Buongiorno from Rome, darling! This week's Pink Tutu adventure takes us to the Eternal City, and I have to say, Rome really does live up to the hype! It's simply magical. My heart is doing a pirouette just thinking about all the glorious sights, sounds, and flavours I've already encountered.
This trip, you see, is all about combining my two great loves: ballet and travelling. You all know my passion for dancing - it's quite literally woven into my DNA (okay, perhaps a bit dramatic but you get the idea!). And travel, well, it's the fuel that keeps my tutu-clad soul inspired and full of wonder.
So, how did I end up in Rome? Well, thanks to the generosity of the Derbyshire Dance Society who put on an absolutely smashing ballet recital, I managed to save up enough to travel by train from my home in the Peak District, right to the heart of Italy. I do love the romantic feel of travelling by rail, the soft click-clacking rhythm is just begging you to close your eyes and let your imagination take you away, to, well, Rome of course!
Speaking of romanticism, Rome truly is the city of lovers! It's full of cobblestone streets, grand architecture, ancient ruins, charming piazzas... I could just wander and lose myself in the city's rich history. And who needs a love story when you can be in love with a city, right? (Don't worry Mum and Dad, you're still my number one loves! Just saying...).
Anyway, as I was saying, arriving in Rome and finding my little Airbnb flat near the Pantheon, just a skip and a hop away from all the action, was like finding my personal, fairytale castle! My little haven, my own stage.
My mission this week was to take in all the ballet performances and cultural treats that Rome has to offer, indulge in the fantastic food and, of course, find some incredible fashion treasures to fill my suitcase.
First on my itinerary:
The majestic Teatro dell'Opera di Roma! You all know I just can't resist a good opera or ballet performance! This particular night, they had a special performance of 'Giselle,' which was beautifully haunting. The way the dancers moved, the way the music flowed - it transported me right into the world of the story. It was absolutely captivating, and the costumes! You've gotta love the delicate romanticism of the tutus and the majestic elegance of the men's costumes. Honestly, I might even start using this kind of look on my pink-tutu website - if the colours are right, of course! Pink would be such a bold statement.
Next up, a trip to the Trevi Fountain:
Oh, the Trevi Fountain, it's everything everyone says it is! Majestic, stunning, utterly awe-inspiring! This one actually made me a little speechless - normally, that's not easy. It's something you really just need to experience yourself to grasp the sheer magic. Don't even get me started on the incredible energy, I can't even explain it! My own personal fairytale dream was coming alive before my eyes, and I can only imagine it looked like a fairytale as it looked so surreal, it could have been straight from one of my favourite ballet performances, maybe 'Cinderella'? Or perhaps 'Swan Lake'?
I just couldn't help throwing a coin into the fountain - a girl's got to hope! Even if I have to get a job on the street, busking in my Pink Tutu (and a bright pink bra with matching ribbon headbands for added flair!) I really am dreaming of coming back to this incredible city. I did, of course, keep a tiny pink feather at the top of my bag in a pink organza bag, just in case I needed to toss in a few more coins.
Later that day, it was off to the Pantheon:
Another incredible landmark! And so photogenic! We all know how I love a good selfie, especially when I'm dressed in my Pink Tutu - even with it being April and still rather chilly! Oh darling, you have to know the pictures I'm posting on my website.
Shopping is an essential part of any Pink Tutu travel experience:
Rome has so many cute little boutiques with amazing clothes! It is a truly magical fashion haven for every ballerina or budding dancer (who hasn't been inspired by fashion?). And who can say no to Italian leather handbags, right? You just know they're made with the most love and care - all the love of a good tutu design and the magic of Italy. Oh, darling, if you are reading this and looking for a special occasion handbag... a pink one of course.... then Rome is calling! I spent a whole day just window shopping and dreaming about how all these incredible finds would fit in with my pink-tutu wardrobe.
The only problem? I don't know if I have enough room left in my suitcase! That's the danger of exploring Europe - you find so much fashion inspiration everywhere!
Food, glorious food!
Let me tell you, I am officially obsessed with pasta, pizza, and gelato - in all its flavours, colours and forms. They have become my favourite, favourite foods!
As for this date, April 24th, well, that means gelato with a beautiful Italian coffee with that real strong taste, an incredible spicy pesto pasta and, of course, I just had to find the cutest pink and white striped picnic rug to set out under the Roman sun. We're not just in a film... we are literally living a dream...
I also indulged in all kinds of other Italian delights - oh darling, the fresh mozzarella... I even saw this restaurant called 'The Pink Tutu', maybe next week I can pop in and find out why they've named it this, perhaps they love ballet and a certain ballet blogger?!
I tried so many delicious local cheeses and chocolates and the biggest gelato in the whole world (I might be exaggerating slightly), all while dressed, of course, in a super comfy Pink Tutu. Just as we get our dance moves down, so are we able to move with such confidence that we don't care what the world says... just that the food is great and there is room to fit more in the bag.
Well, my darlings, Rome has been nothing short of amazing! I just want to do it all over again, just a few more times! But for now, it's time to catch a train back to the Peak District and share all my lovely stories with my lovely Derbyshire neighbours. Until next time, my dears, ciao bella and keep those tutus twirling!
