Day 122-Alison arrives

   May 5-We had spent the night in Reykjavík, so we could meet Alison Adams at the airport this morning.  Alison, our first nonfamily visitor from the States, is a friend of Shan's from our undergraduate days at the University of Colorado.  We lived in the same dorm our freshman year and have remained in contact off and on since then.  Alison had a layover in Keflavík once and thought that she would like to see more of Iceland, so when she found out that we were living here, we worked out this time for her to visit us.
   This was the third time that we have met visitors at the airport, so we have the process down pretty well. We got up when the alarm went off around 6am this morning and checked Keflavík airport's website to see if Alison's plane was on time.  Since it was, we got around and drove out to the airport.  We figured a younger, single passenger would move through passport control and customs more quickly, and we were correct, as she emerged from the secure area a little after 7am, less than a half hour after her airplane landed.  Her flight was mostly uneventful.  We picked up her car and drove back to Pam and Marilyn's.
   The kids got up only a short time before we arrived, so they had not given Pam and Marilyn much trouble, which was nice.  Marilyn whipped up a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and bread for us, which was wonderful.  Unfortunately, Alison forgot her laptop at the screening station at the Boston airport, so she spent some time trying to contact FSA and the Boston Airport to track it down.  Since today is a Saturday, she had no luck.

View south to the Reykjanes peninsula

   Afterwards, we headed out to wander around Reykjavík to keep Alison moving so she would stay awake.  We went shopping at Tiger, so Alison could get a journal to keep notes about her vacation, and because a visit to this store is always on top of the kids' wish list.  Alison wanted to visit the music store Tón 12, so we next stopped there.  The weather was cool, but the skies were clear, so we headed to Hallgrímskirkja to go to the top of the steeple to get some fantastic views of the city as well as far off into distance.  We returned to Pam and Marilyn's to drop off our purchases and then walked over to the Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur to get some of the world-famous Icelandic hot dogs for dinner.  Sated, we went shopping at the weekend flea market at Kolaportið, where Alex found a number of Icelandic stamps to add to her collection and I found a new pair of hiking boots.
   We had hoped to take a boat tour to see puffins, but the sea was too rough, so we returned to Pam and Marilyn's and packed up to leave town.  Sally and the kids headed back to Bifröst, stopping at Akranes for supper.  Back at home they settled in to watch a video.  The kids have been wanting to watch an American movie for some time, and Sally managed to order and download "Princess Diaries 2" on the iPad.  The kids were thrilled!
   Meanwhile, Alison and I drove east to Selfoss where we checked into a cabin at the Gueshouse Selfoss.  By staying here, we intended to cut some time off of the drive around the Golden Circle the next day.  When we checked in, the owner mentioned that there was a lobster restaurant at the coastal town of Stokkseyri, which was only ten miles to the south.  Alison loves lobster, so we decided to go eat there.  The meal was great.  Afterwards, we returned to the cabin, so Alison could finally get to sleep after essentially pulling an "all-nighter."  Travel across time zones is always rough!