Wednesday 21st October 2015
Hello darlings! It's Emma, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, and I'm writing to you from the heart of Prague! This incredible city, brimming with history and culture, has truly stolen my heart (and I think maybe my wallet too ā that vintage shop on the Old Town Square is calling my nameā¦).
This week has been an absolute whirl! My train journey from Derbyshire was, as always, a dream. Itās not the journey you take when youāre in a rush; itās the journey you take when you want to savour the changing landscapes and relax with a good book (mine this week was a history of the Paris Opera Ballet ā so intriguing!). Arriving in Prague was like stepping into a fairytale; the cobbled streets, the majestic architecture, and the scent of roasted chestnutsā¦ Oh, the aroma! And that's without even mentioning the stunning scenery. I truly feel I'm in one of my favourite ballerina stories, "The Nutcracker", but without the scary mouse king!
Speaking of magical, I just had to share my experience at the National Theatre. The performance was absolutely divine! The Sleeping Beauty ballet captivated me from the very first note of the Tchaikovsky score. Those graceful dancers, their pirouettes so effortlessly elegant, their costumes a riot of colour and detail, their performance truly stole the show! My pink tutu, I feel, blended beautifully with the pink flowers strewn across the stage. I'm not saying this, because Iām biased of course, but I was the best-dressed audience member there ā a lovely woman in a green fur stole looked a little disappointed when I caught her staringā¦ š
Tutu Tip: The perfect tutu should enhance, not overshadow, a performance, and remember darlings, the pinker the tutu the better, right? š
And talking of tutus, have I told you about the amazing vintage shop on CeletnĆ” Street I stumbled across earlier today? They have this most stunning collection of vintage ballet dresses and shoes. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I saw the 1920s tutu with its little crystal embellishments! Sadly it was already claimed, but there were some exquisite costumes with tulle just like the Parisian ballerinaās in my book, so I'm sure Iāll be returning tomorrow to see what other treasures I can uncover.
One thing I adore about Prague is how easily you can embrace a Parisian sense of style - chic and sophisticated - yet embrace the playful and bohemian feel, just as I do. I feel right at home in the vintage shops, tea salons, and cobblestone squares!
The food in Prague has been wonderful too! I'm completely smitten with the pastries! Just today, I devoured a divine strudel, layers of flaky pastry and sweet apple filling ā oh my! And the coffee? Heaven! Each cafe boasts its own unique flavour, like the creamy vanilla latte at CafĆ© Imperial - a must-visit for any discerning coffee lover!
You wouldn't believe how many times I've said "DobrĆ© rĆ”no!" or "DobrĆ© odpoledne!" ā trying to practice my Czech, as charming as they can be to a novice like myself. A tip, make sure you speak slowly and pronounce the sounds very clearly. Iāve found a sweet young woman who Iāve made a friend with at the Prague Conservatory ā Iāll be meeting up with her in the week, for more practice. Maybe she can give me some pointers!
But the best part? A trip to Prague isn't just about ballet and vintage shops! The city itself is a work of art. The architecture is just breathtaking; the astronomical clock is like something out of a fairy tale, the Charles Bridge offers panoramic views that just leave you speechless, and the street performers, acrobatic and captivating. Itās simply stunning!
Donāt be surprised if I bring my own ballet skills to the street next week! Perhaps a spontaneous performance under the Astronomical Clock. What do you think, darlings?
Anyway, I must wrap this up as I have so much planned! There's the Mucha Museum to see (those beautiful Art Nouveau designs have always inspired my fashion choices) and tomorrow I'm going to have a ballet class with some of the students at the Prague Conservatory ā canāt wait to show them the derriere of my pink tutu, as itās said āthe dancerās behind is where her soul lies.ā š
Make sure you check back in next Wednesday for all the details on that, darlings, I can't wait to share more stories and inspiration from the magical city of Prague.
Until next week, keep it pink, keep it tutu-licious! šš©°
Yours in the pink, Emma x
