Descending generations: Travelling through Europe to recreate my mum’s photos

Travelling is a rite of passage for many, and travelling with Contiki is practically a tradition in Australia. The legacy is strong, and it links generations together through shared experiences over generations, inspiring fresh-faced 18 year olds to leave the nest and see the world. 

Having grown up hearing stories from her mum about travelling through Europe, Madison eventually embarked on an adventure of her own – but with a twist. For each photo her mum took, Madison would take the same one, recreating her memories and tracing her steps.

What followed was more than just a holiday, it was an eye-opening experience of connection and self-discovery. We chatted with Madison recently to get all the tender and awesome details from her.

Hi Madison! So, you’ve been travelling through Europe recreating your mum’s photos. What’s the origin of this story?

“Growing up, I was always fascinated by my mum’s stories from her 1996 Contiki trip. I’d constantly ask to look through her old photo albums, I loved seeing all the places she’d been and hearing about her adventures. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to follow in her footsteps and see Europe for myself.”

“So, 28 years later, at the same age she was back then, I finally took the leap: I booked a 45-day Contiki trip across Europe. But I didn’t just want to see the places she saw – I wanted to recreate the moments. So, I made it my mission to find the same spots and pose just like she did, photo for photo.”

“What made it even more special was the amazing group of people I met on the trip. Everyone was so supportive, whether they were helping take the photos, jumping in to be part of them, or making sure the angles matched perfectly. It turned into this fun little group project, and it made the whole experience so much more meaningful.”

“Recreating my mum’s photos brought her stories to life in a whole new way, and gave me a pretty unforgettable one of my own.”

How did you find the journey across Europe? Had you ever been before?

“It was honestly life-changing – I know that sounds cliché, but it was. Travelling across the continent I’d wanted to visit since I was a little girl felt completely surreal. I had never been to Europe before, either, and it truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“It was so much more than just sightseeing; it felt like connecting with a place I’d always dreamt about. Every day brought something new and unforgettable, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat because there’s still so much more to see!”

How did you feel, knowing that you were following in your mum’s footsteps and seeing some of the same things she did?

“It’s hard to put into words, but there was this deep sense of connection and nostalgia that I couldn’t shake. Walking in Mum’s footsteps, visiting the same places she had, the special stays like the Château and Hopfgarten – it all felt incredibly surreal. It was as though I was stepping into her memories, all while creating my own.”

“There was also something really emotional and eye-opening about it. Every place I visited, every photo I recreated, it brought me closer to her. Not just as my mum, but as a person with her own dreams and own adventures. I felt really grateful, actually, it’s a feeling I don’t think I’ll ever fully be able to explain, but it’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

“Since the trip, Mum and I have planned to travel around Europe together, actually, and I really can’t wait to experience it all by her side this time.”

What does travel mean to you? Do you feel that travel is a route to deeper connection?

“There’s a famous quote ‘Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer’. To me, to travel truly is to be rich.”

“I had my very own Mamma Mia moment. In 1998, two years after her Contiki trip, my mum went back to Greece with some of her friends, but she was sick the whole time. Turns out she was pregnant with me! So, when I arrived in Greece on my own Contiki, it was this full-circle moment. I felt this incredible closeness to Mum, even though we were 15,000 km apart. The running joke became that Mum and I were like Donna and Sophie from Mamma Mia, and it made me realize just how much of her spirit I carry with me.”

“It wasn’t just about the places or the people, though. I came away feeling a stronger connection to the earth itself. The whole experience had a spiritual quality to it, like I was part of something much bigger.”

How did you plan to take each photo? What was this experience like for you? Did anything surprise you?

“Planning out each photo started as a little personal project, but it soon became a group effort. My new friends rallied around me and were fully onboard, helping snap the pictures, jumping in to be part of them, and making sure the angles and poses were just right. It turned into this collective goal that added a whole new layer to the experience and made the trip even more memorable.”

“I think I was most excited/surprised when we found the EXACT spot my mum stood in the Colosseum. We had already taken around 5 pics around the amphitheatre, but I was adamant we could find the railing mum got her photo in front of. Lucky I was, because we did end up finding the exact railing.”

Do you think you learned anything about yourself on the way? Anything about your mum?

“Absolutely, I learned so much about myself and about my mum along the way.”

“For my mum, this trip made me appreciate her more than ever. When I arrived in Greece, I was hit with this overwhelming feeling that I was exactly where I needed to be. I felt like I was walking in her footsteps and finally understanding what she’d experienced. I realised just how much of who I am is shaped by her.”

“For myself, I pushed myself in ways I never thought I would. I stepped out of my comfort zone, faced fears, and gained a new sense of confidence. I jumped off a 90-metre cliff, free-falling into a canyon, paraglided over the Austrian countryside, and sang my heart out at karaoke in front of strangers. All of this made me realise that sometimes the scariest, hardest things are the ones that make us feel the most alive.”