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Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
  • Jill Lantz
  • Klaus Lantz
  • Jill Lantz
  • Klaus Lantz

Europe Family Trip 2024/2025

So excited to share this amazing experience with the kids. Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 16, 2024
    Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    1Canada Goose coat testing chamber1Amazing Italian Restaurant111The bartender performed a trick and this 5 stuck to the ceiling1The crazy Scottish Bartender

    Weisbaden

    December 17, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    We flew with Brooke and Bryce from DTW to Frankfurt. Picked up our car that I had booked for the day after not the day of arrival. Charged us extra money and we were on our way. We went to downtown Frankfurt for a little bit of shopping and Bryce to buy a winter coat. From Frankfurt, we drove to Weisbaden. We stayed at the oldest hotel in the world built in 1486 it was beautiful. We had a fun night that ended at a bar with an over the top bar tender from Scotland who handed out shots called Baby Guinness. “ there is no Guinness and a baby Guinness.” was the quote of the night.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    Loaded to the Max!!1we took a funicular up to the castle1drinks at the market

    Heidelberg

    December 18, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F

    We woke up and drove back to Frankfurt to pick up Kyle and Molly from the airport. We barely fit all the suitcases in the sprinter van. We drove to Heidelberg checked into the hotel, explored the Christmas Markets and visited the Castle. We had a late lunch of Lebanese food and more beers and Gluhwein (a warm spiced mulled wine) The goal is to collect all the mugs from each market. We went to dinner at a fusion restaurant with a cool vibe. Unfortunately Bryce was back at the hotel doing interviews and Kyle had to take a work call. We brought them back some food and they went out for a night cap while I I pooped out.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    Strasbourg

    December 19, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    We woke up and before making our way to strasbourg we walked into town for coffee, a little shopping and a snack. We reloaded the Van and made our way to Strasbourg. After checking in we changed and walked in the pouring rain to the beautiful markets. We took a train ride around the city and visited the beautiful cathedral. Explored multiple markets and ate dinner at Le Restaurant L’Oignon a cute french restaurant. After dinner we went to an Irish Bar named Molly Malones. The family next to us were drinking B52 shots (a shot that is on fire and you drink it with a straw) Kyle didn’t quit get the concept and managed to catch the table and his pants on fire and burnt is finger to the point of blistering. We had a fun evening, lots of laughs and everyone said this was probably their favorite market with beautifully decorated themed streets and lights. Back at the hotel we managed to get stuck in the elevator and the staff had to come help us out.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    Chickens at the apartmentCarousel BarEveryone had to duck to get under the bridge.

    Colmar

    December 20, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 23 °F

    We drove to Colmar, we checked into our apartment and took an uber to downtown. We arrived in this charming town and took a boat ride through the canals. We walked all of the Christmas Markets that were slightly spread out, before meeting Dalibor, Jelena and Danilo for dinner.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025

    Bern

    December 21, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    We drove from Colmar to Bern, we stopped for lunch in Basel and had a little adventure. We got confused about the parking for the restaurant and ended up having to walk 15!min through a children’s petting zoo to get to Restaurant Park. Upon arrival we realized there was a parking lot directly in front of the restaurant. We arrived to Bern Klaus had to check into the hotel at a box and they lowered the steel beams to drive into the pedestrian zone (this was hectic as it was packed with people for the market). We checked into Hotel Savoy while he then had to go find a parking garage. We made our way to the beautifully decorated markets and enjoyed gluehwein and beers. Walking to dinner we checked out some cool stores that are under ground. Dinner was at Noumi a delicious restaurant with a cool atmosphere and DJ. We had one final drink at a local bar before calling it a night.Read more

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    Montreux

    December 22, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌧 37 °F

    We drove from Bern to Montreux and arrived at our amazing hotel called Grand Hotel Suisse. We checked in and headed to the markets despite the on again off again rain we loved everything about this beautiful city!!! Kyle decided to try to time the waves and as you will see in the video was not successful. 🤣 We had yummy sausages and fondu served in a large baguette and some bubbly at a cute bar while Kyle changed his clothes. We gambled at a local casino, (Bryce was the only winner) and went to the Freddy Mercury Museum. Later in the day Dennis, Dalibor and both Jelena’s along with the kids met up with us. We rode the ferris wheel and had cocktails back at the cute bar while waiting for Santa to fly over the lake. (Unfortunately because of the weather he never came) We took a nice walk to the old town for dinner. After dinner it started to snow it made for a nice walk back to the hotel. At the hotel we hung out in the lobby, exchanged Christmas gifts, had a push up contest, put on tattoos, but most of all had lots of laughs with the kids and grandkids. We got scolded for being to loud after the 10:00pm swiss curfew in hotels. 😂 Lots of hugs and off to bed.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    Train ride to the village of Zermatt
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    Zermatt

