10/06/2026
I usually share the highlights of travelling—but this part of my trip deserves a place here, too.
After a wonderful Italy and Greece cruise, I was pickpocketed on our last night in Venice. My passport and credit cards were in my crossbody bag, worn in front of me. We had just stepped off a water taxi, and I was manoeuvring my luggage on a bridge when a man repeatedly stopped in front of me, seemingly trying to take a photo. I now realize he was slowing me down so someone could get into my bag from behind me.
It felt strange, and I was actually yelling ‘excuse me’ multiple times as he would not get out of my way but it allhappened so quickly. By the time we turned the corner, I realized what was missing. We hadn’t even reached our hotel which was only a 5 minute walk away.
Instead of flying home to our families the next day as planned, we cancelled our flight and took a four-hour train to Rome to visit the Canadian Embassy when it opened Monday morning.
There were tears, phone calls, paperwork and unexpected expenses. Thankfully, I received my replacement travel document within six hours of submitting my application.
As a travel agent, I’m used to helping others prepare for their trips. Being on the other side was a reminder that experience and preparation don’t make anyone immune to something going wrong.
My takeaways? Keep copies of important documents somewhere you can access separately, have a backup payment option, and give yourself a moment to regroup when moving through busy places with luggage. I’ll also be reviewing my own travel insurance coverage much more closely as I was disappointed to learn that trip interruption caused by a stolen passport is not something that is covered.
And the biggest thank-you goes to my travel partner, Jaimee, who stayed by my side through it all. Having someone there while you navigate a stressful situation far from home means more than I can say.
I’m still grateful for the beautiful memories we made in Italy and Greece. This was a difficult ending to a wonderful trip—and an experience I wanted to share honestly, because travel isn’t always just the highlight reel.
