Last week I took Hayden for his first trip to Italy to spend a few days with my parents in Venice before they embarked on a month-long Mediterranean cruise. I was a little bit nervous about travelling alone with Hayden, but he continues to be a very relaxed little voyager. He was happy to hang out in the arms of the airport security agents while I put all his bottles and baby food and stroller through the x-ray machine, and also with fellow passengers as I stowed my luggage in the overhead lockers. I had a bit of anxiety when his stroller wasn’t at the carousel at our final destination, but an airport employee saw me waiting and carried it over from oversized luggage. I am constantly amazed how kind and understanding people are when they see us travelling with an infant.

We boarded Hayden’s first vaporetto, and the small boat was buzzing with excitement, full of foreigners so thrilled to be in their dream destination. I could easily spot the honeymooners (the men playing with their wedding rings, and the women still sporting wedding manicures and perfectly waxed eyebrows). There were also older couples, returning to Venice to relive the romantic locations of their courtship. Once we arrived on the main island, I converted the Kelty backpack to a stroller, and the two of us ambled along the edge of the canal as we enjoyed our first taste of sunshine in weeks.

(Sadly I only have mobile phone pictures for this trip, as the DSLR was too big to fit in the backpack)

A few hours later, we were reunited with mum and Josef. They hadn’t seen Hayden since he was four months old, so he was very excited to show off his new skills that included crawling, clapping, and eating solids. We all traipsed off to find dinner, and Hayden sampled a Caprese mozzarella and tomato salad while I caught up on news from Australia. Hayden seemed really happy to see his grandparents again, and even scored some complementary cookies from the waiter.

We spent the next day visiting the quieter islands of Murano and Burano. We admired the delicate stitching of lace in Burano and explored the canals lined with colourful houses. On the glass-blowing island of Murano, we watched three brothers working together to create a beautiful floral chandelier, then visited the showroom for a sampler of all the different pieces from the island. Mum bought me a striking blue and silver glass pendant for my birthday, a unique souvenir of our holiday.

After three nights in our delightful apartment amongst the rooftops of Venice, it was time to say goodbye with one final stroll along the Grand Canal. After their cruise, we will meet up with them again in Spain for a week in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca.

The story of Crown Princess Mary captured the Australian imagination, including mine. A young professional from Tasmania, she met Prince Frederick while he was visiting the Sydney 2000 Olympics. When they first met, she had no idea he was a prince, and they spent the evening talking and connecting. They started dating, and then he asked her to marry him, to become his princess and one day Denmark’s queen. She accepted, surrendered her Australian citizenship, learnt Danish, and became on of its most beloved royals.

Adrian claims that I would give up our life for the chance to be a princess of one of these European countries, and I must say I might be tempted if it were Denmark. We had a five hour stop-over between Seattle and Brussels, which was enough time to spend two hours walking through the streets of Copenhagen.

It was a beautiful day in a stunning city. We strolled past the colourful houses lining the canals, noting the house in which Hans Christian Anderson once lived. The park was lush and full of people napping, sunbaking, or picncing. Crime is so low here that people not only leave dozens of bicycles unattended, they often leave their babies- in huge raised cribs – outside the store while they pop in. We were able to see Princess Mary’s palace, although sadly she was not in, as she is visiting family in Hobart this week.

Then back on the train and then the plane, and now we are in Ghent, a fairy tale city of tall towers, ornate buildings, and flowing canals.