I’m not a pro when it comes to country music. I’m from California, and for the most part, we enjoy rap and alternative, but this year, I have discovered a new kind of music–country.

When my friends asked if I wanted to go to Tortuga, a country music festival on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, I figured, why not? College is about experiences, so I figured I should try everything at least once–and if the whole weekend’s a bust, at least I would get to see Lynyrd Skynyrd live (one of the best moments of my life, btw).

Turns out, country music concerts are awesome. I had a way better time then I had originally thought and I low-key may have a new obsession with cowboys. Here are 46 thoughts I had at my first visit to Tortuga Music Festival.

1. “This place is massive, three full sized stages, at least 20 different places to eat including Pad Thai. This place is heaven!”
2. “Wait who is playing right now? I actually know this song!”
3. “I didn’t know she sang this song…”
4. “Aww! look at the cute couple! They’re wearing matching cowboy hats :’)”
5. “Ugh, that country style lemonade looks wonderful. I need one now.”
6. “100 percent worth the arm and a leg I used to pay for it.”
7. “How have I already spent 20 bucks on food?”
8. “Wait–how do you dance to country music?”
9. “I don’t look country enough… I need a cowboy hat.”
10. A”re those raindrops? Dang, the sky just got really dark. Wait, we have to evacuate?!” (Yes the whole festival got evacuated)
11. “I am not leaving. I need to see Old Dominion!”
12. “Okay police officer I will leave now.” (Awkwardly smiles and power walks away).
13. “Its actually raining now. We need to find shelter.”
14. “Sure. Why not hide from the rain in a random person’s garage with 30 other Tortuga goers?”
15. “We have been sitting here for 2 hours waiting for updates and I’m hungry.”
16. “Finally, pizza!” ~Ten minutes later Tortuga tweets that the gates are opening again and Dierks Bentley will start playing in 30 minutes. ~
17. Grabs two slices of pizza and starts sprinting with friends to the gates while eating said pizza.
18. “I might throw up–too much running and too much pizza.”
19. “But it will be worth it! Think of the cute cowboy on stage! Keep runnning!”
20. “Okay, we are through the gates. Now, time to climb and claw my way to the front of the crowd. I need to be up front and center.”
21. “Wait why do I have to be up front? Do I even know any of Dierks Bentley’s songs?”
22. “OMG I know this song! I love this song!”
23. “I need to remember this song for later.”
24. “Whelp that was awesome. Time to go home.”
25. “How long has it been since we called the Uber?”
26. “Why does it feel like we have been waiting for this Uber for forever?”
27. “Who knew traffic could actually get worse. Why are there so many one-way streets in Fort Lauderdale?”
28. “Day two lets gooooo!”
29. “Lynyrd Skynyrd is killing it– I have goose bumps!”
30. “This is maybe the best performance I have ever seen.”
31. O”kay time to run to see Sam Hunt.”
32. “Why does it seem like we are always running?”
33. “Lets run again, time to see Tim McGraw!”
34. “Why are these stages so far apart?!?”
35. “I don’t know any of these songs, I need to listen to more music.”
36. “This is super country, and I kinda love it…I am a changed woman.”
37. “Okay last day, time to see the love of my life Thomas Rhett.”
38. “Ugh! He is so beautiful why am I not married to him?”
39. “He literally has the best songs. I love this song! And that one–and that one too.”
40. “Now back to the other stage!! Onward!!”
41. “Billy Currington is fabulous. I love him, even though I had no idea who he was until five minutes ago but he’s fab.”
42. “Mental note, I need to Spotify him when I get back.”
43. “The moment I have been waiting for. Blake Shelton..Yes!”
44. I might die if he plays Sangria.”
45.  Blake: **Plays Sangria** Me: **faints**
46. “Okay. Done. When do next year’s tickets go on sale?”

Overall, Tortuga was one of the best weekends of my life. Even if you are not a country fanatic, Tortuga is awesome. Its great to go to the beach and listen to live music with your friends. Ten out of Ten would recommend.

Kamila Knaudt is a sophomore from California studying journalism with a minor in modern languages. If she is not watching Criminal Minds you can find her outside doing something adventurous. Kami’s dream is to one day eat her way around the globe.

words_kamila knaudt.