I’m staring at my computer screen right now, thinking, “Oh man. Where do I even start with this one?” So I guess I’ll just start. If you know me in real life or know of me through Home Free, you’ve most likely already heard of what a wild whirlwind our time in Europe was. So, I’ll spare you from having to read a “dear diary” travel blog describing what it was like. If you’re disappointed because you thought that’s what this blog entry would be, here is where I’ll link the videos I spent weeks working on: one & two. I think they do a pretty fantastic job of summing up the experience. Basically, it seemed like if something could go wrong, it did, and my job was to capture every second of it on film. Needless to say, I barely stopped moving.
Going back to Europe for the first time in seven years, and this time with two fancy cameras, I thought I’d be able to fill a photo album with all the photos I’d inevitably take. I brought like 8 rolls of film. Thought’d I’d go through all of them. I didn’t even finish one. That is how non-stop my job turned out to be. We made incredible memories and I think I can speak for everyone when I say we are happy to have had the experience and wouldn’t take it back, but between the weather, COVID-19, the tornado in Nashville, Adam being sick, our terrible bus driver making us late or causing us to get little sleep, throwing my back out on like day two, barely having any off days, and all the other little snafus, there was barely any down time to make the trip my own. The result is less photos to show you, which really just means hopefully I hold your attention until the end of this thing!
There’ll be just a small description for some photos,
but if you have any questions or want to know more about any specific photo,
that’s what the comment section is for down below!
***To make it not so overwhelming to view, I created little galleries for each day.
Click on the first photo of each gallery and you can click through the photos at full size!***
This first photo was one of the greatest moments of my life. On hour who-knows-what of our travel day to Europe, I had just finished a movie on our flight from Minneapolis to London. I (stupidly) opened my window to see if I could see any cities down below (we were over the ocean), but when I did I gasped and interrupted Adam’s movie to ask him if this was what I thought it was. The aurora was so close and so brilliant, and I teared up staring at it. I know it’s kind of a potato-quality photo, but it was such an unforgettable and unexpected moment that I had to share!
Amsterdam
This was the only time we really had to do exactly as we wanted to do without having to worry about duties or responsibilities. Three days in our favorite city in the whole world. We stayed on a houseboat, ate everything, and soaked in every second.
Amsterdam on film
Leuven, Belgium
Amsterdam Show Day
Hamburg, Germany
At this point in the tour, I was already starting to be able to tell that it was going to be more difficult than normal to get the guys to adventure with me for the camera. So this is when I started trying to take more advantage of the more aesthetically pleasing venues.
Hamburg on film
Copenhagen
Copenhagen on film
My biggest regret of tour happened here. This was the point of tour that I was starting to feel bummed that I was seeing more of the inside of the venues than I was exploring these cities. So while everyone was doing their own thing in the venue, I went for a 15-20 minute walk around the block with my film camera just to make myself feel better and do something just for me. The first photo of the five below was taken seconds from leaving the venue. On my way back, there were two men, both cooks, in that exact spot on a cigarette break together. The entire time I was approaching, I was trying to decide whether or not to ask them if I could take their photo. I chickened out and went back inside. As soon as I got back inside I was kicking myself knowing I should have at least tried. So just like, picture two Danish guys in chef’s clothing smoking together in the first photo.
Skive, Denmark
There are a lot of photos of me trying to creatively show that, yes, in fact, I am on this tour. This was the only one I actually thought was cool.
skive on film
Even the outlets are friendlier in Europe.
The Infamous Travel Day
If you don’t know what I’m referring to, I suggest watching that video I linked to above.
Stockholm
Stockholm on film
Oslo
The only photo we almost didn’t take in Oslo, because girl, it was FRIGIDT. But here we are, exhausted after a full day and an incredible show; me in my crew clothes, and him in his go-to hoodie. The story of why I was so insistent on this photo being taken is that music means so much to us both, and the songs that resonate with both of us have become really special to our relationship. One of those songs is “Norway” by The Brummies. In the chorus of the song they sing “jeg elsker deg,” which means I love you in Norwegian. As silly as it sounds, I was so looking forward to being in Norway so that I could post a photo of us with “jeg elsker deg” as the caption. And I made it happen, y’all. It was the little wins-of-the-day on this tour that really kept us going.
Oslo on film
Cologne, Germany
Coolest hotel I’ve ever stayed in by a long shot. Europe just does it right. Anyway, enjoy the ridiculous mini photoshoot I did with Rob, Adam and Rupp in the lobby of our hotel. Lots of laughs were shared.
Cologne on film
The man in the middle of the second photo was the most German looking man I have ever seen. Looked like he stepped out of a book. At one point he pulled out a little vile and tapped a substance out onto his finger and snorted it. I fully thought he just overtly did cocaine in the middle of a restaurant during lunch time. That’s when I learned that sometimes people snort coffee? I’m guessing that’s what was actually happening? Can someone from Germany weigh in here??
Hannover, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Literally still daydreaming about the cafe Adam and I went to here, pictured below. I think it might be my favorite cafe I’ve ever been to? And I freakin love cafes. So that’s saying a lot.
Berlin on film (view from our hotel window)
Prague
Not NEARLY enough time spent here. I wanted to pause time and see every nook and cranny of this city.
An instant favorite.
Munich on film
That is the last photo I took in Europe. The last few days, as evident by the lack of photos, were a complete and utter chaotic whirlwind. The world was rapidly shutting down, and we had to get out of there to keep ourselves and everyone else safe. Girl, do I wish this tour was under different circumstances. But I know it won’t be the last time.
Thank you for getting to this point! I hope you enjoyed this photo blog, and I hope you’re being safe!
The current state of the world we live in is very sad, but I’ll save that for another post.
I’d love to hear from you down below! Tell me all about your favorite city, European or not! Tell me if you had a favorite photo! Or just say hi!
See you soon! xo