    December 23, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ❄️ 23 °F

    We woke up in Montreux had breakfast with Dennis, Jelena and the kids before loading up the car for the drive to Zermatt. Zermatt is a car free town so we parked in Tasch and took a train into Zermatt. When we arrived it was snowing and beautiful but made for a challenge dragging all the suitcases to the hotel to check in and then to our apartment. The town is amazing and magical and our apartment was beautiful with incredible views. We got bundled up and went to the ski rental shop to get fitted for our day of skiing tomorrow. Klaus warned us (well mainly me and Brooke this is not Mt. Brighton) we insisted that it is like riding a bike and got our rentals. We dropped our gear off in the storage room at the apartment and walked to dinner at Republic Zermatt for amazing burgers. 🍔Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    2Brooke and I taking a break before walking some moreKlaus drinking Gluhwein waiting for us to arriveVeuve Bar1

    Zermatt Day 2 Christmas Eve

    December 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    We woke up geared up for the ski day and walked to the train station to take the train to the first runs. Molly had strategically mapped out where we should start to get a little practice in. Unfortunately because of the conditions the train was closed for a few hours. We jumped in a taxi and took it to the Gondola 🚠 that does the slopes near the Matterhorn. Approximately 20/30 min later we made it to the top. I knew I was in trouble the moment we stepped onto the slope, Brooke was no better. Bryce was off to the races and I told Molly and Kyle to go enjoy the day. Brooke and I had no choice other than to remove the skis and WALK all the way down the mountain to the next Gondola station. It is definitely one of the most difficult things I have did and we had some moments of wanting to call ski rescue but we made it. It is safe to say I will never attempt skiing again. We got off the lift and walked up hill to meet Bryce at an outdoor bar. We had a quick cocktail and got back on the Gondola to meet Klaus at the bar that is located at one of the train stops. Kyle and Molly also met up and the kids did some ski runs in that section while Myself, Brooke and Klaus had a snack and drinks. The train was finally operational again and we took it further up the mountain where there was amazing views of the Matterhorn. At this point Bryce, Kyle and Molly spent the rest of the skiing all the way back to town. and stopping at Apres Ski along the way. The rest of us took the train back into Zermatt. Brooke and I changed our shoes and returned our ski gear!!! Molly, Kyle and Bryce decided to take another lift (which happened to be the last one of the day with no other choice but to ski back once they got to the top) Unfortunately the conditions were getting icy and it was a bit more than Kyle and Molly expected, Bryce was long gone and waiting for them with champagne at the Vevue bar while they got escorted by ski patrol down part of the mountain. 🏔️ Ski patrol told them she can’t go home till everyone is off the mountain. They met up with Bryce and agreed it was a cool experience. Meantime Brooke and I met up with them at the ski shop with a change of shoes and everyone but Bryce turned in their gear. Molly, me and Brooke enjoyed the mini spa while the guys went to a local bar and got some beverages for the evening. We ordered carry out and spent Christmas Eve evening in the apartment.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    2Christmas morning jammie's
    Christmas MassWalking to Chez Vrony1Walking to the igloosIgloo VillageFondue DinnerBedroomOur bedroomIce BarKota Hut11

