Ciao bellas! It’s Emma here, back from the beautiful, bustling, and absolutely breathtaking city of Rome! As you all know, my Wednesday blog posts are dedicated to all things Pink Tutu and Travel, so buckle up your dancing shoes, grab a cappuccino, and let’s dive into this week's adventures in the Eternal City.
This week’s journey started with a beautiful sunrise train ride from Derbyshire, my little slice of English countryside heaven. It never fails to amaze me how a simple train ride can transport you to another world, especially when that world is as vibrant and historically rich as Rome!
And, what a journey it was! As always, I embraced my trusty pink tutu, which is no stranger to long journeys – after all, you can’t exactly wear it under a train seat. I may be the only one on the train sporting this fashion statement, but I'm pretty sure the people in my carriage had a twinkle in their eyes.
Speaking of twinkle, that’s what I thought the entire city of Rome was – twinkling! From the Colosseum's ancient stones to the Trevi Fountain’s glistening waters, it's truly a place of magic and history.
But before I start reminiscing too much about this city's undeniable beauty, let's rewind the clock a bit to Wednesday, 10th of July.
It’s a bit crazy, I know. Travelling the world as a tutu-clad ballerina who funds her trips by performing ballet! It's like something out of a fairytale - except with a lot less "happily ever after" and a lot more luggage and frantic last-minute packing.
But hey, who doesn't love a little challenge? I am, after all, a huge fan of all things outside my comfort zone!
Anyway, enough about my unusual journey – let’s talk Rome!
On the 10th of July, I found myself exploring the Trastevere neighbourhood, a haven for artists and musicians. I even stumbled upon a cute little trattoria where I had the most delicious pasta al pomodoro!
The atmosphere was pure magic. The cobblestone streets were filled with laughter, the air was thick with the aroma of freshly baked bread and delicious pizza, and the shops were filled with quirky handmade goods and artisanal crafts. I could easily spend hours getting lost in this neighbourhood's enchanting beauty.
But I couldn’t completely lose myself in the delightful charm of the neighbourhood - I had an exciting ballet performance that night!
And trust me, the night was pure magic! I performed with a local troupe at Teatro Argentina. Their passion was inspiring, and the audience loved the performance! Even though the choreography wasn’t exactly ballet, we incorporated some graceful tutued movements (it’s just who I am after all!) and they even clapped along to a fun little sequence set to a song by Katy Perry. The crowd loved it.
It felt wonderful to spread some Tutu magic throughout the Italian Capital! I truly believe everyone can have their inner tutu, even if they haven't actually tried it on yet!
Speaking of magic, Rome itself felt like an enormous open-air museum. Every corner seemed to be a hidden gem waiting to be discovered - beautiful fountains, captivating squares, ancient ruins... and all of it surrounded by delicious smells and bustling life.
The next day, after my post-performance cappuccino in a cute little café in the Piazza Navona, I started exploring the historic centre of Rome.
Let me tell you, exploring this historic city can be tiring – a little like running a marathon in high heels and a tutu – but absolutely worth every step! It's fascinating to see so many different eras coexist - majestic churches standing next to chic shops and modern buildings blending with ancient ruins. And don’t even get me started on the beautiful flower market near the Pantheon!
I even stumbled upon the coolest fashion boutique that was a complete delight. They had all the classic Italian style - the kind you would see on beautiful fashionistas with their stylish dog companions on leash, but also a great selection of bold vintage pieces! The only problem? They only took cash! Not that I didn’t love browsing, but of course, I managed to walk out of there with a stunning silk scarf that would match any of my tutus, or so I like to tell myself.
The shopping was great but on Saturday, I spent some of the afternoon, like a good ballerina does, exploring some of the museums in Rome.
Firstly, I took myself off to The Galleria Borghese which is full of amazing artwork. But before I could see any art, I had to stand in awe of the gardens! It felt like a beautiful fairytale, a scene out of "The Sleeping Beauty" - I definitely wouldn't have minded strolling around there in a ball gown and sparkly tiara. The fountains and sculptures are just incredible.
Speaking of beautiful things, have you ever seen the Galleria Borghese's "Venus" by Bernini? She's utterly breathtaking! This sculpture is almost magical, a truly mesmerizing piece of art that just captivated me for a long while. And she was wearing a super beautiful silky, flowing, pink-tutu-like dress, well... more like draped, which inspired a small dance moment in front of the marble artwork - It wasn't a proper pirouette or an elegant grand jeté but I gave it my best! Let’s just say that “Venus” and I enjoyed the brief encounter very much.
My explorations continued. On Saturday night, after a well-deserved glass of delicious Prosecco at a charming cafe in Campo de' Fiori, I made my way to the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, to see one of the most beautiful productions of Puccini's "Tosca." I have a soft spot for opera and classical music, so this was a pure joy and the experience did not disappoint. There were so many beautiful costumes!
Rome, as we all know, is full of wonderful surprises, and one such surprise came the day after the performance. The day started off with the sound of bagpipes – yes, bagpipes! Imagine the contrast! They played from a small square, right across from the iconic Trevi Fountain. And then the air was filled with the most divine smell of pizza cooking – which of course, I had to try! I was truly experiencing the beauty of this city through its diverse and multi-faceted energy, with every corner holding a new, exciting discovery.
Rome truly lived up to its reputation as a city filled with captivating history, a pulsating heart of Italian fashion and vibrant artistic culture – and some excellent bagpipers!
If you want to know anything about Rome – just ask – I have so much to share – so many photos on www.pink-tutu.com – check them out!!
Stay Tuned for my next Wednesday post! Where will my Tutu and I go next?
And until then - wear pink, twirl, and spread the joy!
Ciao!
