Last year whilst conversing about what to do for my bro-in-law-in-Christ-and-in-flesh’s upcoming birthday someone (Steph) came up with the very fun yet expensive idea of taking him to Europe. I mean isn’t it custom to fly to another continent to celebrate year 26? I’m pretty sure when I turned 26 my friends bought me a 6 pack of PBR and a Papa John’s pepperoni pizza (with extra garlic sauce of course). I digress but the Phillips fam came together and decided yes this needed to happen. So off we went.
Keukenhoff Tulip Fields
Our official itinerary would be KC -> Paris -> Brussels -> Amsterdam -> New York -> Home. Being Tim’s first overseas flight we were excited to tell him about the in-flight movies, free wine, an ok-ish dinner and seats that lay back so you can take a nap. Our airline had other plans. No TVs, crammed seats, gross food, screaming babies, Steph wouldn’t give me her extra brownie etc. Ok it wasn’t all that bad. At least they had free wine. We also had a little in-flight excitement. While I was snoozing, Zach noticed a woman collapse near the bathroom. Trained emergency nurse Zach quickly rushed to the rescue. Steph (also a nurse) came in with the assist. Together with their expert skills and healing hands they nursed this woman back to health. As a reward the stewardess gave our group three bottles of the first class wine (turns out they serve us peasants in economy inferior wine). Way to go Zach and Steph!
First stop Oui Oui Paris.
Here we toured the city with a little help from Steph’s one true love Rick Steves.
We checked out some of the famous sites of Paris including Notre Dame (just a few weeks before the tragic fire)
Tres Phillips
Found our ancient ancestors in Les Catacombes
V spooky
Pretended to be art snobs at the Louvre
Mona Lisa Mayhem
Couple o’ azz wipes getting their Gen Z selfie with Mona
My personal highlight - A night time picnic at the Eiffel Tower with our airline wine!!
Plus a few random shots. Oui Oui!
Pasta night at the Airbnb
Thx Steph
Next we took the train to Brussels. Although Brussels didn’t have quite as much going on we thoroughly enjoyed the Belgian waffles, frites and beer. Our Airbnb was in the heart of the city center and made it super easy to walk around this beautiful city.
Belgian waffles were a staple
Waffles so good you had to get em on the Gram
Brussels city walk
Brussels thrifting
Thx Zach 4 the Curry Ketchup rec
Got a lil too excited for the pommes frites
Favorite sight in Brussels
Rooftop beers
Airbnb photo-op
Z was V pleased with all the likes
From Brussels the Bday clan headed to Amsterdam. Seeing our high end snacks consisting of rolls, Nutella, 1 euro beers and a block of cheese, the attendant could tell we were probably very important tourists and offered us our own private cart.
If you’ve ever been to Amsterdam you’ve heard of the famous canals, “coffee” shops, bicycles galore, tulips and of course the Red Light District. Amsterdam took the cake for coolest city of the trip.
PSA if you get a chance to visit Amsterdam please please please make time for the Anne Frank House. It takes some planning (I believe we got our tickets 3 months in advance) but man it’s a powerful experience. Walking through the Frank’s secret quarters we were immersed in one of the darkest stories in history. The museum preserved and told their story beautifully.
Anne Frank House
Outside the museum
You could literally just spend your entire time walking or biking the streets of Amsterdam and leave satisfied.
Stroopwafel for the win
Poffertjes for the win
Easy Zach
We also timed our trip perfectly for peak tulip season. We bussed to the Keukenhof tulip festival and frolicked in the thousands of tulips beautifully arranged throughout the grounds. And by frolicked I mean we walked around aimlessly trying to get the “shot” for the gram. After the festival we rented bikes and rode around the countryside of Lisse. Tulip field after tulip field meant photo op after photo op :)
Keukenhof
do not selfie and bike
Lisse tulip fields
definition of frolicking
From Amsterdam we headed back stateside to visit Zach’s new stompin’ grounds in Brooklyn. Our jet lagged bodies tried to pack in as much as possible but it’s safe to say you can’t do New York in two days. Zach I promise we will visit again!
DUMBO
Brooklyn Bridge
Central Park
yuuuuuuge like the biggest
Zach’s highlight of the trip was finding random Pokémon cards on the streets of New York
Tim can we please go to Japan for year 27?