Vienna, Austria (CNN) After more than a year of planning and dreaming of seeing the Elas Tour in person, I found myself surrounded by thousands of fellow Swifties singing my favorite Taylor Swift songs.
But since I wasn’t at her concert at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, the lyrics of “Death by a Thousand Cuts” struck me even deeper than usual. Instead, I found myself among a crowd of wailing fans on Stephansplatz in Vienna’s city center. The concert we had tickets for was abruptly canceled less than 24 hours later due to a credible threat of a terrorist attack.
I spent hours singing Taylor Swift songs and exchanging bracelets with other sober fans in the plaza. My husband Dan and I headed out to see St. Stephen’s Cathedral at the end of a week-long vacation planned around the Hellas Tour. That night, we happened to stumble upon a large impromptu gathering for collective mourning.
Plan your Eras tour 1 year in advance
A year ago, I tried to buy tickets to one of Swift’s three concerts in Atlanta, but I couldn’t get them. Tickets were resold at astronomical prices, even for nosebleed seats. Not that it bothers me, but I had a second child, a 2 month old suckling, so I didn’t think I could be away for more than 5 hours.
When the European leg of the tour was announced for summer 2024, my husband and I were able to travel to European cities to see the Elas Tour for about the same price or less than buying resale tickets in the US. I realized that I could do it. Third Party Seller.
By that time, my children will be 1 and 3 years old, so I think it would be safer to leave them with family. I applied for presale codes for several European cities and only received one code for Vienna. And I was able to use the pre-sale code to purchase floor seats for my husband and me.
But this trip wasn’t just for Taylor Swift. This adventure was the first time I left my kids overnight and the first solo trip for my husband and I in four years. My mother and mother-in-law agreed to fly to Atlanta from out of state to watch the kids for a week.
I went to Europe to meet Swift.
I strategically planned the Elas tour to be the last of my week-long trip to Austria to ensure I had enough time to arrive in Vienna in case of any mishaps during the trip. Our vacation included going on the official Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg and singing show songs on a tour bus in the Austrian Alps. Ride the cable car up Mount Untersberg and hike to the top. Before heading to Vienna, we visited Mozart’s childhood home.
The night before the concert, I opened the Vienna Elas Tour Facebook group on my phone and saw an announcement that all three shows of the Elas Tour in Vienna had been canceled due to suspected terrorist attacks. . I hurriedly checked the news and eventually found that it had been called off and the suspect had been arrested.
I was shocked that I probably wouldn’t be able to see the Elas tour, relieved that there were no injuries or trauma from the terrorist attack, and stressed that I had spent so much money to see an event that never happened. .
The next day, given rumors that a potential suspect is still at large and local news sources advising people not to wear Taylor Swift merchandise in public, we… I didn’t know what to do. In the end, we decided to make the most of our last day abroad and visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
As we emerged from the subway station, we were surprised to find that thousands of disappointed fans had gathered to organize their own Eras tour. I quickly joined in and immediately felt an uplift as I shared stories, exchanged bracelets, and sang together with many people experiencing the same emotions. Ta.
Still, it was disappointing not to be able to see Swift live. There will be more tours to come, but this one will include snippets from all 11 of her studio albums, each of which reminded me of a different time in my life. Her music has inspired me, given me confidence, and helped me deal with various issues over the past 18 years. I was worried that my relationship with my favorite artist would bring more sadness than joy. So, when I got home, I started looking online for tickets for the remaining North American shows. I wanted to go even by myself.
The face value of my VIP floor seat in Vienna was $600. Seats in the same section for remaining shows in the U.S. and Canada are listed for up to $10,000. Even a seat with nosebleeds or partial visibility can cost more than $3,000, including fees. There was no way to justify paying that price.
I finally checked out the rest of Swift’s shows in London, the last stop on her European tour, on StubHub. Prices were still above par, but not comparable to prices in the United States or Canada. I realized I could buy tickets, hotels, and flights to London all for less than the price of a single US ticket.
To my surprise, my husband and everyone I talked to encouraged me to go solo. I had all my reservations done within a few hours and was back in Europe within 48 hours.
Unlike my trip to Austria, I boarded the plane to London without any planning. The day before I left, a large tree fell on our house, leaving a hole in the kitchen and my daughter’s bedroom.
All the free time available was spent cleaning up water and debris, calling insurance agents, and feeling guilty about leaving my husband alone with the kids while I braved off to the UK. was directed to. He assured me that I should go and reminded me that tickets and hotels are non-refundable. Despite having lots of tarps and buckets, I hugged everyone goodbye and began my solo adventure.
I arrived in London early on August 19th, giving me a day to adjust to the time difference and do some sightseeing. Being alone for the first time in years without any plans was both exhilarating and terrifying. I also can’t remember the last time I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted for an entire day.
After checking into our hotel, we strolled through Hyde Park to Kensington Palace. Then my aunt sent me an email about a special Taylor Swift exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
I loved walking through the “Songbook Trail” exhibition. It’s a mile-long journey that winds through the museum, visiting 13 locations. Each stop represented an era and featured costumes and memorabilia worn by performers in music videos, concerts, and award ceremonies.
The next day I left early to get in line to enter Wembley Stadium. Our floor tickets for the European leg of the tour didn’t have seats, so we wanted to be as close to the stage as possible. I took a spot in front of the diamond, in the section of the stage where most of the show takes place. I was about 20 yards from the stage, squished into a sea of Swifties covered in glitter and sequins.
When the dancers appeared wearing giant fans, I could see everyone around me getting excited. I was still full of anxiety, worried that somehow Swift would never be able to make it to the stage after all the effort and money it had taken to get here. I had planned my trip to Austria to the last detail, but it ended in chaos.
When the dancers pulled back the fans and Swift emerged in a dazzling pink and orange bodysuit and boots, I had a hard time believing my spontaneous adventure was real. I felt a wave of relief and felt that chasing my dreams to get to this point was all worth it.
The show was just as engaging and full of surprises as I had hoped. Swift performed “Florida!!!” for the first time. With Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine. (This song is my husband’s favorite from Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, so I was disappointed that he couldn’t see it performed live.)
Swift also brought out her songwriting partner and producer Jack Antonoff on the acoustic section to sing some of her favorite songs they wrote together. I couldn’t believe it when they started singing. Swift immediately launched into “Death by a Thousand Cuts.” This song is my favorite song and the one I’ve been dreaming of hearing her perform for over a year.
Eleven days ago, I was holding back tears as I sang this song in Vienna, thinking about how much I wanted to see her perform it, and now she was singing it right in front of me. I did.
As the ending music video finished and the lights came up, I felt so happy and grateful that, with the help of so many loved ones, I was able to turn my own sadness and disappointment into a once-in-a-lifetime solo adventure. I was full of emotions. Taylor Swift showcased 11 different eras of her life and career on this tour, and she inspired me to embrace spontaneity, the unknown, and enter a new era of myself.
CNN Wire
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