#PinkTutuVienna blog on 2015-02-11

Darling readers,

This Wednesday I’m writing to you from the heart of Vienna! Oh, Vienna, you are a dream! The imperial grandeur, the swirling waltzes, the pastries that melt in your mouth... I can practically hear the Strauss waltzes swirling around me. Honestly, you’ve already stolen a piece of my heart, even if I've only been here for two days.

I must confess, I haven't taken to my pink tutu yet, I want to respect the history of this gorgeous city and it doesn't feel quite right in a place where the colours are more traditional... beige, white, black and the rich gold of the Habsburgs. But trust me, when I slip it on for my ballet performance in the Hofburg this Saturday I will absolutely rock it! It will be the most beautiful performance, I promise! It feels amazing to be sharing this fabulous city with you and the very thought of dancing in this historic setting gets my toes tapping!

Getting here was quite an adventure. I took a train, a rather slow one to be honest, from Munich. I usually love taking trains to my travel destinations, and of course I travelled in style - pink scarf, naturally - and enjoyed a couple of hours spent gazing out of the window, sketching the countryside whizzing by. For this adventure I made an exception to my rule and added a dash of vintage pink eyeshadow to my face. When it was getting late I hopped off at a lovely old town called Dachau. After all, a blogger always finds the most enchanting places, even for a quick visit. I found a charming local pub that serves this beautiful pink gingerbread (my love for pink even extends to food). It made a fabulous travel stop for me.

My final stage into Vienna, the real reason for the trip of course, was a ride in a traditional horse-drawn carriage, with a lovely older gent dressed as a coachman. A dream! The horses were beautifully chestnut brown and their glossy coats looked gorgeous. My dear, he let me sit up with him in the front of the carriage as it slowly took me into the beautiful heart of the city. What a lovely day, filled with wonderful pink hues, delightful stories and so much excitement for what lies ahead! I am a lucky lady indeed!

The clothes in Vienna are fabulous! My favourite piece so far is this glorious little pink bolero. I paired it with a cream pencil skirt and a vintage hat. It is an excellent combo to fit in with the style here - a touch of old world elegance combined with some of my flair. Oh, Vienna, how you've stolen my heart! You really know how to dress up, just like me!

The shopping scene in Vienna is amazing! So many boutiques! Some of them even carry lovely vintage dresses, so reminiscent of those romantic Viennese ball scenes, only they were actually made with much less fabric! For the ultimate Viennese experience I also purchased a new silk scarf with a beautiful gold motif of roses and little gold leaves - very classy! You can never have too much silk and pink in your wardrobe and this scarf is perfect for evenings out.

The evenings are all about taking it slow, enjoying Vienna’s laid-back and relaxed vibe. I dined like royalty at a little restaurant I found by accident tucked away in a cobblestoned street in the Old City - they make delicious Sachertorte, absolutely divine! Vienna knows how to do sweets. They have even managed to create a delicious cake out of cherries! You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the delightful taste of a Vienna Cherry Cake with lashings of thick, fresh cream!

To say the least, Vienna's nightlife is simply fabulous! We walked across the grand ring road, strolled past the elegant Vienna State Opera House, where a spectacular ballet production of Swan Lake is showing tonight. Imagine! I would love to see that, however, it is a shame the schedule does not align with my schedule as I’m having my very own premiere this Saturday! Oh! Such excitement!

After several months of preparation I am absolutely buzzing about my Vienna premiere at the Hofburg! You may remember how nervous I was when I initially made the arrangements for my premiere and what a rush of emotions that brought back - butterflies and all. After hours of intense practice and costume fitting with the dancers and musicians, I can barely believe it is actually happening - how exciting! It is something I have been working toward for a long time and for the past three years I have worked hard to create beautiful choreographed ballet dances. Vienna was the only possible setting to debut my latest creation! So, this weekend, I will be sharing a beautiful tale of romance and light, filled with graceful choreography and breathtaking costumes. And it will be in pink, of course! I can't wait to tell you all about it next week!

I will try and keep my ballet shoes in order in anticipation for my grand entrance! That means no late nights or extra late night sweet treats this week (or so I am telling myself), as I really want to ensure that I dance perfectly.

In the meantime, let me tell you a little bit about the history of the beautiful city. This majestic city was established by the Romans, you know, just like London! It’s fascinating how some of these ancient cities still survive today, centuries after they were established. You could walk the same street, say, that was once part of a Roman settlement, if you only knew where to look.

And, Vienna has the imperial legacy of the Habsburgs, and their magnificent palace, Schönbrunn Palace. What a beautiful example of baroque architecture! It’s hard not to feel like royalty wandering through its gilded halls and lavish gardens. My friends have described Vienna as the capital of waltzing and culture!

I’ve seen glimpses of the palace on the walks I've been taking with my family every afternoon. You can always find the Hofburg Palace on the map if you just follow the cobblestoned lanes; it is just there! As we explore the heart of Vienna, it’s impossible to escape the elegant buildings and parks – all of them infused with the aura of Vienna’s royal history! You get the feeling that this beautiful city has been filled with lovely, charming stories throughout the years and you can practically smell the scent of historical drama hanging in the air as you stroll around. I find it fascinating that the architecture of this ancient city can actually seem to tell us the stories of those that lived there years and years ago! You don't just look at the buildings, but it is as though you are getting a glimpse into the lives of the people from the past. It's absolutely captivating!

As my visit draws to a close, I already feel the tug of nostalgia for this enchanting city! You really should put it on your travel wish list. There's no place on earth that can quite capture that Viennese waltz. However, the great news is I can share my journey with you, through these blog posts. What I lack in time I more than make up for with writing!

And dear readers, if I were to end my blog post with a question it would be this, do you love Vienna as much as I do? You should try to take the time to come and visit if you haven't already, and I'll be back next week to fill you in on all the details about my Hofburg performance. I really think you’re going to love this one!

I hope you’ve had a lovely week and are looking forward to next week’s post.

Your very best

Emma,

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