“One thing we tried to do is leverage the destination she talks about in her songs,” she says. “So for instance, in London, the trip managers will be able to share destinations that she mentions in the song, what to go see, Camden Market, all of that stuff.”
Fazeli also established herself as a sort of tour guide for Americans before the concert in Lyon, starting a Facebook group for the concert that ballooned to more than 17,000 members. In it she shared tips like how to get to the show, where to stay, and advice such as “A little ‘bonjour’ goes a long way.” She’s also been coaxing Swifties to drop some of their Yankee tendencies. Like, guys, you really don’t need a car.
“People are like, ‘Oh, how do we drive in Lyon?’” she says. “I’m like, ‘Ugh. Chill, breathe, eat, and enjoy your time here.’”
As is common in Swift-themed online spaces, the group soon morphed from logistics and questions to the collective sharing of emotions and excitement about the experience. Fanatics are nearly universally emotionally invested in both Swift and her music, and for many, the chance to embark on such a big excursion is extra special because it’s tied to her.
Some have planned their trips to honor loved ones. One member of Fazeli’s group, Rosell Novelliere, traveled with her brother Alex, himself a mega-Swiftie, to the June 2 concert as a tribute to their mother, who died last year. They brought along Rosell’s husband and two young children, as well as some family friends, to the show.
Rosell tells me that none of the family members were able to purchase tickets in the US, so her brother went on the hunt to get a ticket for an international show.
“My mom, her nurse, my brother, and I all laughed at the lengths he was going to,” she says.
After their mother passed away last summer, it all came together. Rosell was able to snag tickets on what would have been their mom’s 63rd birthday.
“This trip is a way to honor our mother and to say goodbye to her,” the siblings tell me. “We know that it will be a very emotional trip, but we are hoping to make a memorable one that will bring some healing.”
Nicholson put it simply when asked what the trip meant to her. “Le monde entier. ‘The whole world.’ Seriously, pinch me because I must be dreaming,” she says.
