After I did my research on this dive, I immediately called the dive shop I had passed earlier.

A lovely young gent named Finni answered the phone:

Hi, I just had a few questions about the Silfra dive.

Yes?

How cold is it reallly?

It is very cold and don't forget, you'll be carrying dive gear to and from the car in the snow.

How far?

About 300 meters.

How cold again?

Really, really cold. The water is 2°C I'm not trying to discourage you, I just want to be honest with you.

I appreciate that, really, I do. I'm going to think about this and call you back. Is that ok? How late can I call you?

About midnight.

Great. I will call you later.

After that conversation, I went whale-watching to have a think. I came back, passed out for a few hours (missing dinner - ugh), woke up around 10:00 p.m. and read that Dive Magazine article. I call Finni at about 10:30 p.m.:

Let's do this.

You sure? I'll be happy to dive with you, but it's a tough first dive for someone who isn't used to a dry suit.

I'm totally sure. How many people will be going diving?

Only you and me.

This was the beginning of a lovely friendship.

All underwater Silfra photos taken by Finni.

Silfra.

All photos of Silfra... above this post and below this post... were shot by my dive guide, Finni. As I believe I mentioned, this was a spontaneous decision on my part, so if I wasn't even bringing my dive card/log book, why the heck would I lug my underwater camera housing?

So many thanks to my new friend, Finni Finnbjörnsson, for providing these stories with some lovely imagery!

End of dive! Honestly, the hardest part about this dive was re-adjusting yourself to the weight strapped on you when climbing out of the water and onto icy rocks.

Let me ask you a very important question: what do these two images say to you?

Possible answers may include: "Holy moly! That looks cold/freezing/pretty/wet/snowy/sunny/beautiful!" or simply, "Hooray geology!"

You know what they say to me? Aside from all of the above answers?

Let's go scuba diving! Actually, not really. If you showed me these photos and told me I was diving here, I would say, "You know I wear a 5mm hood in warm water, right?"

That question may or may not also be preceded by, "You're fucking crazy."

Packing for Iceland, I had my cert card in hand, but laughed at the notion, as my entire suitcase held nothing but sweaters, hats, gloves and long underwear. The concept just seemed ridiculous.

To be honest, I didn't even know there was excellent diving here, but when I arrived, I walked past a dive shop and was immediately curious. Of course this required further investigation. As it turns out, you can actually dive the continental divide! It requires a dry suit and lugging 75 lbs. of gear 300 meters, but as Dive Magazine put it:

Diving Silfra is surreal. It’s probably best described as the closest experience to space-walking you are ever likely to get. Due to the extreme clarity, one loses all sense of depth. Indeed, Tómas Knutsson, who is the owner of the local dive centre in the town of Keflavik, has often had people suffering from vertigo when they first enter the water. The reasons for this outstanding clarity are two-fold. First, it is cold. Its temperature varies between 2 and 4ºC all year round. At this temperature nature stands little chance of supporting much aquatic life. Secondly, the water itself is of the purest form. It begins as distilled water when the leading edge of the glacier melts high up on the Hofsjokull mountain. This water then disappears and runs underground, to emerge once again in the Thingvellir national park. On its journey it is constantly filtered by porous lava rock. The water is so pure that it can be drunk without any form of treatment.

After reading that, there was clearly no way that I wasn't going to do this.

Photo taken 3.10.11.

Top photo: Very glad those people were in the frame, as it gives a better perspective on the size of the plates.

Bottom photo: Since the photos are tiny on this blog, you can't quite see the buildings close to the center of the frame. This spot is where the Vikings founded parliament in 930, as well as where Christianity was officially adopted in 1000.

Most amazing to me? Parliament didn't move from the photo above to Reykjavik until 1845.

Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet at Þingvellir National Park, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Please pardon the windshield dirt. Although, I will say... the windshield dirt is imperative, as this was the drive to what was yet to be determined as one of the dumbest impromptu decisions I've ever made orrrr the coolest.

Photo taken on 3.10.11.

The final stretch on my walk back to the hotel. Surprisingly, I slept through dinner.

When I awoke, however, I did what I came here to do. I sat by the harbor for about two hours, from 10-12, waiting for Ms. Aurora Borealis to show her pretty face. Yes, I'm a nerd, a very chilled-to-the-bone nerd at that. And I know that monitoring solar activity is not what most people do in their free time, particularly when traveling, but the aurora is something special.

Photo taken on 3.9.11. Hallgrímskirkja in the distance.

Hallgrímskirkja.

Unfortunately, by the time this nice light occurs, the church is closed. I will be paying another visit sometime before I leave. Hopefully, it will not be snowing.

Photo taken 3.9.11.

Probably the best fish and chips I've ever had. At Icelandic Fish and Chips, they only offer their customers fish that was caught that morning.

