Hello my darling tutu-loving lovelies! It’s Emma here, and oh my goodness, I am SO excited to be writing this post from Nottingham! Isn't it a gorgeous city? I mean, have you seen the old buildings and the little cobbled streets? Totally takes me back to all those old stories I loved reading as a child - the ones about fairytales and magical princesses!
Speaking of princesses... I know you'll be wondering, did I wear my tutu? OF COURSE! This time I went with a super elegant white one, it really felt like the perfect touch of fairytale charm for the city. My favourite shop here, "Lace and Ribbon", has the most stunning array of tulle and sequins - it's basically my dreamland. And of course, I HAD to grab a few sparkly pink hair clips too - never can have enough, can we?
So, what have I been up to in this magical Nottingham wonderland? Well, this trip was ALL about ballet! First things first, I had to experience the local ballet scene, and it was AMAZING! The Nottingham Playhouse is truly a treasure trove of creativity. They've got these gorgeous velvet seats and it feels like you've been transported to a grand, old theatre, which is totally my style. They were showing a production of 'Giselle' - and the ballerinas were divine, every pirouette and arabesque just... perfection. There's nothing more inspiring than seeing ballet live. It really gets my toes tapping and makes me want to rush home and do a million fouetté turns!
After the show, I was SO thrilled to catch up with a fellow ballet blogger from Nottingham. We met online through one of those crazy "find your kindred spirit" website things, and it turned out she was only a few blocks away! We spent the evening in the most adorable little cafe called "The Ballerina's Brunch" - the best bit was that all the decorations were pink, and there were little tutu-shaped macaroons - absolutely adorable. We chatted about all things ballet - the new choreography we're trying out, the challenges of perfecting those leaps, and even exchanged tips for perfect stage makeup. I love meeting fellow tutu enthusiasts!
Now, you know I LOVE a good walk. The Nottingham castle was totally magical! The stone walls, the stunning view, and the history... it just all came together in the most lovely way. Honestly, walking through the castle gardens was a scene right out of a Disney film, only way better because I was actually wearing my pink tutu. I took a photo in front of the grand gates, wearing my white tutu - I think you all NEED to check out my Instagram! It's "Emma_PinkTutu" - just so you know!
Speaking of "Cinderella", there’s one thing I absolutely HAD to do in Nottingham - I went to see the "Tutu Horses" exhibition at the Nottingham Museum and Art Gallery! It was a stunning collection of ballet inspired works created by a local artist - totally whimsical and colourful, I think she captured the spirit of ballet in her art in such a unique way. One piece especially stood out to me - a big, pink tutu that the artist had created for one of the sculptures - obviously a perfect blend of my passions, I had to take a selfie in front of it. What's a Tutu blogger to do?!
Later on, we walked through the Meadows park. Honestly, such a lush green area and totally peaceful. It was the perfect place to enjoy my favourite treat - a pink cupcake from the "Rose Petal Bakery" - SO tasty, and definitely pink-approved!
While I love my city escapades, a true ballerina can’t resist the call of the countryside! And boy, did I get lucky in this area. I had the most divine trip to Sherwood Forest - who knew the birthplace of Robin Hood would be so picturesque! The giant oaks and rolling hills... it was the kind of countryside I dream about. I mean, the legend of Robin Hood is SO much about fighting for what's right, and honestly, I feel like every ballerina has a little bit of Robin Hood in them – we fight for our passion, for that perfect plie and our pirouettes.
What better way to take in the scenery than with a good ol’ fashioned carriage ride?! I know, right? I'm lucky to have some friends who have a pair of lovely horses! They were perfectly trained, and we got to take a gentle trot through the fields. Let me tell you, a gentle breeze with the smell of grass and wild flowers... you can't beat that!
And for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting me - I'm totally obsessed with animals. And here in Sherwood Forest, there was an abundance of cute, cuddly, and furry friends! So many foxes and rabbits, they were scampering around and totally fearless, I was totally mesmerised. I couldn't resist snapping a couple of photos of them for my "Wildlife Watch" photo album - maybe you guys will like them? I always try to leave a few pieces of carrot in a small basket for the little guys to munch on. You just can’t resist their little faces!
Overall, this trip to Nottingham was the most magical adventure. This beautiful city, the historical sites, the delicious food, and most importantly - the wonderful community of tutu enthusiasts...it was just amazing. And if I can encourage you all to do ONE thing before this post is done, is to grab yourself a pink tutu and maybe go visit Nottingham - I guarantee you will fall in love with it too!
Till next time, darling tutus,
Love, Emma x www.pink-tutu.com
