Hello darlings! It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another instalment of the Pink Tutu Vienna blog! Today, I'm sitting in a charming little café on the Ringstrasse, sipping on a latte that is pinker than my tutu. Oh yes, it's true, you are truly reading about me, Emma, the girl who dreams of a world where everyone twirls in pink tutus!
Vienna! What a beautiful, beautiful city. I just adore its history and architecture, from the majestic Hofburg Palace to the elegant Schönbrunn. The whole place seems to be dripping in romance and magic - just like a fairytale! But, of course, as Iâm always looking for the pinkest of pink things, Vienna has a real special place in my heart - did you know that pink used to be considered a manâs colour back in the 1700s? I was quite surprised to read that myself, actually. So, just imagine! All those dashing, pink men strutting their stuff in Vienna back in the day! Just divine! Now that's a style I wouldn't mind seeing a comeback for, donât you think?
Anyway, back to Vienna! You really should visit. Oh, it is truly so delightful, but in case you canât make it anytime soon, hereâs what you missed in Vienna this week from my fabulous pink tutu-clad point of view:
Wednesday - Viennese Delights & Dancing Divas!
I woke up this morning, feeling refreshed after a blissful night spent sleeping in my favourite tutu-shaped silk pajamas, and immediately hit the streets, my new pair of sparkly pink ballet flats clicking cheerfully on the cobbles. Today was about finding the most fabulous outfits for my Viennese ballet escapades! As luck would have it, I stumbled across this hidden gem of a shop called âThe Pink Elephantâ. Honestly, darlings, youâd think Iâd died and gone to heaven, so much pink was everywhere! I practically lived in that shop for the rest of the day. I finally picked out a new outfit for this evening - a flowy, blush-coloured silk gown paired with the most adorable pink lace bolero jacket you ever did see, adorned with pearls, naturally! You see, pearls and tutus just go together. It's the perfect way to bring out a ballet-lover's inner princess. After an extravagant lunch ( Viennese cakes, my lovelies - divine!), I headed to the Vienna State Opera. You simply must visit it! Oh my heavens, you won't be surprised to hear, there wasn't a single ballet performance scheduled, which was a tad disappointing if I'm honest, so I decided to make a day of it instead. There was so much to see and discover. After touring the gorgeous interior and falling in love with the lavish golden architecture, I got to visit the incredible library with all its historical books! Then, to complete my cultural exploration, I headed over to the Museum of Musical Instruments! Such a wonderful collection of stringed, wind, and keyboard instruments from every era and across the world. My favourite instrument was a beautifully crafted violin. So elegant! Oh, darlings, it's all just breathtaking. But as much as I was enjoying all of this historical wonder, a part of me was dying to twirl! So I slipped on my favourite pink tutu, yes this one - with the added sparkle! - and headed out to the sprawling Schönbrunn Gardens to practice my ballet moves beneath the magnificent statues and monuments. No one could stop me.
Thursday - A Tale of Two Trains & a Charming Coffee Break
For my day trip adventure, I chose to ride a charming little train on the Wienerwald Bahn line to the beautiful spa town of Baden, which is about 25 miles south of Vienna. It was such a delight! I had to get up extra early this morning so that I could get to the train station before anyone else, simply so that I could sit by the window and be surrounded by lush green rolling countryside as I traveled. Such an enchanting, peaceful way to travel, it really does take you right back to another era, which is all the more fun. Once in Baden, I spent the afternoon browsing shops and discovering quaint cafes. I picked up the most adorable, miniature vintage hat in pink of course! And I indulged in the best apricot cake, oh the deliciousness! What else can a girl want, really? I've been in a right flap with myself all day over my new, absolutely gorgeous ballet shoes. What a glorious sight! A pink and silver colour scheme is divine, wouldnât you say? Itâs actually pretty good that my day trip out meant I got a little bit more time to enjoy the gorgeous weather too, because as we know - a little sun is good for the skin! And every ballerina must protect her skin for optimal twinkle-ability!
Friday - Horses, Heels, and a Romantic Dinner
The only thing more divine than seeing a beautiful white horse is riding one. What can I say? It's just one of those life joys! You should come see! Oh my goodness, you have no idea how beautiful and breathtaking this area of Vienna really is. A day of riding through Vienna Woods felt more like something out of a painting than real life! You can take horse riding tours here in Vienna, in stunning grounds, too! And theyâll even dress you up! Youâd think they were prepared for me, but this isnât always the case, darling, because a real pink tutu would really make it an outfit to remember! Anyway, back to horses! I did try out a riding outfit, you can probably guess that it had lots of pink in it and a touch of glitter! I had such a delight trotting across these glorious meadows. Just imagine, darling, a horse galloping, in an English country park setting! But it's all possible here in Vienna! And youâd think the day was over! But youâd be so wrong. After riding itâs definitely time to put those little shoes on for dancing, and tonight was extra special, as it was my final night in Vienna and it was time for opera. My outfit had to be exquisite and perfect - so I picked a white floor-length gown, just a dash of pink, with a large pink sash to tie it all in and of course - pink stilettos! The Vienna State Opera House really does create the most amazing ambiance for any evening, so I dressed to impress! Naturally. The performance was phenomenal - it was Turandot, a romantic tale about the powerful and elusive princess, and the young man who longs for her hand in marriage. The sets, the costumes, the singers, the musicians â it was a truly awe-inspiring spectacle! There is absolutely no comparison to live ballet or opera and a film. Nothing can truly beat that in-person thrill and it just adds to the overall romance of a Vienna evening. My favourite part of it was when the cast all came on stage for the curtain call. The energy in the room was just electric - all those delighted faces in the audience... And I even almost managed to hold in the screams. This truly was one of the most beautiful evenings of my whole life, Vienna has definitely captured my heart!
Saturday â Farewell, Vienna, and Hello Derbyshire!
Today is a bit more subdued than last night's opera. Well, it had to be, itâs a travel day, and as every fashionista knows, getting ready to travel requires a considerable investment in a wardrobe, it's practically an artform! And so it was. I woke up to the wonderful scent of Viennese pastries (naturally - what else can a girl do in Vienna?) and my last croissant before heading to the train station! Then waving goodbye to this magnificent city that I loved! But now I was headed home, to Derbyshire, which in itself feels almost romantic. You know, thereâs nothing quite as special as arriving home after a trip and getting ready to relax and start thinking about all the fun I'll have the next time I head out on my travels! Oh, Vienna, I already miss you, darling! What adventures are in store for you next? What pink wonders await me? The world is just too full of them to be missed... And for now - back to reality, which for me, will involve wearing one of my 102 tutus and finally getting some peace in a peaceful, little bit more relaxed English garden⊠Oh my tutu! This next week just canât come fast enough!
*Catch you all *next Wednesday for a new blog post!*
Don't forget, if you do visit, find me! We might even go shopping, my lovelies! But I warn you, my favourite colours are: Pink.
XOXO,
Emma
P.S. And just so you know⊠My pink tutus really *are real. It's not a phase.*
