Ciao bellas! Welcome back to another fabulous Wednesday adventure from yours truly, Emma, in the pinkest tutu you ever did see! This week I'm bouncing around the glorious city of Rome, where the history feels like a whisper in the air, the food is enough to make your tastebuds sing, and the fashionā¦ well, the fashion is as vibrant and exciting as a pink flamingo strutting across a sapphire lagoon! (See what I did there? š )
So, as you all know, my little pink-tutu clad heart is a total sucker for trains. The clatter, the rhythm, the sheer romance of speeding across a countryā¦ thereās something about trains that just gets my tutu twirling. So naturally, my trip to Rome had to begin with a fabulous journey. I bid farewell to my Derbyshire darling and boarded the Eurostar in a pink polka-dot dress and a tutu, naturally. As always, the other passengers on the train gave me a wide berth. The tutus and pink clothes really are a divisive garment; some think itās fab, others, less so. A woman in the corner sat with a disapproving, wrinkled nose whilst her chihuahua eyed my sparkly ballet flats with suspicion. You just gotta love those dramatic chihuahua looks.
Anyway, arriving in Roma Termini station after a very pleasant train journey filled with reading and admiring my new blush-pink Chanel bag, it felt like I was stepping straight onto a film set! The grandeur of the station, with its vast vaulted ceilings and echoes of footsteps on the marble floorsā¦ It was incredible! Of course, I took a million photos, a mix of some staged 'ballet poses' with my new bag in a photo shoot with a fellow tutu-enthusiast (more about him later!) and some simply snapping the sheer beauty around me.
The moment I stepped out of the station, the sun felt like a warm hug on my skin. I was greeted by a symphony of noises: bustling city life, motorbike engines humming like excited bees, andā¦ wait for itā¦ the tantalising aroma of fresh-baked pizza! I swear I could smell mozzarella from a mile away! It was definitely time for a pizza pit-stop!
Rome - A Feast for the Senses (And the Stomach!)After a very enjoyable (and large) slice of Margherita with a glass of crisp Italian wine, my energy levels were recharged, ready to dive headfirst into the magic of this beautiful city.
The first thing that struck me about Rome, was its energy - the energy of people, of ancient history and of fashion. The locals bustled around with a sparkle in their eyes that seems to say, āWe live in the most beautiful city in the world, and we love it!ā And I have to admit, itās hard not to fall in love with Rome yourself.
Our first stop, naturally, was the Colosseum. Now, everyone knows that I'm a history nut. Seeing the ancient amphitheater standing proud, even after all this time, was something special. You can imagine the gladiators and chariots thundering around the arena. Itās easy to feel a shiver down your spine with the weight of all that history surrounding you. Of course, no photo opportunity would be complete without me balancing my pink ballet shoes on the lip of the arena. "You know what?," thought a passing tourist, "this woman's life isn't half bad, eh."
Then came the real fun - Shopping! (The best part of any trip for this ballerina!). Rome has the most amazing shops! And the people are incredibly stylish! Weāre talking chic with a hint of flair! Of course, I couldn't resist grabbing some exquisite pink lace gloves that just screamed "Rome!". I think I even managed to persuade a lovely older Italian lady to model them for a photo outside the Trevi Fountain. (If youāre ever in Rome, be sure to drop a coin into the Trevi Fountain and wish on its beautiful waters. I wished for more ballet shoes and the love of my life). I did buy a special necklace for my darling back home, I thought that heād really like the roman soldier look to the piece!
The best shopping, though, happened in the amazing Piazza Navona! The area was bursting with handmade trinkets, vibrant clothes, and oh, the food stalls! My favourite was a stand selling the most delectable pastries and cannoli. I bought a couple and ate them on the steps of the church opposite. I just hope the sparrows didn't see my cannoli as I ate! The amount of feathers flying after me gave the impression they wanted to help.
And finally, my dearest fellow ballet fanatics, Rome wouldn't be complete without a little ballet, would it? On this very day, there was a spectacular performance of 'Giselle' by the Ballet of Rome, which took place at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. And oh my, the grandeur! This beautiful old theatre transported me to a different era.
Of course, it wasn't just the setting; it was the breathtaking artistry of the dancers! Every turn, every leap, every gesture filled the space with pure magic. It was simply breathtaking, an enchanting experience that reminded me why I love the ballet so much! The tutu twirling that I was so excited to see never even happened!
The best bit though, is that, just before the show, I met this incredible fellow dancer called Riccardo, (a fellow pink tutu enthusiast!) It turns out that he is a professional dancer and has his own ballet company! (Don't worry I asked first; he loved the tutu, though his pink outfit consisted of just a tie!) We talked for hours, discussing the ballet, our passions, and of course, our love of all things pink.
Riccardo even taught me a couple of cool ballet moves! Now, I wouldn't say I'm a natural, but he was a good teacher, so patient with the ballerina! (You should have seen the moves he showed me in that cute pink and blue, vintage Italian restaurant; he truly is a talented performer. Even in a restaurant). And who knows, maybe this will be the start of a beautiful friendshipā¦ (perhaps a dancing duet? ššŗ). Maybe we will tour together, showcasing our love for ballet and of course, our fondness of pink! The future is a pink canvas! Iām going to look for him when I return for a summer trip to Rome - he must be around!
Speaking of pink canvases, Rome was absolutely blooming with colours - sunshine yellow, bright orange, deep violetā¦ And naturally, my trusty pink tutu matched everything! Honestly, every corner seemed to hold a photo opportunity, waiting for my pink tutu to arrive and create a little more magic!
Well, darling readers, as always, time flies when youāre in Rome (and having a fab time). And I must confess, I am exhausted but exhilarated! Thereās something so exhilarating about feeling alive, with the world swirling around you, especially when you are twirling! I am back to Derbyshire and I have to go shopping, I must find more pink, (in all the different shades you can imagine! Blush, pastel, magenta, and cerise, if anyone can remember the 70sā¦). But whatās on this weekend isā¦ well youāll have to wait for Wednesday! Itās a secret!
See you then, my sweethearts!
With pink, glittery hugs! Emma x
(P.S - Have you joined our amazing #PinkTutu movement yet? Just post a pic of you in pink on your social media, #PinkTutu, and letās show the world that thereās nothing more beautiful than pink!)
