Of all the various activities I had planned for kids in the lead up to our Europe trip, none excited me more than the mask making workshop at Ca’ Macana. We researched the workshop before we left (there are some excellent resources online, including fascinating Youtube videos about the history of the shop), learned a bit about the different types of masks (bauta, medico della peste, moretta, gnaga – the cat mask, Columbina and so on) and reserved our place for a mask making session (advisable, as they were quite busy).
Even with that build up, the experience did not disappoint!
A mask from Ca’ Macana is the real deal. The workshop was established fairly recently, in 1984, but that’s one of the things I love about it. It’s not a novelty replica of the mask making workshops of the past. Rather, it takes the traditional skills and traditions of historical mask making and adapts them to the modern world. This, I find, makes their masks feel so much more authentic and true to our times, while still being connected to the long history of Venetian mask making. (Don’t miss snail-head man – he is truly awesome!)
The mask making space is separate to the shop, and has the look and feel of a functioning workshop – which is to say, it is a delightful mess, smells like paint and lacquer, and there was a general air of excitement at being allowed inside.
Our marvelous helper was obviously a mask maker herself and deeply passionate about it. She gave the children the technical instruction they needed to let their imaginations run wild – when my 5 year old decided to cover her carefully painted green mask in black and gold swirls, she cheered her on and applauded the final product! No judgment… instead, a little bit of freedom and decadence, as in the days of old.
This was a brilliant way for the kids to spend a couple of hours in Venice. Aside from the excitement of the activity itself, the historical and educational element and the fact that it gave them a much needed respite after hours of walking around and sightseeing, our masks are probably our favourite souvenirs from our European travels.
To me, travelling feels like nothing else in the world. It lifts my feet up off the ground, both literally and figuratively. Whether it’s the culture, history, natural beauty or even just the unique character of a place I haven’t seen before, I’m always left feeling, both in the moment and in retrospect, like the experience has opened up my mind and brought a little more meaning to my life.
There have been travel moments in my life that left me so in awe, that I never thought I’d experience anything like them again – stepping out of Santa Lucia train station in Venice to behold my first glimpse of the Grand Canal, or gazing out over the city of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Then, I had kids – two lively, intrepid, curious little girls, and I realised that experiencing the wonder through their eyes was even more powerful and monumental.
Kids Travel Planet is a place for me to record my memories, to invite others to share their stores and to delve into the following key lessons that I’ve learnt on my travels…
1. Travel with kids is absolutely do-able
It’s not as difficult or as expensive or as scary as you might think.
This is very much a lesson I had to learn for myself. After having my first child, I went from travelling overseas at least once a year to not going overseas for almost 10 years. Flights from Australia are long and can be costly and what if she screamed the whole time? What if it took us weeks to get past the jetlag? What if I was too stressed and worried about her to have a good time?
It wasn’t until we were compelled to go overseas with both girls for family reasons that I bit the bullet and realised – not only was it not that bad – it was awesome! Their little minds were overwhelmed with new landscapes, new food, new people and a new perspective on the breadth, beauty and diversity of the world! And with some careful planning and effort, all of the obstacles I was so concerned about could be overcome. It was so very worth it! I look forward to sharing how we made our travel experiences affordable and accessible so that others might feel empowered to take the leap!
2. Planning for travel with kids is an art
Pretty much everything about planning a trip with kids is different to planning a trip for just grownups, from the choice of destination to the pace of the itinerary to how you pack your suitcase. Then, the question is always going to be, “What is the best way for a child to capture the spirit of this new place?” Will it be through:
meeting, staying with or being shown around by the locals;
experiencing traditional music and dancing – especially when locals and other visitors are celebrating and living it up alongside them;
enjoying new foods and visiting food markets, street stalls, cafes and restaurants – maybe even cooking or baking classes with a local;
visiting monuments and landmarks with backstories they’ll find fascinating and memorable; and
trying their hands at local handicrafts; or
delving into nature and experiencing inspiring and varied landscapes.
That is the part of the research I love, and I’m looking forward to sharing some great memories and suggestions for must-see places to visit with kids in tow.
There are also other vital things to think about in advance of a trip, some of which didn’t occur to me until we were on the ground, such as:
What happens if my child becomes anxious and scared about being so far away from home?
What if my child starts to feel unwell?
How do we adapt if something unexpected happens and our itinerary needs to change?
While these questions may not be classified as “fun” in quite the same way, thinking about them in advance can have an enormous impact on the travel experience on the ground. So, I will be covering these types of topics as well, drawing on my experiences and the expertise of others.
3. Travelling is the best form of education – make it count and make it fun
Yes, travelling is the best form of education – for kids and grown-ups! And I don’t just mean learning about new places, cultures, foods and languages (even if that part of it is incredibly valuable and enriching). Even more importantly – travelling as a family is a way for parents and kids to learn about themselves and each other.
Who are we, when we put aside the stresses and obligations of everyday life? Who are we, when we put on our adventurers’ hats? Do we love hiking or looking at art? Croissants or crostini? Da Vinci or Kandinsky? Cities or small towns? Villages or the wilderness? Ancient history or modern history? Ballet or flamenco? Biking or bus tours? The ‘must-see’s or the ‘off-the-beaten-track’s? Are we brave or are we cautious? Are we excitable or introspective? Are we budding photographers, or do we prefer to stop and pause and take it all in?
These are but a few of the many lessons that we might not otherwise learn unless we travel, and they’re lessons that we bring home with us, and that forever play a part in shaping our perceptions of ourselves and our impressions of the world
I’ve found that the best way to ensure that the experience is as educational as it can possibly be is to:
Learn as much as you can about a place before you go in a way that you find fun. That doesn’t have to mean reading guidebooks!
Find ways of helping your kids to become interested and engaged in what they’re about to experience in a way that excites them.
Uncover a myriad of different ways to experience the place when you get there, so that you are, as a family, exposed to different angles and perspectives. Hopefully, Kids Travel Planet offers you a starting point and some helpful ideas.
Going forward…
I hope to hear your stories too, to learn about your travels and to soak up your ideas and impressions of the places worth seeing and the best ways to see them, with kids in tow. Let’s do this!
With anticipation for this new and exciting kind of journey…
