Michael Thurin

Today, One Year Ago…

michaelthurin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:38:12 +0000

…I left the United States to begin my year abroad in Florence, Italy. Today, one year ago, my life changed.

I’ve been home for nearly two months, and I am still getting used to my life here — trying to figure it out, at least. There is not one day when I don’t think about Florence and my experience there. I miss it more than I can express, but that doesn’t mean I am not eager to start a new adventure and way of life in San Francisco.

First Day of School!

michaelthurin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:33:15 +0000

Here I go, off to start my fourth year of college!

Something’s Cooking on Main Street

michaelthurin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:29:18 +0000

I recently did a few projects with my friends and fellow bloggers Greer and Jessica of Main Street Sisters. They did some baking, I took some photos of them baking, and then while the goods were in the oven I took some shots of them for their header. Here is just a taste, and if you want to see more head on over to their blog!

If you haven’t checked out their blog, I would definitely recommend it — especially now that I’ll be collaborating with them on a more regular basis! If you like my work and have a knack for baking, local history, and the occasional DIY project, stay in tune! There will surely be more to come.

A Morning Hike in Santa Cruz

michaelthurin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:09:08 +0000

A summer morning along the Northern California coast? Well, it doesn’t feel much like summer at all. The sky is often gray and cloudy, sometimes damp with a constant chill in the air. Luckily, that is my favorite type of weather. On a recent trip to Santa Cruz, CA I woke up one morning and what did I see out of the window? A thick layer of fog throughout the Santa Cruz hills.

I immediately decided I needed to go on a hike — to get out of an urban environment and explore the forest while the trees were surrounded by the thick, misty air. I did not plan on taking pictures, but I found the atmosphere too inspiring to not capture. It was dark and hauntingly moody, yet calming at the same time.

With every turn of the trail, I saw something new. Among the moss-covered bark, twisted branches, knotted bark, and every shade of green and brown — nothing was the same, yet everything was in harmony. The things nature can do…

That’s Better

michaelthurin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:41:51 +0000

Lately

michaelthurin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:58:06 +0000

A Healthy Dose of Americana

michaelthurin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:43:07 +0000

What better an object to remind me I am in the United States than a classic and always iconic neon sign?

Upon seeing this sign, I began imagining young men with crewcuts walking down the street with chipper girls alongside wearing saddle shoes, hot rods racing down the street a la American Graffiti, and no shortage of diners. Only in America!

Inventory

michaelthurin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:55:05 +0000

I finally did a post I’ve been wanting to do since I returned home from my year abroad — photographing and sharing many of the souvenirs I brought home with me, big and small. So, here you have it! Many of the items I collected while treking through Europe were small, simple objects that I was able to associate my experience in that given place with. I will surely enjoy and appreciate them for years to come.

Alabaster mortar — Volterra, Italy

Pepper pendent — Naples, Italy

Puppet hands — Naples, Italy

Prayer beads — Istanbul, Turkey

Hand-made beaded necklace — Barcelona, Spain

Various holy medals — All over the place!

Cork — Florence, Italy (from my last night)

New and old prayer cards — Italy

Pin — Czech Republic

Rocks, marble, fresco — Italy, Greece, France

Eiffel Tower figurine — Paris, France

Evil eyes — Istanbul, Turkey

Matchbook — Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tea glasses — Istanbul, Turkey

Bracelets — Florence, Italy & Barcelona, Spain

Holy water — Vatican City

Money — Turkey, Czech Republic

Leather notebook — Florence, Italy

Tragically broken water pipe (part of it) — Istanbul, Turkey

Prosthetic arm (just kidding, only the tattoo) — Italy

Every plane, train, bus, museum, movie, and concert ticket, map, program, and even some receipts from all over Europe

What made it all possible, my passport!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

michaelthurin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:17:36 +0000

Here’s to you!

Art of Rome and the Vatican

michaelthurin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:30:43 +0000

Every now-and-then I look through my photo archives from my ten months abroad. Like with my last post, I found more images and experiences I meant to share but never got around to post. Oops! Here are some photos (some legal, some not) of a few of the famous works of art housed in Rome and the Vatican.

The Ecstasy of St. Theresa

Bernini

1647 – 1652

Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome

Baldocchino

Bernini

St. Peter’s Basilica

1634

La Pieta

Michelangelo

St. Peter’s Basilica

1499

The School of Athens

Raphael

Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

1509 – 1510

Augustus of Prima Porta

1st Century

Vatican City

The Last Judgement

Michelangelo

1537 – 1541

The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

The Creation of Adam

Michelangelo

1508 – 1512

The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

And that’s it! No more posts from Italy …at least I think so.