Hello lovelies!
It’s Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad travel enthusiast, and today, I'm taking you with me to the charming city of Chester. Now, you might think "Chester? Emma, that's a bit dull, don't you think? Surely, there's no pink tutu fun to be had in that historical city?"
Oh my dears, how wrong you are!
Chester, with its medieval walls, half-timbered houses, and bustling market streets, is brimming with a kind of English charm that only those of us who love a good fairytale city can truly appreciate. But what truly drew me here was a hidden gem - the Chester Grosvenor Theatre, which this week was hosting a truly exceptional production of ‘Swan Lake’ starring the Royal Ballet.
Let’s just say, I am obsessed with ballet. Like, utterly and completely smitten with its graceful beauty and expressive power. I could spend hours lost in the elegance of each plié, each arabesque, each pirouette. And "Swan Lake" has always been one of my favourites - those poignant scenes of love, betrayal, and sorrow perfectly mirrored in the dancers’ movement? Simply breathtaking.
To make the trip even more spectacular, I travelled in style, naturally. A train journey is a journey to be savoured, don’t you think? I slipped into my new dusty pink satin tutu (did I tell you I'm hopelessly addicted to pink? I just can’t help myself!), added a dash of sparkle with my vintage diamond earrings, and snuggled into the carriage, my book (The Little Prince, of course, a book every ballerina must have!) tucked in my lap.
Chester itself, nestled amongst the lush Cheshire countryside, offered me more delights than just the ballet. I had a wonderful time exploring the historic Roman ruins (imagine! Tutus in ancient Rome - I’ll be creating a blog post about that just for fun!), wandering through the stunning Chester Zoo (where I spent the afternoon getting nose-to-nose with majestic lions and cuddly meerkats), and of course, grabbing a quintessential English afternoon tea.
I must tell you about the afternoon tea, because honestly, it was absolutely divine! In a quintessential tea room tucked away on a quiet side street, I indulged in scones, jam, clotted cream, finger sandwiches (yes, dainty finger sandwiches! Very appropriate for ballerinas, don't you think?), and a pot of fragrant Earl Grey tea. All of it devoured amidst delicate china teacups, floral wallpaper, and soft piano music playing softly in the background. Perfection.
But don't worry, my love for tutus was not forgotten! As I strolled through the bustling market square, my pink tutu and I were the center of attention. Children (and even some grown-ups) pointed and gasped, giggling with delight at my pink spectacle. The delight in their eyes was infectious. Seeing people get so excited over a tutu is one of my absolute joys. You see, it’s more than just a piece of clothing – it’s a symbol of happiness, of dancing, of dreams! And who doesn’t want to spread a little happiness?
Chester itself is a lovely, compact city that's easy to navigate. Even better, there is a fantastic selection of little independent shops tucked away in winding alleyways and on charming streets lined with cobblestones. And honestly, my darling readers, those shops are simply a joy to browse. From antique trinkets to exquisite hand-crafted jewellery to vintage clothing (I found a vintage ballet shoe case in the prettiest lavender!), each shop offered its own unique treasures. And as much as I'd love to give you all the deets on each store, I'm going to keep some surprises for those of you who make it down here to Chester one day.
And that, my sweet darlings, was my fabulous weekend in Chester! It's one I will definitely remember for a long, long time. A journey steeped in history, art, nature, and most importantly, that pink tutu feeling.
As always, my darling readers, thank you for taking the journey with me. It would be absolutely wonderful if you would join me on my next adventure! Perhaps we’ll visit some quaint English villages together? Or we can venture further afield – Italy? Paris? Let me know your thoughts and we’ll embark on an adventure together, pink tutu and all!
Stay fabulous, stay sweet, and stay tutu-rific!
Lots of love,
Emma
P.S. Don't forget, you can follow my adventures on social media too! @PinkTutuEmma on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter - you won't want to miss a single post!
