Wednesday 23 December
Today I went to the office to go on the internet. A little while later I saw a carriage with a horse draw up. I found out that they guy is a friend of Yiannis. This guy told me that the takes people for rides and does a lot of weddings.
I called Jayne to say, 'Your carriage is here.' I told her to come down and she did. I found out that the guy's name is Nic or Nicolas. I said we would like a ride. He said that the ride is 10 euros for 10 minutes.
In stead of taking us around the block he took us to his farm. This was about a 10 minute ride. As it turned out we stayed the whole day. There are some other English people there who wanted to see him.
He has a hectare or two in an area where there are expensive homes. As I found out later that where he lives was owned by a Turk, so he doesn't have papers of ownership. Anyhow, Nic or however you spell it, offers rides to people.
Nic talked and talked, and he seems to have had a very interesting life. He had been in all kinds of businesses and he said he was very successful in them. Then he took us to another area of the village where he showed a jaguar that he is restoring. One of the English guys restores antique cars. Then it was back at his house where his wife made lunch for us. As I found out later his wife is from Kavkas, and of course, speaks Russian. So I spoke a little Russian with her.
We got back to the office about 4.15. since we had left about 10am it had been a long day. Then, Nic talked some more in the office. I talked also and told him what I do, mentioning EFT. He seemed interested in it.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Immigration
Tuesday 22 December
Yiannis took us to immigration and dropped us off. We waited to see the woman, though we were told we could have gone in front of the line at any time (since we had to go back). There were two Russians who tried to but in front of us (looked like mother and daughter). I said that we were here first. The daughter spoke English but she still get the message so I stood my ground.
The woman was the same one that we had before. She asked for the documents and we gave them to her. However, she didn't ask for one that she told us I needed the last time. This was a bank statement of mine going back three months. We had it but I didn't show it to her and I'm glad that Jayne didn't pull it out.
She saw the document that she wanted before stating that I was single. However, it's not the same that we got in Ecuador, as all the Embassy could do here is to stamp what I say on the document that what I wrote is true. However, this she didn't know and what she saw was OK.
Jayne showed her the bank balance she now has, and that was OK. The money she has in it is more than is required to live here, yet this woman asked if she had anything else. Jayne showed her the account where this money came from (that was transferred to Cyprus). The woman asked if there was anything else. Jayne showed her a bank statement book from Spain. She made a copy of that, but before this was not accepted. Can you figure all of this out?! It just shows that what were were told is bull shit!
Then I had to pay 42 euros and 72 cents.
She then told us we have to come back to pick up the visa for Jayne and the receipts.
We called Yiannis and he picked us up. While we were waiting, I thought of this and told Jayne. That when the woman asked for more bank info, it was just a 'fishing expedition' on the government's part. When we satisfy the law, why show more money? We could be there all day if we had more and more accounts to show her.
So, if you have enough money to live here, but have another 10 million euros somewhere else, it's none of their damn business!
We had to take a taxi back to immigration. Yiannis said he had to go to Nicosia, which as it turned out he didn't. But regardless, I would take a taxi anyhow, as I didn't want Yiannis to go again. He's done more than enough for us and dispite all this he wouldn't take money from us.
So, Yiannis called a friend who has a taxi business.
At immigration we were told that Jayne's visa is good indefinately, but mine is only good until my passport expires. Why didn't she tell me this when we were there before!?
I knew that my passport would expire in ten months (October 2010). I didn't renew it yet, for two reasons:
1- that I still had time on it
2 – that I would need my passport when I went into immigration again.
When we were at the America Embassy I asked about it, and they said I can renew it even if I still had 11 months to go. I got a form to fill out, but since this would take about 2 weeks, I would need this before I go immigration again. Had I know this then, I would have filled it out there, come back in when it was ready and just postponed going to immigration until I got it.
The woman said that we don't need all the documents, but told us what we do need. However, I will have to produce a bank statement, pay again, and take the trips again. Of course, I will have to make two trips to Nicosia to get this done.
Wait until Yiannis hears this.
Yiannis took us to immigration and dropped us off. We waited to see the woman, though we were told we could have gone in front of the line at any time (since we had to go back). There were two Russians who tried to but in front of us (looked like mother and daughter). I said that we were here first. The daughter spoke English but she still get the message so I stood my ground.
