We're actually Americans though

How has it been two weeks already? On the one hand, I'm not ready to leave the gelato stands, accordian players, and gorgeous castles (future homes) behind... on the other, I'm definitely looking forward to cliché country music about pickup trucks, one-lane back roads, moonshine, and sundresses (every country song ever made. The epitome of American-ness).

Yesterday, we crammed all 90 of us on a metro (didn't have enough tickets for all of us #oops #they'llneverknow) and had our last concert at the chapel in Schönbrunn palace in Vienna (I like to think I'm an expert at Austria after watching the Sound of Music like 217 times). It was our first concert in awhile where we didn't have a significant number of sick people sitting out. #WeConqueredEColi

Sometimes we wear our Cambridge sweatshirts during rehearsal so people will think we're a Cambridge choir

looking fly and breaking laws is what we do

I would definitely be ok if Schönbrunn palace were my summer home. Castles and palaces don't really seem real until you go to Europe, and now I again feel like a little girl in the I-want-to-be-a-princess stage.

The reality that tour was coming to an end finally hit us at our farewell dinner last night, which included lots of wine and classy waltzing to live music (i.e., we got up and danced our enthusiastic American hearts out, while the Austrians looked on probably thinking "that is...not how you do that").

As soon as I get home, I'm going to write President Obama a letter--demanding that hotels offer little plastic things of Nutella, that there be a gelato stand on every corner, and that castles be installed in every major city (I could do without the sketchy street vendors/performers who invade your personal space and the concerning lack of water fountains).

But maybe these things are what makes Europe special. Maybe I'll let Europe remain a fairytale and America be my home. 

Tour was fun. It was good to sing every day, to wear dresses and lipstick and pearls, to pretend I understand different currencies and the metric system (#I'mintheEschool #Ishouldknowthis), to ride the subways/metros (I don't live in DC, so riding a metro is still new and exciting for me), to get lost in beautiful cities, and to try new foods (PSA: Schnitzel is amazing). I'm looking forward to my next visit to Europe.

I might post a final picture overload once I get home, but now it's almost time to board our flight to London, where we'll then board a flight to Dulles.

Feel free to send me nice, sarcastic, or sassy texts since I'll have cell service after around 8:30pm EST.

Wish us safe travels--

Marina