Wednesday 24th January 2007
Hello my darling darlings! It's Emma, back from a whirl around the gorgeous, grand, and oh-so-stylish city of Vienna, where the cobblestones echo with the click-clack of my pink ballet shoes. The Austrian capital, a city drenched in waltzes and imperial grandeur, has completely captivated this tutu-wearing girl. It's like stepping right into a vintage fairytale, filled with elaborate palaces, charming coffee houses, and of course, a vibrant ballet scene that has stolen my heart!
I know some of you are thinking: āVienna, Emma? Why not Paris? Isnāt that more ballerina-worthy?ā Well, youād be surprised! Vienna is the cradle of the Viennese Waltz ā think Strauss, think Strauss waltzes, think the elegance of twirling dancers! And it doesnāt stop there; the city also boasts a rich history of ballet and dance, dating back to the 17th century. You simply canāt talk about ballet without talking about Vienna. Itās as fundamental as tutus and pointe shoes.
Speaking of pointe shoes, I found a divine little shoe shop on my first afternoon here! Nestled down a cobblestoned alleyway, āThe Ballerinaās Boxā is a shop that literally smells of shoe polish, dance history, and, I think, a smidge of magical pixie dust. I spent at least an hour just breathing in the air, trying on various pointe shoes (yes, I always try them on!), and, naturally, I bought a beautiful pair. These beauties are going to be perfect for my debut at the āCafe Central,ā where they hold open air waltz evenings on Friday. How exciting is that?!
Speaking of Friday, the highlight of the week will be, of course, seeing the Vienna State Opera. This year, the opera house has a rather incredible lineup, including some of the greats - Swan Lake, La Traviata, even a performance of Romeo and Juliet. Iām lucky enough to have tickets to Swan Lake this week. Can you imagine, waltzing in my pink tutu with all the grand Vienna women, enjoying the exquisite artistry of the swans? I'm practically quivering with excitement! And yes, of course, I'm going to take lots of photos for my lovely blog readers! Don't you worry about that!
My travel funds, you ask? You know I'm keeping the "pink" in my pink tutu! A little performance at a small local theatre earlier this week ā imagine me performing to the sound of the Danube River, with Viennaās stunning architecture as my backdrop ā paid for all the goodies: the shoe shop spree, tickets to the opera, and even a charming coffee at the Cafe Central. Not to mention the gorgeous pink outfit I bought in a lovely shop in the "Schwanenmarkt", a lovely little flea market, full of trinkets and vintage delights.
This evening Iām going to take a break from all the excitement to learn about the history of Viennese dance, and have dinner with some very interesting fellow dancers. Don't worry - Iām sure they will understand when I tell them I only travel by horse or train ā the sound of wheels makes it so much easier to plan a ballet step or two. Weāll also be visiting the Austrian National Library tomorrow - not a traditional place for ballet lovers, but their art collection is simply magnificent.
But, the highlight of my Viennese waltz has to be the kindness and friendliness of the people. I havenāt felt so at home anywhere since Derbyshire. I donāt speak German very well, but they have been so welcoming! And to top it off, the sheer magic of Vienna!
A little tip for fellow pink-tutu enthusiasts visiting Vienna:
Donāt be shy, pop on your best pink tutu (a little glitz doesnāt hurt!), and go for a twirl on the Hofburg Palace Square. Youāll have the time of your life and might even find your waltz partner!
Stay tuned, my dears. There are plenty of pink delights awaiting you here in Vienna! Until next week!
Much love,
Emma xo