The woman was the same one that we had before. She asked for the documents and we gave them to her. However, she didn't ask for one that she told us I needed the last time. This was a bank statement of mine going back three months. We had it but I didn't show it to her and I'm glad that Jayne didn't pull it out.
She saw the document that she wanted before stating that I was single. However, it's not the same that we got in Ecuador, as all the Embassy could do here is to stamp what I say on the document that what I wrote is true. However, this she didn't know and what she saw was OK.
Jayne showed her the bank balance she now has, and that was OK. The money she has in it is more than is required to live here, yet this woman asked if she had anything else. Jayne showed her the account where this money came from (that was transferred to Cyprus). The woman asked if there was anything else. Jayne showed her a bank statement book from Spain. She made a copy of that, but before this was not accepted. Can you figure all of this out?! It just shows that what were were told is bull shit!
Then I had to pay 42 euros and 72 cents.
She then told us we have to come back to pick up the visa for Jayne and the receipts.
We called Yiannis and he picked us up. While we were waiting, I thought of this and told Jayne. That when the woman asked for more bank info, it was just a 'fishing expedition' on the government's part. When we satisfy the law, why show more money? We could be there all day if we had more and more accounts to show her.
So, if you have enough money to live here, but have another 10 million euros somewhere else, it's none of their damn business!
We had to take a taxi back to immigration. Yiannis said he had to go to Nicosia, which as it turned out he didn't. But regardless, I would take a taxi anyhow, as I didn't want Yiannis to go again. He's done more than enough for us and dispite all this he wouldn't take money from us.
So, Yiannis called a friend who has a taxi business.
At immigration we were told that Jayne's visa is good indefinately, but mine is only good until my passport expires. Why didn't she tell me this when we were there before!?
I knew that my passport would expire in ten months (October 2010). I didn't renew it yet, for two reasons:
1- that I still had time on it
2 – that I would need my passport when I went into immigration again.
When we were at the America Embassy I asked about it, and they said I can renew it even if I still had 11 months to go. I got a form to fill out, but since this would take about 2 weeks, I would need this before I go immigration again. Had I know this then, I would have filled it out there, come back in when it was ready and just postponed going to immigration until I got it.
The woman said that we don't need all the documents, but told us what we do need. However, I will have to produce a bank statement, pay again, and take the trips again. Of course, I will have to make two trips to Nicosia to get this done.
Wait until Yiannis hears this.
Middle of December
Yiannis said to us that he will be going to a village with some friends for Christmas and asked if we wanted to come along. We said yes. He said that there is small hotel that we'd be staying out. I had said that Jayne and were thinking about going somewhere just to get out of the flat.
Then about this time, Angela wanted to know if we wanted to come with her and Jan to a Holiday Inn for dinner for Christmas night (25th). I told her about our plans with Yiannis.
Later Yiannis said that guy would not be going as he can't bring his dog. Well, later Jayne and I figured out that he had invited us where he was not in a postion to invite us. You never do this when you are invited yourself.
Anyhow, thinking that I had already talked to Angela and she made plans with Jan, we would book a place in a hotel somewhere in town. Even if we did go out with Angela, it would only be for a few hours and it's not a nice thing to spend out anniversary in a junky studio flat that we are in now.
So, I went to check on two nice hotels in the area. The Applonian wanted 175 euros per night and that would include the gala dinner and lunch the next day. Then I went to the Miremare and they wanted 100 euros per night (for the room not per person). The dinner would be 55 euros each and if we wanted the Christmas lunch it would be 30 euros each.
I talked to Jayne and we decided to go to the Miremare for the night of the 24th and 25th.
I got an email from Clive saying that Mary had talked to Angela. I was told that Angela seemed upset that we wouldn't be joining them. He asked if we could compromise. So, I got on the phone with Angela and told her the story of our original plans; the plans that fell through with Yainnis and of us booking a hotel. I invited her to come for dinner and I would pay for that. She said no. then I said what about breakfast the next day and she couldn't because of the dog and cat she takes care of and it would be too much food to eat, since she would be going out that night again.
Then I finally said that we would join them on the 25th if she could get the space. She thought that was good and was happy.
