Mum, Dad and me · June 2026

Italy for Mum's Birthday

For her big birthday: Venice, the islands of the lagoon, and Tuscany to finish.

Story by MIRA Studio · June 2026

Mum has wanted to see Venice for as long as I can remember, and she always found a reason to put it off. So for her big birthday I booked it for the three of us, without asking. These are our days in Italy.

Chapter I

Arriving on the Grand Canal

Our first look at the Rialto Bridge, straight off the water bus. Mum stood there without a word for a whole minute, which never happens.

Dad wanted a gondola right away. We walked along the canals instead, and every corner looked like a postcard.

A gondola waited under almost every bridge. Dad gave up counting before lunch.

Piazza San Marco in the afternoon, with half the world. The clock tower alone was worth the trip, she said.

Chapter II

In the Alleys

On the second morning Mum wanted to get lost on purpose. She stopped in every alley and on every bridge, and I took her picture every time.

The quiet alleys were the best part: flowers on the walls, laundry over our heads, and no idea where we were.

Then a short downpour, and the whole street turned into a mirror. We waited it out under an awning with an espresso.

Chapter III

Glass, Masks and Colour

On Murano I couldn't tear myself away from the glass. Mum took this one, and I had no idea.

Murano is quieter than Venice: one canal, a few bridges and a glassworks behind every door.

“On Burano Mum found a little mask shop and took a picture of herself and Dad in the mirror. He only noticed once she had taken it.”

Outside, every house seemed to have picked its own colour. She would have repainted our front door on the spot.

We had lunch by the water and walked every street twice.

Chapter IV

Her Birthday

To you, Mum! She ordered the first spritz herself and held it up to me before I had even sat down.

She had her nails done specially for the trip, in the colours of the spritz. Later, in a café, there was chocolate cake with a candle, and the waiter sang.

“Next time,” she said, raising her glass, “we take a whole month.”