Trying to see Taylor Swift in Vienna

So, our trip to Vienna was supposed to be all about experiencing Taylor Swift with Christine. But guess what? Things didn’t quite go as planned.

Vienna was the perfect city for our Taylor Swift tour, and it fit perfectly into our schedules. We even managed to use some points to fly Business Class across the Atlantic. And my friends Pino and Masen were also going to be there.

The first part of our trip was a total breeze. We had an amazing time in Barcelona, and we were all set to head to Vienna after four days. But then, on our way to the airport, we got the news that the concert was canceled. At first, we were shocked, but then we realized that it was for the best.

I had already booked us tickets for the Friday show, so we were planning to see Taylor twice. But now, we’re stuck with a bit of disappointment. It’s a bummer that the concerts were canceled, not only for us but for all the fans who were so excited to see Taylor. But hey, at least we didn’t have to deal with a terrorist attack first hand. Things could have been much worse.

I’m currently flying home with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but I’m grateful that I didn’t have to experience that firsthand. It could have been a nightmare, and I’m happy that I’m not part of the side of history that could have been.

Despite the city’s somber mood, the fans still showed up, and the energy was off the charts! Not only is Vienna a beautiful city, but wherever we went, people were socializing, trading friendship bracelets, and singing Taylor songs. It was like Taylor’s music was everywhere! We couldn’t walk by a restaurant or bar without hearing a Taylor song. It made our sightseeing around the city so much fun.

We did take a break to visit one of the fan gatherings on Corneilousse street, a street that’s actually named like one of Taylor’s songs (Cornelious Street). The energy was electric as we walked through hundreds of people singing. One person in an apartment above had a speaker blasting music. This street had already become a favorite spot for Swifties, who’d drape the trees with friendship bracelets. People could take and leave bracelets.

As we left the area, we spotted another group running down the street. We waited to watch the new group collide with the original group, and it was so much fun to hear the cheers and singing start all over again. I’m sure that many bonds were made between these fans of all ages.

On a positive note, some spots opened their doors to Taylor fans. A burger place gave free burgers if you showed your ticket, many museums gave free admission, and Swarovski was giving out free surprise necklaces for those showing tickets.

Christine and I were late ticket buyers through Stubhub. We had some drama securing the tickets, but while we were in Barcelona, all of our tickets came through, and we were ready to go.

When the cancellation happened, we knew we were covered, but we weren’t sure how quickly we’d get our refund. Christine, who actually bought the tickets before I did, didn’t get the refund email, so we were a bit worried about how to get it. Throughout the days in Vienna, we kept checking her email for the notification, but nothing came through. Finally, on Saturday night, just before bed, she got the Stubhub email and the refund was initiated. What a coincidence!

Even though we didn’t get to see Taylor Swift in Vienna, we had an amazing time in Barcelona and Vienna. I’ll be writing up some details about those trips soon!