Since we will be having our gala diner on the 24th, we would be just having a regular dinner on the 25th, we thought it would be better to be with Angela. Now Jan is not a happy person to be with but that's the way she is.
I wrote back to Clive about this and he wrote back to me saying he was happy about it.
Angela is proud that it was through her that I met Jayne, so it's only natural to for me to make a special effort to be with her. I have been glad of all the places and times she invited me to join her and her group. This year, most of the people she knows will be with their family – some of them back in England. Also, her husband, Derrick died this past June, and it's the first Christmas she'll have without him.
The dinner at the Holiday will be 27 euros, so that might be the same as the regular dinner at the Miramare for Christmas.
Then about this time, Angela wanted to know if we wanted to come with her and Jan to a Holiday Inn for dinner for Christmas night (25th). I told her about our plans with Yiannis.
Later Yiannis said that guy would not be going as he can't bring his dog. Well, later Jayne and I figured out that he had invited us where he was not in a postion to invite us. You never do this when you are invited yourself.
Anyhow, thinking that I had already talked to Angela and she made plans with Jan, we would book a place in a hotel somewhere in town. Even if we did go out with Angela, it would only be for a few hours and it's not a nice thing to spend out anniversary in a junky studio flat that we are in now.
So, I went to check on two nice hotels in the area. The Applonian wanted 175 euros per night and that would include the gala dinner and lunch the next day. Then I went to the Miremare and they wanted 100 euros per night (for the room not per person). The dinner would be 55 euros each and if we wanted the Christmas lunch it would be 30 euros each.
I talked to Jayne and we decided to go to the Miremare for the night of the 24th and 25th.
I got an email from Clive saying that Mary had talked to Angela. I was told that Angela seemed upset that we wouldn't be joining them. He asked if we could compromise. So, I got on the phone with Angela and told her the story of our original plans; the plans that fell through with Yainnis and of us booking a hotel. I invited her to come for dinner and I would pay for that. She said no. then I said what about breakfast the next day and she couldn't because of the dog and cat she takes care of and it would be too much food to eat, since she would be going out that night again.
Then I finally said that we would join them on the 25th if she could get the space. She thought that was good and was happy.
Since we will be having our gala diner on the 24th, we would be just having a regular dinner on the 25th, we thought it would be better to be with Angela. Now Jan is not a happy person to be with but that's the way she is.
I wrote back to Clive about this and he wrote back to me saying he was happy about it.
Angela is proud that it was through her that I met Jayne, so it's only natural to for me to make a special effort to be with her. I have been glad of all the places and times she invited me to join her and her group. This year, most of the people she knows will be with their family – some of them back in England. Also, her husband, Derrick died this past June, and it's the first Christmas she'll have without him.
The dinner at the Holiday will be 27 euros, so that might be the same as the regular dinner at the Miramare for Christmas.
US Embassy
Wednesday December 9
Today Yiannis took us to Nicosia to so I could get a stamp to prove that I was not married. Really stupid thing, as mentioned previously, since this was already done in Ecuador. We got there with little time to spare as the cashier closes at 11am.
The Police State
Going into the US Embassy here is like going into a police state. It's just totally bazaar. First, when we were still outside, the guy told us if we had any cell phones and Jayne said she does. He told her to turn it off and take out the battery. Then he asked for our passports. We had to wait outside for about 10 minutes while he went inside with our passports. So, why couldn't we go inside with out passports as everyone else does? I bet they were checking on some international data base if we were 'terrorists'.
When we were allowed inside, we noticed that a guy was working on the metal detector machines that checks the baggage. Jayne had a folder with a lot of papers in it. The woman went though ever piece of paper. She said that envelope are not allowed!
This turned out to be the first of the crazy things that are not allowed inside the embassy – you know, it might be a bomb.
She asked if I had anything in my pocket and I said some coins and a key. She took them as they are not allowed. She asked about my jacket and I said I have my wallet. She had to look through that, then gave it back to me.
This took at least 5 minutes.
Then Jayne walked through the metal detector door. Of course, this is not enough, so the woman used a hand held metal detector on her. Then I went though. When the hand held detector was used she asked if I had anything in my pocket and I reached in and pulled out some sugar that came from a cafe. This was not allowed inside and had to be put with the other htings!
