Hello darlings! It's Wednesday, and you know what that means... another magical instalment of my Vienna adventures, ready to flutter your tulle!
This week, I'm taking you right to the heart of Vienna, the city of waltzes and wonder! Honestly, darling, this city feels like a dream come true - and just as dreamy, a little pink tutu slipped into my suitcase alongside my sequined shoes. Vienna, it seems, is perfectly tailored for twirling, from the graceful curves of the grand palaces to the elegant cobbled streets echoing with the rhythms of Strauss waltzes.
But first, a quick update on my life in the whirl of a pink tutu. As you know, I fund these fabulous travels with my dance performances - and this week was a truly lovely affair! We performed Giselle for a private charity ball - an exquisite audience of sophisticated swans, complete with jewels and feathered boas! It was a real dream come true, and after all those elegant fouettƩs, I felt I'd earned every delectable Viennese pastry imaginable!
And Vienna is indeed a pastry paradise. Each morning begins with a glorious trip to a quaint little cafĆ© for GebƤck and a strong, aromatic coffee. The pastry chef there seems to understand my pink obsession, because every time, the display is dotted with a few delightfully pink rose macarons! As I enjoy my little treat, watching the locals rushing by on their morning commute, I feel like Iām a little princess observing the world from my fairytale balcony.
Tutu Time: From The Royal Opera House to The Danube River
Right, onto the big story of the week - the Tutu Expedition at the Vienna State Opera House! The grand, gold-trimmed opera house itself felt like a magnificent tutu in itself, a shimmering vision of beauty and tradition. This time, however, the spotlight wasn't on my own twirls, but on the amazing history of tutus. You see, darlings, I just adore exploring the history of our cherished ballet outfits - from their earliest appearances in 16th-century Italian ballet to their modern evolution.
Viennaās Royal Opera House, established in 1741, played a pivotal role in this dance revolution. And as I gazed up at the ornate, gilded ceiling of the theatre, imagining all the exquisite dancers and ballets that had graced its stage over centuries, I felt a surge of inspiration. My research revealed fascinating insights about how the classic tutu became the essential, iconic dance wear we know and love today. From Marie Taglioni's revolutionary "romantics" of the early 19th century, wearing tulle that allowed for effortless leaps, to the graceful line of tutus that accompanied the dramatic tales of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, every period has shaped our tutu-verse.
After an enthralling exhibition, we made our way across Vienna's captivating, heart-filled streets, towards the graceful banks of the Danube River. Imagine, dear readers, walking along the beautiful Danube River on a brisk winter evening, as the twilight hues set the water alight! There, I stumbled upon a beautiful, vintage shop brimming with treasures - just my kind of place, of course!
Within seconds, I was entranced by a truly remarkable find: a beautiful, old-fashioned, hand-stitched ballet dress with delicate lace ruffles and a splash of pink ribbons around the bodice! This exquisite, one-of-a-kind piece whispered the history of generations of ballerinas, and its ethereal presence set my imagination twirling. It would be a lovely addition to my already rather magnificent collection!
Vienna's Dancing Charm: The Power of the Tutu
One of the things I love about Vienna is how the history and charm of the city permeates every moment, especially when it comes to the love for dance! Itās woven into the fabric of Viennaās cultural life, as deeply rooted as the ancient cobblestone streets and grand architecture.
And with the power of my pink tutu, I'm making a splash, turning heads wherever I go! From my whimsical tea parties at the cafe Sacher, with their famous chocolate torte, to taking leisurely carriage rides along Viennaās ring road, itās amazing how people just smile and cheer, charmed by my delightful, swirling, tulle delight. My dear readers, it truly feels like Vienna has embraced me - tutu, and all!
This weekend, Vienna was set aglow with the magic of Christmas! Itās one thing to feel the magic of Christmas, but itās an entirely different thing to be IN Vienna for Christmas! The markets, brimming with hand-crafted gifts and delicious seasonal treats, shimmered with lights. A magical festive energy radiated from every cobbled street, with twinkling carols drifting from every doorway. And then thereās the most beautiful ice skating rink at the Rathaus (Town Hall), which looks straight out of a Christmas postcard.
Oh, and speaking of post-Christmas celebrations, my new Viennese friend, Amelia, has taken me on an adventure through the most exquisite chocolateries Vienna has to offer. Think chocolate sculptures that melt your heart (and your tastebuds!) - we've been on a sweet, sugar-spun odyssey to say the least! Amelia tells me this is just the beginning of our adventures.
Finding The 'Tutu-est' Spots In Vienna
So what is a pink-tutu-loving blogger doing this week, you might wonder? Letās just say that Vienna is making me twirl with joy. As you already know, finding beautiful places to dance, in pink, is essential to my job. So I've been indulging my tutu-obsessed self by exploring the hidden gems of Vienna, searching for the perfect place for a waltz, a pirouette or two, or maybe just a grand jetĆ© in my oh-so-pink attire!
Vienna is just teeming with potential "tutu spots." Just think, darling, of the enchanting Baroque gardens like Schƶnbrunn, where a ballerina can twirl amongst the roses, surrounded by history and serenity, or the Belvedere Palace with its glorious, sprawling landscapes, an architectural masterpiece that inspires every artistic soul, ballerina included, of course! There are, too, elegant parks, such as the Stadtpark and Burggarten, where I can feel my tutu blending in perfectly, embraced by the delicate beauty of nature, while the gentle strains of a waltz, perhaps from a street musician, dance around me.
And as if that weren't enough, dear readers, I have been so lucky to discover the most spectacular secret Viennese ballet studio, hidden away in the heart of the old town, nestled amongst the cobblestones. There, beneath the chandeliers, surrounded by vintage posters of iconic ballerinas like Anna Pavlova and Isadora Duncan, I found myself dancing among local enthusiasts and ballet school students! Just imagine: me, a little Derbyshire girl in a pink tutu, in the midst of this magical world of ballet in Vienna, feeling utterly inspired. And, honestly, a little bit more at home than I ever imagined I could be.
A Farewell From Viennaā¦ For Now
Well, darlings, that's my Vienna chronicle for this week! I hope you've enjoyed joining me on my pink-tutu adventures in this majestic city. I have the feeling that this is just the beginning of my journey here, but next week I must, with a little regret, be leaving to embark on my next ballet adventure, one which will hopefully take me closer to my ultimate goalā¦ getting everyone in the world wearing a pink tutu!
So stay tuned for more captivating travelogues, enchanting ballerina stories, and more of my adventures, right here on www.pink-tutu.com, every Wednesday! Until next time, keep those tutus twirling!
Much Love, Emma.
P.S. If you have any thoughts on the "Tutu-est" spots in Vienna, or indeed any of the magical places you've been, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Until then, I shall leave you with my very favorite quote by the remarkable ballet icon, Mikhail Fokine: āA dancer is not a machine, and one of the dancerās first necessities is to be human, a human being.ā Happy dancing!