What's on the table:

Drinks: Homemade soda (fresh ginger, lemon, agave nectar and soda water), water

Food: Cod fried in a spelt/barley batter and rosemary and olive oil chips

Sauce: Basil-garlic Skyr

Yep. Still a member of the Clean Plate Club.

Just in case you wanted further information: http://www.fishandchips.is/

All of the above photos were taken on Spítalastígur on my walk from the harbor to Hallgrímskirkja.

Oh Reykjavik... you are so beautiful, but so cold.

Photo taken on 3.9.11.

Success!

Sadly, no whales, but we caught some pretty active white-beaked dolphins playing around. The best part about these guys was the belly-flop sound they made when they landed. I've seen dolphins in the wild before, but I've never seen them twist and belly flop!

Definitely a time where I would have loved to toss on my scuba gear, as usually, hundreds of dolphins within the pod stay below the surface.

This encounter rivals the time when I was on a ferry heading to Surigao City, Mindinao in the Philippines to begin the Carrera Habagat. Kaloy and I took a late ferry out and just around twilight, I went to the bow of the boat to watch the colors of the horizon change. My eyes lit up when I caught sight of a handful of dolphins riding the wake. It was too dark to photograph, but holy cow was it beautiful.

This time, I'm quite grateful that it was sunny so I could snap a few photos.

Photos taken on 3.9.11.

If you ever wanted to know what I would look like whale-watching in Iceland in March, here's your answer.

It was absolutely a Vuarnet day.

Photo taken on 3.9.11.

A few shots from the Hafsúlan whilst searching the bay for whales.

Photos taken on 3.9.11.

You may be thinking, "What the heck, Al? It's not whale season in Iceland! Everybody knows that!"

Or maybe you're not thinking that. But if you are, you would be correct. However, there is one operation that suits people up in super warm coveralls and takes them out into the bay for some whale-watching. You won't ever see the minke whales, but it's always a possibility, though your chances are significantly lower due to migration patterns, to see humpbacks, orcas, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and a variety of birds.

Even without a sighting, I figured it would all be well worth it, as it was a stunningly beautiful day day for a boat trip in Iceland. Again, windy, but that wasn't really an element with which I was concerning myself.

If it doesn't affect the well-being of the camera, then I'm ok with it.

Photo taken on 3.9.11.

See? Day two is muuuchh nicer.

I spent much of the morning chatting with people about where to go, what to see. So much chatting, in fact, that as usual, I let the time get away from me. I had a very important date with a whale-watching vessel, so I left the conversation to scurry down Laugavegur, Reykjavik's main street, to get to the harbor.

By scurry, I mean slip and slide with the rest of the locals down the ice-covered streets. You learn very quickly that you must always look for the whitest parts of the sidewalk or your butt will be on the ground in a second.

Can you imagine the streets of New York being that way? Lawsuits galore. Haha, it's actually a rather amusing notion.

So anyway, I had seen this graffiti the day before, but as mentioned, it was snowing and terribly windy. When I walked by on this gorgeous Wednesday, I had to detour to take a few shots, despite my moderate tardiness.

Photos taken on 3.9.11.

Gooooood morning, Iceland!

Thaaat's more like it.

Photo: Reykjavik's harbor and surrounding mountains through one of the hotel windows - 3.9.11.

Reykjavik's harbor.

The wind/snow yesterday was just silly. It didn't stop me from exploring the city, but it did cease much of the shooting for the day... well the weather plus the fact that yes, yet again, I've lost another lens cap. No lens cap and arctic conditions? Not good for the old glass there.

Rest assured it's much nicer today and that I'm on my way to a photography shop.

Photo taken on 3.8.11.

Gooooood morning, Vietnam!

Wait... that can't be right...

Photo taken on the bus (hence the reflection and occasional water spot) on the way to Reykjavik on 3.8.11.

Did you know that the average age of a Met opera-goer is 65?

After its 2011-12 season preview a few weeks ago, I think the Met has me sold. I want to learn more about opera. I think just by having me regularly attend that gorgeous opera house, it will bump the average age down by at least five years. I'm not even considering the possibility of attending with friends, because I already know that it will never happen... so the Met and I will take our five years and go.

The first time I was ever at the Met was with a lovely young gent in the early spring of 2009. It was all very "A Night at the Opera," as we sat in our seats with a brilliant, boozing professor willing to share both his bag of un-shelled peanuts and his flask. Fortunately for my date, not only did I love being in that venue for the first time, but Marx Brothers' humor kind of works for me.

Following that experience, I didn't return to the Met until October of 2010 when Bon Jovi played the opera house for the annual Baron Conference. This time, I found myself backstage just staring at all the props and set pieces that made up one opera, wondering "how in God's name does all of this move during a performance?"

