Hello darlings! It's Emma here, and I'm soooo excited to be back in Italy! It feels like ages since my last trip to this glorious country. But this time, I'm not in Florence - oh no! I've landed in the magnificent, ancient, historical city of Rome!
The Train Journey
Getting here was half the fun, of course. I love train journeys! And this one, through the Italian countryside, was utterly beautiful. Fields of sunflowers and vineyards stretching for miles, quaint little towns dotted across the landscape, and the sun shining through my carriage window, making my pink tutu positively sparkle! I felt like I was straight out of a fairytale!
(Side note: It is just so unfair that the rest of you don’t get to experience the joy of train travel through picturesque countryside like this! The train journey really did put me in a wonderful mood - perhaps I should invest in a sparkly train ticket holder! It would match my Tutu so well, maybe a big "E" for Emma for a little extra personalization... Hmm I shall investigate.)
My Rome Debut
I arrived in Rome just before midday. The air is already hot and hazy, a perfect combination of sun and history. I've always dreamt of experiencing the Colosseum and all the famous Roman ruins, and this week, my dream has come true! (Honestly, I'm pretty sure I've just started humming the Gladiator theme song. It’s not that I watched it loads of times back in the day, I just had a fleeting idea of being a warrior-like ballerina for just a few fleeting minutes. Not that I ever would - I can just imagine all the makeup I would have to put on for it to be worthwhile! And we all know how much I adore the "au naturel look."
I'm staying in the most adorable little hotel tucked away in a cobblestoned alley, complete with an enchanting courtyard overflowing with vibrant flowers. My room is absolutely divine, decorated in shades of creamy white and pastel pink. It’s also only a short walk from the Spanish Steps, a glorious expanse of cascading stone steps that has to be seen to be believed!
Pink Tutu on the Streets of Rome
You already know I love pink tutus, and I simply can’t travel without one, so this one's making a grand entrance in Rome!
You'd be surprised at how much fun it is to twirl down narrow Roman streets! I caught the eye of a charming gelato maker as I waltzed by - his eyes lit up as he watched me, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a wink. He gave me a scoop of their most decadent gelato, completely free of charge!
(I have to tell you darlings - his shop is in this adorable little side street, right next to an ancient church with a tiny statue of an angel peeking down at you - just the sweetest! I've just realised, how lovely if I get a tattoo of that church in Roman numeral digits! I shall give it some thought and share my artistic creations on my instagram account! You can find it, and also my twitter account, through the links on my home page at www.pink-tutu.com!)
My first discovery - Roman fashion and ballet.
Oh my goodness, my darlings! Have I got a fashion treat in store for you today! Today I have already made an absolutely fabulous discovery - there's a stunning dance boutique called La Ballerina right here in the heart of Rome. I'm already imagining the dance classes, and oooo... just look at all these incredible costumes and accessories! I’m definitely going to come back later today with a full bag of shopping treats!
Roman Holiday:
Later this week, I’m going to make a trip to the Vatican. Imagine my joy! It's just brimming with art and architecture - it's definitely going to be one for the Instagram scrapbook! I’ll show you what I think of Michelangelo’s ceiling - everyone's talking about it - and perhaps we'll have a “tutu Tuesday” themed session. Maybe I can squeeze in a ballet lesson in the courtyard of the Colosseum?
My goal for this Roman adventure is to absorb everything. History, culture, food (especially the amazing pastries and the perfect little pasta shops!), shopping... all of it! I'm going to have a true Pink Tutu Rome Holiday!
This time, I'm travelling in my fabulous new sparkly tutu – the one I’ve been designing and dancing in - It’s just the perfect shade of light pink with gold-leaf embroidery, perfect for making my dreams come true here in Rome! It really feels like my luck has changed – just think: It all began in a small town in Derbyshire!
Remember to tune in next Wednesday, darlings, as I’ll be posting all about my trip to the Colosseum, a night at the opera (just because I can!), and, of course, a visit to the iconic Trevi Fountain.
Until next week - ciao bella!
Love, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