    Zermatt Day 3 Christmas

    December 25, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    We woke up Christmas morning, had a mimosa and gave the kids their present. We surprised them with a wellness package including massage at the Cervo Mountain resort for the next day. We packed our back packs for the Igloo and checked out of the apartment. Kyle and Molly went to Mass, Bryce left to go skiing and the 3 of us finished getting everything ready for the igloo experience. We met back up with Kyle and Molly and took a train that shoots up the mountain from inside the mountain. We got to our stop and had to walk 15 minutes down the mountain to the Michelin Star restaurant Chez Vrony for Christmas brunch. Bryce skiied there and was already waiting when we arrived. It was a beautiful restaurant with amazing views and incredible food. After brunch we took a chair lift back to the train to town. We walked around town for a bit and hung out before having to get on the 4pm train to the Igloo experience. We arrived at the train stop and the guide met us for the trek to the Igloo village. There was some steep hills and Brooke wore moon boots which have no traction. Lots of laughs by all when she kept falling and finally slid on her butt for the ride down. Bryce skiied to the village and has been enjoying apres ski waiting for us to arrive. Words can not describe how amazing this place was. They rebuild it every year and it takes a handful of men around 2000 hours and 3 guys 300 hours for the carvings. We had a welcome drink and tour before eating a fondue dinner. After dinner we hung out in the Kota hut which was warm, went snow shoeing and enjoyed the sauna. Around 11:00pm we all went to sleep in the igloo rooms, it was cold at first but got better as you warmed up in the sleeping bag. Kyle was sick with a cold and miserable, 😞 Brooke was cold all night, and Bryce drank to many coffee drinks and ended up sleeping in the warming room. It was an experience we will never forget!!Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    111111The boys representing the Lions in their Greyson Hoodies

    Final Day in Zermatt

    December 26, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    We woke up to a hot tea in our rooms, after putting on our snow gear we paid the tab and made our decent to Riffelhaus for breakfast. After a quick bite to eat Bryce hit the slopes and we got on the train back to town. Once we got back to town we checked on our luggage which we left in the laundry room of our apartment building for the night and made our way to Cervo Mountain resort for wellness and massages. The spa was beautiful with so many amenities including a sauna, cold plunge pool, infinity hot tub, steam room and Yurts 🛖. The kids said it was one of the best massages of their lives. Bryce met up with us showered and returned his skis. (He truly loved Zermatt and had the time of his life skiing for 3 days) We walked back to the Apartment and picked up our luggage and walked to the train station. We took the train back to Tasch loaded the car up and made our way the Milan. Once we got to Milan we checked into the hotel, Kyle and Molly stayed in and had room service and the 4 of us went to dinner. We all had an early night to bed.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    smallest bat in the world1

    Milan

    December 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Everyone slept in today, Kyle and Molly had a leisurely day including a little exploring and having dinner at an amazing restaurant with the best cacio e pepe ever according to Kyle. Klaus, myself Brooke and Bryce went to a local sandwich shop and had some of the best sandwiches of our lives and a bottle of prosecco. Next we went to a pastry shop and the christmas market to try the two different cannolis of Italy one is made of cream and the other with ricotta(the sicilian way). We all loved the ricotta one best. Went in the Duomo which we learned is the largest church in Italy besides St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The architecture was stunning. We had an aperol in the city square which was so packed it was almost unbearable. Klaus and Bryce headed back to the hotel while Brooke and I did a little shopping. Back at the hotel we got cleaned up and took an Uber to the Navigli section of Milan it is considered the Venice of Milan with a canal running through the entire city. We had a cocktail at cute bar and great dinner before walking to the smallest bar in the world called Backdoor 43. (It only holds 4 people) We had such a fun time! They let you play your own music and made incredible cocktails for 1 hour. We had many laughs and DJ Bryce played all of his favorite EDM hits. We Ubered back to the hotel and called it a night.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    Kyle and I loaded in the backseat ready to go

    Milan to Florence

    December 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    We woke up, loaded the van and made our way to Florence. Along the way we stopped at Opera 02 in Modena a beautiful Agriturismo for a Lambrusco and Balsamic tour and tasting. We had an amazing lunch after at their restaurant. Molly accidentally ordered beef tongue and most of us tried it. 😂 Mixed reviews because of the texture the flavors were great. Our pastas were incredible and the bottle of lambrusco was delicious. We then drove around 10 minutes to a parmesan farm. We made some purchases and made our way to Florence. Once we got to Florence we had to climb 4 flights of stairs with all of our suitcases to the apartment. Thank god we are here for 5 nights. Klaus had to find a parking garage that has openings, it is a crazy parking system, they keep your keys and have to pull it out by moving other cars all around 30 minutes before you’re ready to leave. Everyone got settled and we walked to dinner and had an amazing meal that included a huge steak that Kyle got. Back at the apartment. We had some wine chatted and had many many laughs!!Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    Santa Croce church
    2Food marketBell Tower at DuomoThe dome2We made it to the topFamous Sandwiches1The empty evening streets2

