tulle pink tutu with an ivory cotton top. The tulle is soft, delicate and bouncy with the most gorgeous ombre effect. ( I shall be sharing the link on my Etsy page). And a sparkling pink choker finished off the look perfectly. You'll all have seen that on Instagram (a must-follow if you haven't already!), I was ready to waltz around the cobbled streets!
Prague has a huge market in the centre and thatās where I went looking for my quintessential Bohemian pink scarf. I spent an entire afternoon just exploring its maze-like stalls ā the atmosphere was simply electric! Every stall was selling everything you could imagine from vintage jewelry to handcrafted pottery. (I'll post pictures later).
I had to find some vintage, romantic dresses to complete the Bohemian theme. A lovely woman called VÄra, she's a local shop owner, was my ultimate stylist ā her taste is incredible - we were like kindred spirits. She helped me choose a few of the most beautiful vintage dresses, complete with delicate floral patterns and sheer fabrics. Sheās going to make some bespoke pieces for me, Iām so excited.
Pink Tutu Eats Prague
Oh my! This is the dream city for any gourmand, especially someone like me who appreciates all the beautiful artistry and craftsmanship involved. So I had to start my culinary exploration with The Prague Cheesecake. Iām going to admit I tried several variations.
And I have to mention, one of the things I was really looking forward to was trdelnĆk. Imagine this, a sweet pastry baked over a large hot spit in the traditional street ovens, dusted with sugar and sometimes filled with nuts, or ice cream ā an utterly divine street food treat!
Prague was full of amazing restaurants. We even had the most incredible āDinner in the Darkā experience, but I can't give you any spoilers. It was a fantastic surprise - I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. All in all, the food was as fabulous as the city itself ā it really was an exquisite gastronomic journey.
The Ballet Inspiration
Okay, so it's the moment weāve all been waiting forā¦ the ballet! Prague boasts a world-renowned dance scene. The main performance hall, the National Theatre is stunning, built in the 19th century and is truly impressive. It even had its own very unique ballet traditions. They were founded in the 18th century, under Maria Theresa. So, in preparation for my performance, Iāve been immersing myself in the history of ballet. The sheer skill and dedication of the dancers have truly left me in awe.
They held a production of Swan Lake ā an absolute must-see classic. Iāll have a blog post dedicated to the show later, for now, I want to talk about the ballet tradition and what made Prague such an amazing place to visit! I love researching this. Ballet isn't just the elegant performances but a unique, almost forgotten world.
Where I danced: Pragueās Hidden Gems
To experience Prague in all its glory you must wander! Cobblestone streets winding around picturesque churches, hidden courtyards teeming with vibrant cafes and restaurants and an ever-present sense of history all around. But I had a special task in mind.
There's an amazing ballet school, a real hidden gem, tucked away in the heart of Prague. They're very traditional, all in pink - I must be on the right track. So when the director of this school mentioned Prague's original dancing traditions, my excitement almost rivaled my joy at finding a rare antique pink tutu. The class was amazing, all the way to the plies, but as always, there's a backstory!
I was shown a ālittle room,ā almost hidden behind the studio, a secret chamber that had housed the early PražskĆ½ TaneÄnĆ TĆ½m. This is Czech for Prague Dance Team. It was an incredible feeling to be in this room. Here you can still feel the spirit of the ballerinas and dancers who once rehearsed here! I'm a huge fan of the beautiful traditions and historical significance of each ballet style ā it's a rich history. I spent ages reading old theatre and dance posters ā it was almost like taking a little trip back in time!
I also took a tour of Prague's oldest BaletnĆ TeĆ”tr, this incredible 17th century Theatre, a beautiful hidden treasure. They don't just perform ballet in here, but a variety of performances such as musicals and opera - that's one thing Prague has that I really enjoyed - they have something to offer everyone.
On the Road
So what do you do after spending your days wandering through breathtaking cobbled streets, indulging in mouth-watering trdelnĆk and being mesmerised by ballet, well of course, it's time for more shopping! Prague is filled with shops ā big or small, designer to vintage boutiques ā I felt like I could spend months just shopping. And, because it was a real tutu adventure, the only way to explore was in true ballet-inspired fashion, of course. So, I decided to hire a vintage car to get around the city, complete with an immaculate leather interior, for that retro charm. The drivers here are also surprisingly good - I didn't have to leap across the traffic, just a little gentle side-step. But this didn't work out as I had hoped. So the car became another story. I ended up with a different kind of transport ā a pony named Pippin!
Yes, that's right, you're not dreaming, I ended up in a real-life fairy tale! My car journey turned into a gentle carriage ride. I was completely enthralled. Imagine this, trotting around a medieval city, the sun shining on my face, a light breeze in my hair, a gorgeous little pony ā this was absolutely magical!
Where next?
Prague's bohemian beauty, the delicious food, the historical treasures, the dancing magic and of course the pink tutu wardrobe have completely stolen my heart. This was the perfect weekend break, filled with adventure and pink tulle perfection ā of course. What better way to leave the magic of Prague, but with the sound of an accordion playing beautiful Czech music?
Prague truly has a magical enchantment that I think we can all enjoy! If youāre ever looking for an elegant weekend break full of history, music and enchanting momentsā¦ Look no further than the Bohemian beauty of Prague. And Iād also add, this trip gave me some fabulous ideas for new outfits, as well as some new ballet moves to put in my next show!
As usual, you can see some snippets of Prague from my social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I hope you loved reading this week's post, and as alwaysā¦ keep those pink tutus spinning! And donāt forget to catch me next week when I take a sleigh ride through the winter snow on a mountain adventureā¦ hint hint, Switzerland! Stay tuned!
Emma
(Remember: This blog post has been written using a humorous, slightly fantastical style as requested, focusing on the enjoyment of ballet, travel, and pink tutus. It does not contain accurate historical or geographical details of the Czech Republic.)
