There are certain trips that stay with you long after your plane touches back down at home.

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My five days in Warsaw, Poland, to see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour was one of those. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a magical experience wrapped in a beautiful, vibrant city that felt like something out of a dream that “[I’ll] remember [all] too well.”

I’ll never forget stepping off the plane and into Warsaw, with James by my side - more excited than I’ve been in SUCH a long time.

Warsaw was even more gorgeous than I imagined, a perfect blend of old-world charm and modernity. The streets were pristine, the buildings grand yet inviting, and the public transportation was, honestly, a dream. The tram stop was conveniently right outside our hotel, and it made getting around the city not only easy but fun - especially with everything written in both Polish and English making things fun, yet super helpful.

And I’ll never get over how welcoming the people were. I figured a heard of us Swifties taking over their city for a weekend would make the locals feel iffy about having us as guests, but if that really were the case, we never knew it. For days before and after the show, the city was completely taken over by Swifties - all of us in our merch and bracelets and some even flaunting their show outfits around the city. It was quite the spectacle. But even with that craziness all around, everyone was so incredibly helpful and inviting - all apart from the one old woman who yelled at me because I couldn’t figure out what direction to go in one of the museums. LOL oops - the joys a being a tourist, I guess.

James and I packed in so much sightseeing that by the end of the trip our whole bodies ached from all the walking. One of the highlights of the trip, apart from the concert (obviously), was exploring Warsaw’s stunning castles. Walking through the Royal Castle and the Wilanów Palace, I felt like I’d stepped into a fairytale. The history and beauty of these places were breathtaking, every corner holding stories of the past.

We also visited the POLIN Museum and the Fryderyk Chopin Museum, and as someone who enjoys music, it was incredible to learn about one of Poland’s most beloved composers. We even got to enjoy a small cozy concert of Chopan, Debussy and others by a fabulous young local Pianist.

But nothing could top the night of the Eras Tour concert; we were at Warsaw Night 3. Taylor Swift truly knows how to put on a show, and being surrounded by Swifties from all over the world made it even more special. “[The] night [was] sparkling, [I won’t] let it go...” The most heartwarming part of the night was exchanging friendship bracelets. I had made around 40 before the trip and wasn't sure what to expect, but the joy of handing them out to strangers, both inside and outside the stadium, was pure magic. I literally saw security guards at local exhibits and baristas in the coffee shops wearing them. I’ll cherish the ones that were given to me (and the other little trinkets I collected from the night) forever.

We showed up super early to the show and waited in anticipation for that little clock to count us down. And as they say, nothing compares to the moment that you see that countdown end and the “Lover” set starts… 💖🪩🧣✨🐍

James and I had the best time dancing and singing along to our favorites and I waited patiently for our surprise song set - we got "Today Was a Fairytale" and "I Think He Knows" mashup, and "The Black Dog" and "Exile" mashup. As expected, “Midnights” was my favorite set of the show and I will relive seeing “Vigilante Shit” in person in the back of my mind forever.

It was also such a wonderful treat hearing Taylor address the audience in Polish nearly every time she spoke. While I had no clue what she was saying, seeing the Poles go wild for it was a special treat. After the show, we watched as our bracelets continued to light up for hours afterward helping keep the moment alive for as long as possible.

Of course, the food in Warsaw deserves a moment.

On the first night, we decided to try something familiar—Domino’s. And, to my surprise, it was better than any Domino’s I’ve had back in the U.S. They have this garlic bread with cheese and pepperoni that is truly to die for. Maybe it was the fresher ingredients, or that we had been traveling for a whole day and that was our first real meal, or just the fact that we were finally in Poland, but whatever the reason, it just hit differently.

The breakfasts were next-level too - if you haven’t ever tried Miodownik cake (a Polish walnut honey cake), this is your sign to do so. I couldn’t get enough - I ate gobbled it up every single morning.

But the real culinary highlight came on the way home. We stopped at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at LHR and I had the best buffalo chicken burger of my life. That burger changed my life and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since - I think I might coordinate a layover in London in the future just to taste it again. 🤤

As we boarded the plane home, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of nostalgia already creeping in. “[It’s like] time won’t fly, it’s like I’m paralyzed by it...” The trip had been more than I ever imagined—Warsaw itself had dazzled me, and the Eras Tour was everything I hoped for and more. Warsaw, “I was enchanted to meet you…”

This trip, with its castles, concerts, and connections, was nothing short of magical. And as I sit here reminiscing, I can’t help but smile, knowing that Warsaw will always hold a special place in my heart. “I’ve got a blank space, [Warsaw Eras], and I’ll write your name.”