Well, darling, it's time for another TutuQueen travelogue, and this time I'm in Berlin! This incredible city has truly stolen my sparkly heart, with its rich history, its vibrant art scene, and its streets filled with fashionistas that are practically begging me to throw on a pink tutu for a street performance! It's my ninth post on www.pink-tutu.com from Germany, so let me spill the glitter and tell you all about it!
From Derbyshire to Deutschland: My Journey to Berlin
It all began, as many great adventures do, with a train journey. I love travelling by train, especially across Europe, watching the world whizz by from my comfy window seat. You really get to feel the heartbeat of a country when you’re chugging through its countryside. The landscape outside, a tapestry of fields and forests, is just like a canvas waiting for a splash of pink! And oh, how I dreamed of that perfect moment, arriving in Berlin with a suitcase bursting with all the tutu-licious outfits I could cram in!
Before I could don my sparkly heels and tutu though, I had to spend a day in the lab! You see, by day I'm Alex, your average lab scientist. I do all the fun, sparkly things with textiles, but by night... Oh, well, you already know that part, darling. My second job, my passion, is bringing joy and twirls to the world in all my sparkly pink glory!
My first Berlin Night - Tutuing with the locals
As soon as I arrived, I couldn't wait to put on my fuchsia-pink feathered number (my “Hot Pink Flamingo” ensemble – don’t tell anyone but this was one of the outfits I was thinking about chucking, it has so many layers it’s a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen!) and head straight to the local Drag Night at a charming, kitschy bar in a side street called, ironically, "Tutu Tango".
My "Tutu Tango" set featured the legendary "Barbie Goes to Berlin" routine - lots of sass, high kicks, and even a sprinkle of German! You wouldn't believe the reception, it was an absolute hoot! The audience was incredible, and everyone, from seasoned drag queens to folks who just wanted a fun night out, seemed to love my unique brand of tutu-based fun. They were especially taken by my pink fluffy bow headpiece – and who wouldn't be?! It was literally sparkling from every angle.
Exploring the Capital with a Pink Twirl
After my debut at "Tutu Tango," I set out to explore Berlin's beauty. Now, you can’t possibly imagine the level of architectural grandeur this city offers – you really feel you are transported back in time to another age! Every corner seems to be teeming with history!
I spent my first morning taking a wander down the bustling streets of Berlin, from Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin Wall Memorial – just taking it all in! You just feel something so potent about history here – a mixture of sadness and celebration of freedom. Then I did what any sane tutu-loving queen would do. I grabbed a double-scoop ice cream and made myself at home in Tiergarten, Berlin's beautiful green space! I had my own little pink tutu picnic, of course.
And when I needed a break from the city's busy streets, I headed to a magnificent botanical garden, brimming with colourful blooms and breathtaking green spaces. It's the perfect setting for a quick photo shoot in my "Blossom Pink Ballet" number! If the photos had more layers of tulle, they'd practically be a masterpiece. Of course, a pink tutu and botanical garden were destined to become best friends!
Fashion & Tutu Inspiration on Every Corner
I always find my travels fuel my own creative spark. My travels in Europe inspire my future drag shows, from the iconic Parisian fashion of the late 60s and 70s to the futuristic design sensibilities I found in Denmark. And Berlin? Let’s just say my "Punk Princess" ensemble just took on a whole new level of sassy-fierce inspiration after exploring the trendy shops around Mitte! The leather jacket paired with a fluffy pink tutu is just too much – I can see it already. This look is begging for a music video and for me to unleash all the rockstar attitude! But for now, it’s staying firmly on my ‘ideas for the next drag show’ board.
From Tutus to Theater: Berlin's Cultural Riches
After taking in all the cultural delights of Berlin's fashion scene, I took a deep dive into the city's theatrical scene. The Ballet, for a pink tutu wearing diva, is a must, right?
So naturally, I booked tickets for a ballet at the Berliner Staatsballett. I wore a classic white tulle tutu for the performance, paired with a pearl necklace and a pair of vintage gloves (they look amazing with tulle - try it!), keeping things a little toned down so I didn’t out-shine the prima ballerinas – they have enough on their plates performing Swan Lake and such. But honestly, even a performance at this caliber isn’t going to top the tutu scene of “Black Swan.” Now, there’s a movie. But who would dare don that tutu outside of a professional ballet performance? I wonder...
Of course, every proper ballet fan knows the importance of visiting the city’s opera house. My ‘Opera Queen’ outfit, with a crystal pink dress and the longest- ever, (it actually just scraped the floor) fluffy white tutu was the perfect addition to a lovely night of entertainment at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Tutu Therapy - Taking it All in with a TutuTwirl
After an intense couple of days of tutu-ing in Berlin, I felt like a ballerina in a ballet box – it was time to refuel. The Berliner Dom – with its incredible history – is right around the corner from the Berlin Wall Memorial, and I grabbed my sketchbook and headed straight over for some artistic TutuQueen relaxation and inspiration. A pencil and notepad really bring me back to Earth! I’m actually in awe at how many incredible memories my sketchpad contains, each page with memorabilia from my drag travels all around the world!
And in the spirit of "recharge," I spent a wonderful afternoon with my dear friends, Eva, a local German queen who even owns a fabulous bakery (she sells pink cookies decorated with little tutus - amazing!) and Greta, who has the coolest boutique I’ve ever seen in my life.
We dined on local delights, drank delicious beers, and just let our hair down, enjoying the warm sunshine and the good vibes that just flowed around this truly special city! They were even brave enough to join me in my 'Let’s Dance' routine on a park bench! It was so much fun!
A Last Pink Twirl Before Departure
I always make a tutu-ful last hurrah to mark my goodbyes to a city, and Berlin was no exception!
My farewell night involved an impromptu performance at an art fair on the street that had so many curious eyes – I think even the cats and dogs in the area stopped by! As usual, I took requests from the crowd and gave the “Pink Tutu Sparkles Show” a fun, fast-paced energy to finish my trip with a bang.
Goodbye, Berlin, It's Been a Tutu-licious Journey!
I am, once again, leaving Berlin with my heart full of magic, a little bit glitter, and my head spinning from all the joy and creativity this remarkable city has shared with me!
This is TutuQueen, signing off from Berlin - but don't worry darling, it's not "Goodbye," but rather a "See you soon"! I’ve already added Germany to my "Next Pink Tutu Performance Destination List” for next year. There is something truly magnetic about Berlin, something that really gets me feeling happy and confident about everything tutu-related! So who knows, maybe this journey isn't quite over yet...
I just can't help thinking of the many ways a pink tutu could inspire more creative exploration here! A pink tutu performance on a gondola at a Christmas market on Alexanderplatz? You bet your tutu I'm in!
To stay in the loop, and hear my next destination in my daily blogs on www.pink-tutu.com, darling, you better get those clicks going and check out my page every day!
Until next time! Stay sparkly, and don’t forget, it’s all about spreading that pink tutu love.
Always and forever, TutuQueen xxx
