Hello my lovely readers!
It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another exciting adventure from your favourite pink-loving ballerina blogger, right here on www.pink-tutu.com!
This week I'm in Vienna, Austria, the city of waltzes, Mozart, and beautiful architecture! I must confess, darling, that I've had a completely "pink tutu-ful" time here so far, and I'm sure this blog will inspire you to put on your very own pink tutu and come join me.
Journey by Train
After a whirlwind trip to London last week, to see the exquisite designs in the Victoria and Albert museum's "Tutus Through Time" exhibition (must go if you can, absolutely magnificent!), I hopped on the Eurostar from London to Paris, a beautiful experience I must say! Trains always seem to lend a sense of magic and adventure to travelling, especially when you're wearing your very own pink tutu! From Paris I boarded another train heading directly to Vienna! The journey through Europe was just breathtaking, a journey I will never forget - I even spotted some gorgeous meadows that reminded me of my lovely Derbyshire home!
Viennaās Waltz Magic
As I stepped off the train and onto Vienna's Hauptbahnhof, the atmosphere was simply electrifying! It felt like I'd stepped into a romantic film, filled with waltzing couples, handsome men in black, and a delightful aura of glamour. It wasn't difficult to see how the city became synonymous with classical music and elegance.
I checked into a delightful little boutique hotel, not too far from the Stadtpark, where I quickly ditched my travel luggage and decided to take a leisurely stroll around Viennaās streets. Vienna has a certain timeless quality, and I absolutely adored wandering its elegant streets lined with pastel-coloured buildings. They felt as if they'd been frozen in time, reflecting a bygone era of grandeur.
My First Ballet Show In Vienna
Naturally, darling, my first port of call was the Vienna State Opera. Talk about a glorious building! The grand architecture and its incredible history make it truly majestic. You feel as if you've been transported to a grand ballet performance in a magical setting! My eyes popped open like a doll's when I saw the gorgeous floral displays in the grand lobby and all the fancy people, as if from a novel or a play, adorned with glittering diamonds, feathers, and stylish ensembles. I was ready to lose myself in the elegant atmosphere of Viennese theatre.
I saw a production of āSwan Lakeā with the Vienna State Opera Ballet and I am just utterly floored by how much passion and technique the dancers showed! It was mesmerizing, with such captivating artistry, a real theatrical treat for my ballerina soul. There's truly nothing quite like the sheer energy and beauty of ballet live, and especially with such exceptional talent in the Austrian capital. The elegant grace of the ballet company, the magnificent costumes and the dazzling decor all contributed to the stunning effect!
A Ballet History Adventure
As a ballerina at heart, I couldn't miss out on a visit to the Austrian Theatre Museum (the 'Theatermuseum'), which is like a time capsule of performing arts! I'm fascinated by how much tradition and culture surrounds ballet and theatre, and how history has evolved throughout the centuries. I particularly loved seeing the intricate and detailed costumes they displayed - a testament to the hard work of the costume designers. I was also in awe of the sketches and designs they exhibited for operas and ballets from long ago. They showed a stunningly intricate artistry and truly showed the importance of such detail! It really sparked a newfound appreciation in my heart, reminding me of the profound dedication and hard work that go into such incredible performances.
Vienna's Magical Melodies
No trip to Vienna is complete without a visit to the Schƶnbrunn Palace, which boasts impressive gardens and incredible history. My favourite spot was the Gloriette - such an idyllic view of the whole city! But, the place that truly captivated my heart was the Mozart House. You know how I mentioned that I love pink, right? This incredible house is actually painted the colour of my very own pink tutu, pink! My jaw almost dropped! You could sense Mozartās spirit in this remarkable home. I imagined him composing his masterpieces, waltzing in the halls. I could also see how Vienna became such a hotbed for creativity in the past, as if history itself was coming alive before my eyes.
The sound of Mozart's music seemed to echo through the streets, carried on the wind. In a small coffee shop near the house, I even got to hear some local musicians performing Mozartās symphonies, and as I sipped a warm cup of coffee, the whole experience felt magical, like a true ballet experience - except that no one was wearing tutus except for me! I tried to hold my tutus down a little so as not to attract too much attention, after all, my main objective was to make tutu wear a part of every day life. A tutu wearing dream that one day even I, your very own favourite ballerina, would be wearing my tutu, whilst enjoying a leisurely coffee break at a quaint Vienna coffee shop!
Pink Tutu Inspiration in Vienna
Vienna is truly a city that celebrates its art, its culture, and its history. I discovered some incredible fashion boutiques while I was strolling around and my very own pink tutu found its way into my luggage! I bought a stunning, fluffy pink tutu for a beautiful Viennese performance in front of Vienna State Opera. And as I was shopping, a sweet gentleman approached me and offered me some fresh, delicious cherries ā so typically Austrian.
He thought I looked charming and that my tutu really made the street more cheerful! (So maybe I do inspire people!) Of course, he just had to be my dancing partner that night, waltzing with me in the Stadtpark! The park is truly an oasis of beauty within Vienna. I can't get enough of it. It's as if the flowers were in a waltz themselves, with their colours blending so elegantly together, with such perfect balance and harmony - the pink tulips, the white blossoms, the soft pink lilies.
I simply fell in love with its romantic charm. The air was filled with laughter and joy as the band played Viennese waltz music, so romantic! As I twirled around in my pink tutu under the night sky with this charming man in a suit, I couldn't help but feel truly happy - all my travelling, all my passion for ballet and tutu-wear all felt like it was coming together in one wonderful moment in the Stadtpark in Vienna.
More than a Tutu
Vienna has a timeless elegance, which really inspired my thoughts about how we should think more about style and beauty, even in our everyday life. Vienna has this special something about it - maybe it's the architecture, the beautiful buildings and squares, the gardens, or the history and traditionā¦ or perhaps itās a combination of everything. It really made me think, if we look around us, if we look at everyday things with love and respect, thereās beauty everywhere and beauty always inspires a better version of ourselves, inside and out. I found myself constantly looking for things I could photograph - beautiful streetlights, colourful doors, majestic horse-drawn carriagesā¦ everywhere there was an inspiration for a special shot for my website, so as you can imagine, my camera never stopped clicking! You will have to wait to see those beautiful photos on my Instagram and on the website!
Leaving Vienna with a Tutu-filled Heart
I was already saying a little goodbye to Vienna after a full-on four days of enjoying myself like only a pink tutu-wearing ballerina could! As I prepared for my trip to my next adventure (donāt forget to check the next Wednesday blog to find out more!) and bid farewell to this amazing city, I had a little thought in my mind: what a pity it is that Vienna isn't always as "tutu-fied" as it should be. I know the "pink tutu" life isn't for everyone, but wouldn't it be fabulous if we could embrace the beauty and glamour of a ballet tutu with an open mind and an open heart? Why not experiment with some pink, let your personality blossom, and enjoy life with more joy? Perhaps, just maybe, in my quest to make the world a "pink tutu-ful" place, my time in Vienna will have left its own small magical touch on my followers...
Pink-Tutu in Vienna... it's been wonderful!
P.S. If you have a minute to spare, make sure you go and browse through my incredible tutu-inspired photos. Follow me on social media! Youāll be amazed by all the beauty, pink, and grace in the world, when you see them through the eyes of a "pink tutu" girl!
Emma
The "Pink-Tutu" Girl
