Greetings, darling Tutu Twirlers!
It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, and I'm writing to you from the magnificent city of Vienna! The home of Mozart, Strauss, and yes, even some pretty fabulous tutu-wearing dancers! This is my third week in this enchanting city, and let me tell you, I've been twirling around like a princess in a fairytale!
Now, as you know, I’m not one for sticking to a schedule, my life's too fabulous for that! But since you all seem to love the Wednesday posts, here I am, live from Vienna! So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's get this Tutu-filled travelogue rolling!
Tra-la-la, to Vienna by Train!
This time, I decided to skip the airplane and journey to Vienna by train! I love train travel! You get to see so much more of the countryside than if you were in the air, and it's just so much more romantic.
It took me around twelve hours from my home in Derbyshire, but every moment was worth it! I was in a carriage full of charming families, chattering tourists, and even a young gentleman who looked suspiciously like the ballet dancer I'd just seen in “Giselle” at the Royal Opera House in London! Oh, the glamorous things I experience!
I sat with my nose glued to the window, admiring the scenery and sketching my musings on the passing towns, thinking of all the different tutus I could imagine on them, especially when passing vineyards! They reminded me of those lovely tulle swishing skirts and gave me some real fashion ideas!
The trip ended with a beautiful view of the city! The sun was setting, and the city skyline was just breathtaking! Oh, and to make the whole thing even more charming, I saw a young lad leading a horse and carriage along the riverbank just like the horse and carriages I used to love going on holiday on back home! And I tell you what! A journey in a carriage and with a horse is very nearly as lovely as dancing on stage!
A Ballet Ballet, Ballet Day!
Vienna, as you all know, is famous for its classical music. But did you know it's also home to one of the best ballet schools in the world? I managed to secure a spot in their adult class, and it was an experience I'll never forget! The teacher was so passionate and full of knowledge, and the other students were so dedicated! Of course, they didn't even compare to my amazing skills, but they tried hard! It was fun to watch them, in fact, sometimes more fun than being there in the classroom!
It made me realise just how lucky I am to be doing what I do! There was this lovely woman, she must have been close to sixty, with absolutely amazing control, she was so passionate! And it got me thinking how inspiring it would be to have some students that are of all ages, and that could take turns to be my ballerina companion on my trips. After all, it takes a team of ballerinas to get around the globe!
Now, I always think that the best way to learn about a culture is to immerse yourself in it, and what better way to do that than to see a ballet performance? And, my dear tutu-loving friends, this is where things got even more spectacular! I was lucky enough to snag tickets for "Swan Lake" at the Vienna State Opera House, and oh my!
I'd seen Swan Lake a few times back home, but this one was even more magical! The costumes, the sets, the dancers - they were all top-notch. It was such a powerful performance, both emotional and visually beautiful. I practically cried during the scene where the swan's character (I can't remember the swan’s name!) dances with the prince. Honestly, they were utterly captivating! It had me wishing I was on stage and a swan lake of a stage at that! It made me so envious, in the best way, that I found myself wanting to start ballet school again from scratch, just to relive that feeling!
Now, the "Swan Lake" performance, along with some ballet training, got me inspired. I must learn more about the history of ballet! The most well-known name in ballet, for me, of course, is Sergei Diaghilev! I can't wait to look up the early 20th century, I think that is when ballet was just coming to its glorious best. So if you have any interesting ballet historical snippets, do let me know, dear readers!
From Tutus to Textiles, and Back Again
Vienna is a city full of lovely fashion boutiques, from high-street shops to the more avant-garde, avant-garde shops! My days were full of exploring these wonderful establishments!
Now, a girl's gotta keep her tutus in top condition, so I indulged myself in some much-needed fabric shopping. I found some exquisite lace and silk that would be perfect for creating a new collection of tutus. I even found a little shop tucked away in a side street that had the most divine pink and pastel ribbons! I've already begun to imagine what stunning combinations I can put together with them, oh, my dear readers, this will be divine!
After an amazing few days in Vienna, I had to head on to my next stop – Prague! My train was scheduled to leave around 5pm on Saturday and I was just a little excited for a new adventure, in the land of dancing beer mugs! The journey itself is part of the experience for me, don't you think? My first experience of the journey from Vienna to Prague took me through rolling fields and mountains – stunning! Now, my ballet friends, there are three important things you have to remember when traveling by train: a good book (in my case, this was an essay about tutus - well, not just about them, there was also about ballet costumes in general), comfortable shoes - and good tunes for the journey. There is a kind of magic, a feeling that only trains give. I can’t quite express it - you have to experience it. So get to the station!
Well, that's all for this week, darlings! Don't forget to visit me again next Wednesday, where I’ll share all about Prague and tell you what happened when a mysterious young gentleman offered me a ride in a horse and carriage. You'll be rolling with laughter (and envy!)!
And remember, wear your tutu with pride! 💕
Until next week, Emma.
P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at @PinkTutuEmma and Facebook at @PinkTutuBlog for more adventures and updates on all my latest fashion, dance, and travel shenanigans!
P.P.S. Let me know what your favourite cities to visit for dance performances are, and what your favourite ballets are! I love reading all your lovely comments! 💖
