#PinkTutuRome Wednesday 2011-11-02 exploring Rome Italy

Ciao, darlings!

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for another fabulous Pink Tutu Rome adventure! I’m currently sipping on a frothy cappuccino (don’t worry, it’s got pink sugar – gotta have my colour!) overlooking the Piazza Navona. Let’s just say, I’m utterly smitten with Rome – the history, the culture, the FOOD! Oh my goodness, the food!

This week, I arrived in the Eternal City by train – of course! There’s just something so romantic about travelling by train, especially in a country like Italy, with its charming villages and sweeping countryside. I don’t think I'll ever get over how much I love travelling by train. My latest obsession, and something that really does set me alight, is seeing just how many pink tutus I can spot at train stations. This week I’m thrilled to report that I spotted a mother and daughter at Bologna station wearing almost identical ones! The little girl even had her hair in a topknot! The best thing, though, is when I hear someone talking in English and tell them where I am from - Derbyshire - “Oh I know that! That's the Peak District!" they say - I know then it is worth all the travelling, meeting so many great people, it really makes me feel like I am making a difference.

And I’m really glad to have you all along for the ride. You know how I love a good pink tutu adventure and how I try to share that joy and passion for fashion with everyone I meet, well this week’s adventures are extra special. I’m wearing a divine pink tulle number with delicate black embroidery – it's giving vintage ballerina chic with a modern twist, and the colour, oh darling, it’s like a symphony of sugar-spun happiness!

Okay, let’s get to the juicy bits, shall we? On Friday night, I finally saw what I'd been waiting for – a ballet at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma! Now, imagine the most gorgeous opera house you can think of - imagine grand velvet seats, sweeping chandeliers and beautiful gold-leaf décor… It's more magical than any Disney fairytale. And that's not even including the breathtaking ballet performances!

I was treated to a performance of "Giselle" – and wow! This masterpiece was filled with delicate footwork, powerful leaps and, of course, all the drama you could want in a classic story of love, betrayal and, ultimately, sacrifice. The set design and costumes were exquisite and the dancers were phenomenal, making each move seem effortless and beautiful. Honestly, the whole thing was simply divine!

The experience even sparked a renewed inspiration in my own ballet practice, so I was off bright and early to the “The Dance Academy” – you see, Italy doesn’t only do great food and opera - there are amazing dance academies to boot. I spent Saturday afternoon learning some incredible new techniques and moves from an incredible Italian teacher who not only encouraged us, she even did a beautiful pink ribbon with me! Who wouldn't be inspired? After an exhausting but amazing afternoon it was back to my apartment, to enjoy the incredible Rome skyline.

And just in case you think I don’t mix business with pleasure – I did a special shoot for my Instagram @PinkTutuRome! A little fashion and a little fun, just as it should be!

I have a confession: I have a bit of a weakness for Italian fashion – all those vibrant colours and sophisticated styles just do things to me! And Rome? Well, Rome is a shopper's paradise, darlings! On Monday morning, I took on Via Condotti, a famous street filled with luxurious boutiques - the designer bags, the shoes! Oh my! Don’t worry though - I didn’t spend too much (though I almost bought myself the perfect sparkly ballet shoes… ).

What I did find was an incredible local vintage boutique - they have this incredible selection of all the fabulous things I love about Rome. I am wearing their incredible vintage top - the most gorgeous pink! The shop itself is a total dream with so much fabulous vintage chic stuff and, as a bonus, a real pink tutu to buy too! My little purse from there, made by local Italian leather artisans is so amazing it almost deserves it’s own blog post!

Let’s be honest: my love affair with Italy wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the food. I’m sure you all have your favorites, but for me, Rome’s culinary scene has me utterly smitten!

This week, my absolute highlights:

• Pasta Heaven: From fresh pasta in Trastevere (their “pasta all'amatriciana” – truly delicious!) to hand-crafted ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach - you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bad pasta dish in Rome!
• Pizza Perfection: I tried several pizza slices on a whim at an unassuming pizza joint in the centre - It wasn’t much to look at but, the flavour – OMG! (it also has the perfect pink-edged crust… so it wasn’t much of a surprise!)
• Sweet Temptations: And oh, my goodness, gelato! This is like a whole different level of dessert experience. Flavours that will explode your taste buds in every delicious way possible.

So far, it's been a perfect week – beautiful surroundings, amazing food and, most importantly, amazing memories being made! It’s easy to see why they call this the Eternal City.

Now I’ve gotta run - it’s time for a walk to my next stop: the beautiful Roman Forum. It’s incredible to be here, exploring the history of a city as grand and ancient as Rome.

Before I go, just a little pink tutu wisdom:

Wear your pink tutus with pride! Don't be afraid to stand out and to express yourself with joy and love for this colour and this iconic style. And remember, pink tutus have the power to make even the most ordinary day feel extra special.

And let’s meet next week in Rome - I’ve already made plans for another ballet adventure!

Love,
Emma

xXx

P.S. - Make sure you check out www.pink-tutu.com for my new ballet-inspired t-shirt and all the latest news on my Rome adventures. You can find me on social media too - I'm @PinkTutuRome! It would mean the world if you could join me there and share your love for all things pink tutu.