Thoughts Archives

The destination I adored that I never want to go back to

In 2012, what seems like a lifetime ago, I decided to go to Palau on a whim. At the time, I knew nothing about Palau, other than it was the most obscure country I could think of and there were relatively cheap flights available from…

How travelling as a parent has changed me

When seeing the world becomes less important than letting little people see it. Daisy and the Sistine Chapel “Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad!” came the cry from upstairs, followed by the unmistakable thud-thud-thud of the world’s least demure princess. My eight-year-old burst into the living room…

In praise of the decent restaurant within a short walk of your hotel

Repeat after me: Not every meal needs to be an adventure. Before I write this exhausted. I have spent four days on my feet, walking back and forth across Rome, and having my ankles repeatedly brutalised by its savage, merciless cobblestones. It is my last…

Michelangelo's frescoes from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Why I hated the Sistine Chapel

Despite its reputation as a must-see in Rome, I found the Sistine Chapel disappointing due to the crowds, strict rules, and rushed experience. This article was updated and expanded in January 2026. The Conclave Fantasy If I was a cardinal, I would drag the Conclave…