That's next on the opera to-do list. Go to the opera, stagehand style. Doable? I think so.

Photo: (L-R) Steven Eldredge and David Daniels perform at the Metropolitan Opera's press conference, previewing their 2011-2012 season, in a studio at the Metropolitan Opera House on February 16th, 2011 in New York City.

(L-R) Tony Sheldon and Will Swenson perform with the cast of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" at the "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" press invite on February 15th, 2011 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

As a side-note, I cannot wait to go see this show. First of all, it's about time that it came to Broadway. Second of all, and perhaps more importantly, when I stepped off the elevator to head into the studio where the event was being held, I was greeted by a drag queen dressed as a cupcake... with cupcakes!! Of course I ate one... or two....

Life doesn't get much better than that, kids.

Australian director Simon Phillips addresses the media at a "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" press invite on February 15th, 2011 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

Prisms, man...

On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, heading back to New York from Pittsburgh on the 14th, we happened to see for the first time, the end of the rainbow. Obviously, I needed to pull over to explore.

There were no pots of gold, no leprechauns and no magically delicious Lucky Charms.

There was, however, a trailer park about an eighth of a mile up the road.

It has been and is going to continue to be a great 2011.

Jon Bon Jovi/Consol Energy Center/Pittsburgh, PA/2.12.11

Bon Jovi/Consol Energy Center/Pittsburgh, PA/2.12.11

Bon Jovi/Consol Energy Center/Pittsburgh, PA/2.12.11

Bottom photo: Jon with Richie Sambora

I know an astounding amount of Bon Jovi trivia now.

That has nothing to do with this photograph, but JB asked me a Bon Jovi question yesterday and without even blinking, I knew the answer. Within seconds, I realized what I had just done.

Jon Bon Jovi/Consol Energy Center/Pittsburgh, PA/2.12.11

It doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter where you go
If it's a million miles aways or just a mile up the road
Take it in, take it with you when you go,
who says you can't go home?

Not me! Now, as many of you know, prior to working with Bon Jovi, their music wasn't exactly my favorite. But, when you are perched at the highest point in a stadium on a gorgeous, late-spring evening with your camera, photographing the experience of stadium rock as only you've imagined, sometimes that band of which you weren't fond, becomes a band that, no matter where you are, you are always happy to hear.

Unbelievable? Yes, probably. My disdain did run rather deep for twenty-four years of my life. As a testament to my for better or for worse honesty, yes, I am now that girl who (since May 2010) requests Bon Jovi at every wedding she goes to. I kick off my high heels at the DJ booth, walk out onto the dance floor and belt the words with whoever is there to sing with me, my curls bouncing along with every enthusiastic fist-pump. Yeah, that's right... fist. pump.

What can I say? That man gave me everything I wanted in a photograph. The least I can do is fist-pump my way through four minutes and nine seconds of something he created when I was one year old. And do I love it?

Yes. Yes and yes. Absolutely.

Bon Jovi/Consol Energy Center/Pittsburgh, PA/2.12.11

Bon Jovi/Consol Energy Center/Pittsburgh, PA/2.12.11

In moments where I reside on my little cloud of reflection (when I should be editing), with the pristine sound of my speakers taking words and notes of new music to my brain's receptors, I am very grateful for my friends who are indeed out in the world at this very moment meeting amazing people and sharing their stories... as I'm stuck in a euphoric glow of dreams, thoughts and music, rendering me useless to the human world of adventure and productivity.

Or in Brad's case, while he is at a computer, he happens to be editing some footage from and writing for "Gourmet Farmer" - a show all about life, love and food - all the way in Sydney, Australia. In a simple gchat conversation with my dear friend and travel buddy, BH shares the above video still and the following with me:

Brad: So this great Italian/Greek woman (right) cooks this yummy dish as pictured and tells a story about every ingredient and how it relates to love and life.

Brad: And sings a little aria while doing so.

Brad: Anyway so the best story she tells is - her father leaves Italy when he's 8 and returns 45 years later.

Brad: His name is Angelo and after a life in Australia he pops back to Italy and his little old town and knocks on a door where he remembers an old uncle used to live. The door opens, and a silver haired 92-year-old man appears and instantly recognizes him, even though he hadn't seen him since he was a boy.. and says, 'Angelo - come in'

Brad: They sit down and start chatting about things, and the old fella pulls out a salami he has made, and fresh bread he's just baked and wanders down under his house to the cellar. He comes back with a bottle of red wine (that he's also made) and puts it on the table and on the label it reads... 'To be opened on the occasion of Angelo's return'...

Brad: They're just picking up where they left off.

You all have Brad and whatever I ate the past two nights before bed to thank for a break between Bon Jovi show days. Either way, that was absolutely a short little piece of cinematic reality worth sharing.