Hello my darling dears! It's Emma here, and oh, how my heart flutters to be writing to you all from Vienna, a city so beautiful it truly makes my pink tutu blush! Iām here for two glorious weeks and you just know that I'm going to make the most of every single second, every single waltz!
Todayās post is bursting with the effervescence of Vienna, and trust me, you donāt want to miss it! You see, darlings, my travels aren't just about sightseeing ā they're about exploring the very soul of the places I visit. And this city, oh this city! She sings a song of elegant grandeur and artistic passion, and it just calls to my dancing spirit.
Before we get into the pink and fabulous delights that Vienna has to offer, letās just take a quick peek at my journey here. Leaving Derbyshire was bittersweet, you know? I always find saying goodbye to my family a little heart-wrenching, but Iām incredibly lucky that my parents support my whimsical ventures! Besides, I was returning to my little troupe in Nottingham for a ballet recital that same day. We were putting on a lovely piece called "Whispers of the Wild," inspired by the ancient woodland surrounding my Derbyshire village, with the costumes ā naturally ā incorporating hints of emerald green and deep forest browns, with the perfect touch of pink! The performance was absolutely brilliant. I was so proud of everyone! And afterwards? I jumped onto the train, armed with a bottle of bubbly (celebration, darling!), and made my way to the charming city of Salzburg.
Salzburg, Oh Salzburg!
Speaking of charming, Salzburg is everything one dreams of in a city. The cobbled streets are lined with beautiful houses with those perfectly windowed shutters. Imagine the little squirrels climbing the trellises, their fluffy tails disappearing into the floral boxes. Picture the cafes with their wicker chairs and tables brimming with chatter. Imagine the sun dappling through the trees in the Salzburg Botanical Gardens. Then, imagine my pink tutu twirling in the breeze as I danced through it all. Now that's Salzburg!
From Salzburg, I took a rather luxurious train journey to Vienna. Oh, darling, youāll just have to forgive me, but a private carriage on the train for someone of my... uh, āartisticāā¦ status is pretty much par for the course, isn't it? Not wanting to get my tutu tangled in the railway tracks (and being quite the social butterfly), I spent most of the journey charming my way into a fun conversation with the conductor and, dare I say it, flirting with a dashing young aristocrat who clearly shared my love for the arts! But donāt worry my sweet readers, I havenāt been abducted by a handsome prince. (Well, not yet, at least).
A Tutuās Paradise: Viennaās Magical Music
Here I am now in the enchanting city of Vienna, my pink tutu whirring with anticipation! Now, the history of dance, darling, that is my absolute weakness. As we all know, ballet is a history filled with elegant steps and glorious stories. Just picture a young Tchaikovsky working away on his masterpiece āSwan Lakeā - what a vision he must have been! And the stories of the graceful ballerinas of yesteryear! There was always a special place for Vienna in my heart. A love of ballet and dance courses through Viennaās very being - this is where it all began, with its grandeur, its musical heart. It's no surprise that Vienna's waltz was named the official dance of the court!
My first stop here? A visit to the opulent Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), of course. They had just finished a remarkable performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute. Oh my, the costumes! So flamboyant, so theatrical, so breathtakingly extravagant! The music simply soared through the theatre and Iām pretty sure my own tutu actually began to tap out the rhythm on the pavement!
Next, I took myself to the Vienna Hofburg Imperial Palace to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony. And talk about elegant! The musicians were brilliant, their uniforms shimmering under the midday sun, their movements sharp and graceful. The whole experience made me so glad to be a dancer, embracing that theatrical tradition and beauty.
You know what else I discovered? An actual pink tutu shop! Just one tiny street tucked away in Viennaās Altstadt! I absolutely had to treat myself, and I have got to show you what I picked up ā I just know youāre going to adore it. More about my shopping spree later, but for nowā¦ Vienna is absolutely alive with music and art. This city breathes music, it vibrates with passion. The feeling here is palpable. Itās all around me. I even spotted a street musician who started playing āThe Blue Danubeā Waltz as I strolled past. Naturally, I couldn't resist. I took a little pirouette on the pavement andā¦
The little boy watching smiled. The musician bowed. It was just perfection!
From Horse-Drawn Carriages toā¦ Chocolate?
Now, being in a city this beautiful and grand simply calls for elegant transport. And Vienna has my heart set aflame with all the luxurious options: horse-drawn carriages, sleek, old-fashioned trams, and a delightful river cruise that will undoubtedly involve me twirling on the deck ā as soon as I have finished that glorious schnitzel lunch ( Viennaās cuisine, oh itās simply divine!)
Speaking of lovely treats, Vienna has been practically built around chocolate. And as you all know, I have a bit of a sweet tooth. There are quaint little shops that smell like heaven on earth! You know I couldn't possibly leave without sampling those exquisite chocolate pralines - don't worry, darlings, my dancing requires some fuel. š
Vienna and My Pink Tutu Dreams:
For my dear readers, I have a vision. My mission in life, you could say, is to make pink tutus a universal fashion staple. A sartorial symbol of happiness, laughter, and elegance. Just imagine, all of you lovely ladies sporting pink tutus! Every woman empowered and joyous in her very own version of femininity, strength, and flair!
Here in Vienna, this dream seems perfectly attainable! A vision of swirling, beautiful pink, flitting through the grand plazas and historic squares. Donāt worry my lovelies, it wouldnāt be quite so literally in Vienna, after all, one can go too farā¦ but I can't help but think this city, with its waltz-like energy and exquisite craftsmanship, would embrace the playful energy of the pink tutu just perfectly!
And Now, Some Tea
Well, darlings, my clock is ticking! Time for some delicious Viennese tea! My dearest readers, stay tuned! Next week, I'll be spilling all about the treasures I discovered in the hidden shops of Vienna, and showing off that gorgeous new tutu. Donāt worry, it will involve a lot of swirling and dancing ā this city practically begs for a spin!
Stay radiant and, of course, be sure to put on your favourite pink tutu - even if just for a twirl around the living room!
Until next week, darling, Emma xx
