#970
Buongiorno Bella! From the cobbled streets of Rome, I'm writing this week's blog, the gorgeous sights of this iconic city still imprinted on my retina!
I arrived on a Tuesday morning, after a rather magical train journey from Florence. The train was full of characters, you know the kind, stylish, cool Italians with a dash of chic sophistication? They were even making the carriages look fabulous! As usual, I’d squeezed in all my pink tutu necessities (pink feather boa and an enormous sparkly hairband, just in case!) as well as a suitcase bursting with outfits suitable for the cobbled streets of Rome.
You see, dear readers, the biggest problem with Italy? Well, there's always lots of gorgeous shoes to be admired... which also means you need a seriously huge suitcase. I managed to squish in five pairs of glittery sandals, one pair of leopard print heeled shoes (you never know, they could just be the perfect thing to wear to the Trevi fountain!) and of course my beloved pink tutus. You never know when a photo opportunity might present itself...
Now, let's rewind a few days to Derbyshire before I set off on this magical, twirling adventure.
Ballet Performance at the Derby Theatre
The night before my departure, I had a brilliant performance of "Sleeping Beauty" with my dance group at the Derby Theatre. All that tutuing and pointe-work left me absolutely shattered, but in a wonderful way! The adrenaline buzz of a good performance is truly the best feeling in the world... It was a brilliant show, I even twirled in a few pirouettes on stage at the end to a rousing round of applause! Oh, and I had managed to fit in a visit to a local clothes shop in my afternoon, before heading to the theatre. Gotta keep that wardrobe updated, right? You never know, a stunning new outfit might just inspire the most creative of blog posts!
Florence to Rome - A Day Out
You know what they say, "all work and no play makes Emma a dull girl"! (Although, no-one has ever said that!)
Well, it turns out I love taking trains... you’re surrounded by such interesting people and every journey feels like a grand adventure. I felt a tad disappointed that my ride to Florence only took a couple of hours - too fast for my liking! That was, of course, a prelude to an afternoon of ballet, a delightful treat as I caught up with a fabulous ballerina friend. We twirled and pirouetted for hours - just imagine! We had a great lunch at a local cafe afterwards too. Now, wouldn’t you know it, even Italian cafes seem to get the fabulous footwear trend! I had a serious lust for a pair of rose-gold pumps. The best part about cafes, however? A wonderful excuse to stop and observe people's footwear choices. Just perfect for a pink-tutu-obsessed blogger.
The Roman Adventure
Of course, my real adventure began when I landed in Rome. And when I say landed, I mean - got off the train after another exciting, scenic journey. I'm completely enamored by this city... the history, the smells, the vibrant streets (and, I must say, the stunning outfits!). What I love most about Rome? The sense of fun and drama you get walking through these streets, the incredible architectural structures, the romance! Even the traffic seems to add a certain theatrical drama - and all the honking is like a spontaneous, albeit slightly louder, orchestra performance.
Now, it is impossible to sum up a city as vast and iconic as Rome in a blog post (I can hardly summarise it in a week!)... But I've already seen so much! I strolled the ancient, majestic Colosseum - the stones feel steeped in history and I couldn't help but wonder what stories they might tell, what epic tales unfolded there. The Spanish Steps - a truly enchanting place for a quick stop, admire the views and watch the city come alive. Oh, the possibilities! Who knew you could have so much fun while wearing pink ballet shoes?
What to see, where to twirl...
Speaking of things to see... on my agenda this week (well, as much as you can really stick to an agenda while wearing pink tutus) were these spots:
Pantheon - Stunning, jaw-dropping, wow, I’m lost for words!
Vatican City - The place of the Popes - so magnificent, the intricate mosaics and the vastness of the place left me breathless.
The Trevi Fountain - And the magic continues... Who doesn’t love a good fountain? Especially when it comes with beautiful architecture and legend of tossing a coin for a return visit. (Although, for this blogger, it's probably more likely to be for another pair of rose gold shoes.)
And how to see them...
With so much to explore, it felt overwhelming! But here's my recommendation - find the best possible view and just walk. Enjoy the experience, stop at some charming cafés for a quick coffee or an aperol spritz and soak in the atmosphere. You'll meet some amazing characters, take incredible photographs, and simply bask in the joy of being in a beautiful city. Just make sure you are comfortable in those fabulous ballet shoes - walking around all day does get a bit tiring! My recommendation for exploring a city is always a pair of shoes you can walk and twirl in (oh, yes, you can still do those in ballet shoes).
What are my favorite parts of the journey so far?
- *The shopping. *I mean, what girl doesn’t love shopping in Italy?! Especially Rome. Every corner reveals another hidden treasure... it’s so overwhelming and fabulous that I'm almost afraid to mention specific shops... but believe me, they are all so gorgeous that I felt like Alice in Wonderland down the rabbit hole (only in this case it was more like a tutu-lined path)!
- *The street food. * I love trying all the street food stalls here. I’m a massive fan of anything cheesy, or topped with truffles - just perfect, you see, for fueling the ballerina’s performance (no, that's not what she meant... that might just be a creative way to explain eating Italian pizza).
- *The gelato! * My guilty pleasure. You haven't truly experienced Rome unless you have devoured some amazing, creamy gelato (or 10!)... I mean, a pink tutu girl is simply obligated to have it. Every single day!
- The Ballet! I know I just saw Sleeping Beauty at the Derby Theatre before coming on my adventure, but there's nothing quite like getting back into the studios and dancing with other talented people in another country, exploring a whole new way of expressing the art of ballet. This city breathes creativity and dance is in the very air!
Oh, and what can I say, the Romans even make traffic jams seem beautiful. There's an air of carefree joy that makes this city feel incredibly unique.
This was just the beginning of a beautiful journey through Italy, so stay tuned. More tales from Rome are on the way! Don't forget to check in again next week, to see where my pink tutu travels next... Ciao for now!