    Florence

    December 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    We all slept in! We are staying in the Santa Croce area, it is a little less busy than the main square, has some of the best restaurants, quaint streets and houses the largest Franciscan church in the world, associated with St. Francis of Assisi, Italy's patron saint since 1939. Kyle, Molly, Myself and Klaus walked around a bit, grabbed a bite to eat and a coffee. We did a little shopping before Bryce and Brooke met up with us. We went to an amazing food market with 3 levels and everything you could ever want to eat. Bryce and Brooke said it was some of the best pasta they had. We walked the packed streets filled with leather markets and stores. Next stop Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo, ranks as the world's third-largest cathedral. It took over 140 years to build and is still today the largest masonary dome. We climbed all 463 steps to the top with amazing views and then back down. We stopped for a quick aperol spritz and went to the famous I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti sandwich shop, it was very delicious but we all agreed we were more impressed with the sandwiches in Milan. Molly, myself and Brooke did a little shopping while the guys waited and had some beverages. We all took a little rest back at the apartment before dinner at II Vezzo. The dinner was great, the boys got the Florentine steak again and we had probably the best bolognese pasta ever. We went back to the market for gelato and walked back to the apartment, it was incredible how empty the streets that we could barely navigate earlier were. Off to bed early morning to Bologna tomorrow.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    Very tight parking spotTraditional tortellini in brothmeats, cheeses, bread and lambruscoStair case for horses a long time agoDinner before the gameInstead of fireworks they burn this bird for new year's eve11

    Bologna

    December 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    Today we headed to Bologna, it was about an 1.2 hour drive. We arrived and got lucky enough to find very tight street parking. We met our guide for the food tour and spent three hours, tasting local foods and learning some history of the town. We did a little shopping and had dinner at a local restaurant before jumping in an uber to the Bologna vs Verona soccer game. The game was so much fun!!! The fans definitely take this sport very serious, lots of yelling, chanting, and excitement! Then even let off some loud device that sounds like a cannon. The boys had the time of their life. We got back to Florence around 12:30am and fortunately found street parking because the parking lots close at midnight.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    Montepulciano

    December 31, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    We got ready, I went to grab coffees and Klaus grabbed the car, which was luckily still there this morning! We stopped at the high end designer outlets on our way the Montepulcino. There is definitely some big savings if you can find your sizes. Then we drove about an hour to Montepulciano. We did some wine tastings including a very beautiful underground experience at De Ricci. We explored the town a bit before making our way back to Florence. We went to New Year’s Eve dinner at a wonderful restaurant, listened to live music in the Santa Croce square and watched the fireworks at the river. Happy New Year!Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
    112111Wine Window

    San Gimignano

    January 1, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Klaus, Myself, Kyle and Molly drove to San Gimignano. We started at a beautiful vineyard called Tenuta Torciano for a wine tasting and tuscan lunch. The food and wines were delicious and luckily they offered shipping back to Michigan. We then drove to the Medieval town of San Gimignano the town and views were beautiful, everything I picture when I think about the Tuscany region. We explored and had a snack before making our way back to Florence. We grabbed the other two kids and walked to a wine window before making our way to our Pasta and Tiramisu cooking class. We drank prosecco and learned to make Tiramisu, ravioli, and tagliatelle. Once everything was prepared the restaurant cooked the pastas for us with sauce and we sat down with wine and tasted our creations. Back at the condo we started packing for our flight to Frankfurt tomorrow.Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025
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    Florence to Frankfurt

    January 2, 2025 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 34 °F

    We woke up and packed up for the drive to Bologna. We are flying Lufthansa back to Frankfurt and the weight limit is 50 pounds, everyone was overweight and it required some creativity the purchasing of extra bags and lots of stress. 🤣 We landed in Frankfurt walked to the hotel and checked in. After a drink and snack in the vip lounge Klaus and Bryce went to get Bryce’s first ever Döner Kebab, he said it was amazing. Meanwhile the 4 of us had a quick bite at the hotel restaurant.
    Early night to bed, Kyle and Molly fly out in the AM and the rest of us fly at 2pm because of a delay.    Read more

  • Europe Family Trip 2024/2025

    Flying Home

    January 3, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 28 °F

    Our flight was delayed for 6 hours, Molly and Kyle could not make their connecting flight through JFK and had to switch to our flight this morning. Airport checkin was a mess and VAT tax return took forever 🤣 We got on the plane, not exactly thrilled with the Delta experience!!! At least we are taking off 😊 Landed safely in Detroit I have never seen the immigration line so long in my life luckily they let the kids go through global entry with us. Happy to be Home!!! Created amazing memories!!!Read more

    Trip end
    January 3, 2025
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