Feeling nostalgic: Rome 2003 - My most self indulgent blog post ever

Since 2005 I have been documenting my adventures my adventures on this blog, some have been really exciting and life changing, others mundane at best. However I have not until this point made a post about something which happened more than a week or so in the past... I guess there is a first time for everything. Now, I do not consider myself a particularly nostalgic person but listening to the fantastic History of Rome Podcast (Thanks Eivind for the recommendation) I have been feeling quite nostalgic indeed.

There is no real way to describe what the 2003 UNB intersession in Rome meant to me. I have since often thought that the first place you ever really travel to as a young adult (excluding non exotic countries like those in your immediate region) is often remembers as a first love. As with lovers, your first trip is unlikely to be your last but it will have always been your first and you are always likely to think fondly of it. During this time I also met many friends, some of whom I still keep in touch with fairly regularly and feel fortunate to be able to share memories with.

Keeping this blog has been very cool in that it allows me to easily go back and see what I was doing years ago, and although due to its public nature I tend to self censure quite a bit... it still activates memory triggers in my mind which allow me in some way or another to "relive" all these great and sometimes not so great times in my life. Also it is fun to see how I have (hopefully) gotten better as a photographer =)

Well enough of this self indulgence, I hope you enjoy the photos!

More Fall Colors!

The past week or so has had some fairly decent weather, so its given me a few opportunities to run outside and take a few shots. As you can see, the fall is in full swing and the days are getting shorter... but oh well. I have finished the first course of my Masters and I think that things with school are progressing fairly well... I am quite happy with my program and am looking forward to figuring out what exactly do to about my thesis. Anyway I hope you enjoy the photos!

Autumn is here!

Well today we seem to have gotten a much needed reprieve from the rain! Jeanette and I made our way outside and decided to go out for a nice walk down by the river and to have some nice waffles for brunch. Hopefully this nice weather will keep up for a little while longer! Hope you enjoy the photos.

Long time no post!

Wow, it has been ages since I have made a post... but in my defence I really have had quite a bit going on in my life. As some of you know last Aug 6th Jeanette and I got married here in Norway! The wedding was wonderful and many of our good friends came from all around the world to share it with us, so that was really special. We took a short honeymoon in Dublin at a really cute B&B for three days, which was really nice and relaxing. The day after we got back I started graduate school at the University of Oslo where I am doing a Masters in Culture, Sustainability. I am really happy with the program and the people all seem to be very nice, interesting and diverse. The weather has already started to change and it is getting a bit darker and colder every day... it seems like we are in autumn already... but at least Jeanette and I get to go to Merida in December for my sisters wedding and some fun in the sun.





(Wedding Photos Copyright of Zane Culliton)

A sad day...

As you surely are aware, Norway has suffered two separate gruesome tragedies in the past day. The nation is in shock as are people around the world. The comment that seems to be echoed the most is "why Norway?".

When people think of Norway they think of wide open spaces, a free and open society, a prosperous and generous people... and all of those things are still true. While it is still not entirely clear who committed these deplorable acts the sad truth is that many people lost their lives and many others where gravely injured.

The contrast between what Norway has experienced and the national psyche is at this moment simply not reconcilable but Norwegians are a strong and stoic people who are sure to get over this great tragedy. I have strong ties to this wonderful country through my soon to be wife Jeanette and am blessed to live in a city as free and wonderful as Oslo.

The coming days and weeks will shed light on the authors and so called justifications of these deplorable crimes and while the scars of July 22nd will live on, the people of Norway will remain strong.

Jeg elsker Norge!

Dzilam Gonzalez

A few weeks ago I made my way out to Dzilam Gonzalez with my dad to see some of the remains of a few Mayan structures which are located in this little town near the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The structures although severely damaged over the centuries (by those looking to use them as sources for building materials) still remain quite large and interesting. Sadly few real architectural features reamin... however if I had to make a guess I would think the oval shape of the bases and megalithic style would indicate a city comparable to Ake.
Hope you enjoy the photos!