‘So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it / You’ve got no reason to be afraid / You’re on your own, kid / Yeah you can face this’-Taylor Swift

If you’re thinking wasn’t Kelly just in England, yes, yes I was. Prior to my winter holiday trip, I spontaneously bought a ticket to see Liam Gallagher in Manchester in the summer. Well summer arrived and I almost did not go. I originally had an in person summer class and some financial stuff that popped up so I was just going to be sad and not go. Then FOMO started hitting hard so I tried making it work but couldn’t justify financially as I would have to fly out locally due to a very short window of days (ie hundreds of extra dollars) due to my summer class. But my in person class shifted to online and it opened up options. I talked to my dad who encouraged me to go for it. So I did. I had enough points for a one way flight out of Dallas to London (then a train up to Liverpool) and a cheap flight back home again from Paris. In the span of about a week, I went from being very sad to boarding an American Airlines flight across the pond.

As it so happened, while the purpose was the concert in Manchester, I also wanted to go to Liverpool. You know who also wanted to go to Liverpool…Taylor Swift! I am a huge Swiftie, have been listening to her albums since before her first was released, and as we’re similar ages, the experiences described in her songs have matched what I was going through. I have even quoted her songs to my therapist. I was fortunate to have seen The Eras Tour in Dallas but it was at a weird time in my life (and apparently hers). I had a cancer scare last spring and had had my biopsy the day before the concert. It turned out okay but a cloud was cast on the show. Turns out she was also going through a break up/rebound that would inspire her most relatable album, The Tortured Poets Department. So I wanted to see the show again.

Since I was arriving in the UK on Thursday morning, I snagged a ticket via Viagogo (owned by StubHub) for Friday. It was going to be a standing room only floor, which made me nervous as I did not want to get there early and do the barricade life (a friend did do that for the London show and said it was pretty miserable although worth it). I looked it up and saw a TikTok of a woman who went to the show in Paris and stood in the back where it was still great. So I bought that seat and then got sucked into conspiracies that the Thursday night show might be an announcement. Even though it meant that I would be up for close to 36 hours (and a brief nap), I purchased a last minute, pretty cheap seat for that. When I sat down though, a tent was blocking my view so Anfield Park employee offered to move me (it was not a Viagogo issue but where the stadium put tents). The seat was further to the side and not as good as the one I had which was dead center of the lower bowl but I could see and I was grateful. I will say, the seats at Anfield are TINY! I am 5’11 and I was very squished. Stood most of the show but something to be aware of. While it was the 100th show, the only announcement was the tour was definitely ending at the end of the year. So the wait for Debutation continues!

Friday, after waking up at 11 am, I explored Liverpool a bit. I hadn’t been since I was a kid. The city was a full on Swiftie mode and lots of displays around the city. I ate some breakfast and headed to the port. I with my lunch from Marks and Spencer (their chicken poke bowls are something I dream about), I sat on a bench overlooking the water. I then headed to the famed Beatles statues before visiting the Museum of Popular Music, it was kind of expensive and very eh. They did have a special exhibit of the Spice Girls and some musical artifacts (it was also funny to see so much on Buddy Holly, who is from near where I currently live) but overall, I thought the museum in Dublin was much better. Right around the corner was the famed Cavern Club (there’s also a tavern and a pub), you descend down in to the basement area where someone was playing a musical history of the space. Obviously it is most famous for the Beatles but a lot of musicians have played there and artifacts are all around. It was cool to see things from Adele and Oasis. After a cider and another stop to grab dinner from Marks and Spencer, I headed to Taylor night 2!

I walked to Anfield both nights, it was about 1.5 miles from my hotel in the center of Liverpool, super easy and I felt very safe as many had the same idea I did. The floor area was AMAZING!! The views were unreal and I met some lovely ladies and we had the best time! I was given some friendship bracelets (even though I didn’t have any to give) and just a truly incredible. Taylor was happy, I was thrilled, and even got a rain show! I was so close and just to feel the music…it was such a different vibe from the Dallas show. The surprise songs were epic, I heard Maroon, The Great War and You’re Losing Me, three of four of my favorite songs off Midnights (You’re on Your Own, Kid is my favorite). I may have cried a little bit. I am just so grateful that I was able to go and, turn away dad, did think about getting a tattoo to commemorate…I still might…

Then a solid night sleep before heading off to Manchester for the next couple of days.