This was worse than any airport check and it took much longer, too. Since there was no one else waiting to get in, there was no line. In fact, we saw no one else in there for services when we were there. Naturally, this would be the case as few Americans live or visit Cyprus. But of course, they still have to have the biggest embassy.
Then this woman radio and gave the number '45' to the another person to say we were coming. She opened one secured door and we were outside again in an inner court yard. There, another guy waited for us by another door. Again, we went through the metal detector dor and was check again by a hand held metal detector.
What's with all this checking. What they are saying is, that they don't trust the first person. But really, it's the air of force, power and police state that the US government wants to project.
Then he had to open another secured door. It was in this room where the cashiers are. This room seats about 25 chairs, but they were all empty. There are 4 windows you go to and another one where you pay for the services. Of course, this is never needed and they don't have the Americans here.
We were told that they don't stamp other documents but all they can do is for me to fill out an affidavit that I never was married before. I filled that out and it cost me 21 euros. Since the girl was closing up I had to pay before I filled out the document.
Then we got out of there.
We met Yiannis at the snack bar where we were the week before. He told us that he tried to get in there but they would not let him in as he is not an American. He thought 'Jayne is not an American, but got inside' but he didn't say anything.
Yiannis talked Greek to the guy and girl out front and they didn't know Greek. He thought they might be Turks and thought it strange that the US government would hire them. Then I thought about it and I think that they are Jews. This would be more like, as the US has its nose up the butt of Israeli. Also, Cyprus is near the Middle East where they can conduct their spying from.
Then we went to another office to get the marriage paper stamped. Then back to Limassol.
Jayne has yet to get money into Cyprus to her account. And Yiannis has to put her on his book that she is working for him. Without that, it would not look good if we go in right now to the immigration office here. So, we'll wait.
At Starbucks, I saw John there (who has an internet business). Also, I saw the guy who has the make your own water and electricity business. John had told me about one website that he has that cost him $13,000 to make but he never did anything with it. He said he'd sell it for $4,000. I asked why so cheap and he told me that he doesn't have time for it.
This site is about helping guys talk to girls by sending 'one liners' to their cell phones. I said that was nice but I suggested that we start out with me just working the business and he gives me part of the profits. He said that was OK. He suggested that we be JV (Joint Venture). He offered me more than 50% of the profits.
I hope that this isn't talk. But it looks like it is exactly what I need. For a long time I wanted to buy an established internet business. Right now, I don't have the extra money. We need all we have to live until I get money in for the sale of the flat. Had we met in early 2006 or earlier, I would have had the money.
I asked him to tell me what to work on, and I can start that before I work on my own page. This will bring money in sooner. For my own page, I still want to do it, but it will take a lot more money and time. Since his page is already up, all I have to pay for now is have one of his workers get traffic, and I can work on getting traffic, too.
Today Yiannis took us to Nicosia to so I could get a stamp to prove that I was not married. Really stupid thing, as mentioned previously, since this was already done in Ecuador. We got there with little time to spare as the cashier closes at 11am.
The Police State
Going into the US Embassy here is like going into a police state. It's just totally bazaar. First, when we were still outside, the guy told us if we had any cell phones and Jayne said she does. He told her to turn it off and take out the battery. Then he asked for our passports. We had to wait outside for about 10 minutes while he went inside with our passports. So, why couldn't we go inside with out passports as everyone else does? I bet they were checking on some international data base if we were 'terrorists'.
When we were allowed inside, we noticed that a guy was working on the metal detector machines that checks the baggage. Jayne had a folder with a lot of papers in it. The woman went though ever piece of paper. She said that envelope are not allowed!
This turned out to be the first of the crazy things that are not allowed inside the embassy – you know, it might be a bomb.
She asked if I had anything in my pocket and I said some coins and a key. She took them as they are not allowed. She asked about my jacket and I said I have my wallet. She had to look through that, then gave it back to me.
This took at least 5 minutes.
Then Jayne walked through the metal detector door. Of course, this is not enough, so the woman used a hand held metal detector on her. Then I went though. When the hand held detector was used she asked if I had anything in my pocket and I reached in and pulled out some sugar that came from a cafe. This was not allowed inside and had to be put with the other htings!
This was worse than any airport check and it took much longer, too. Since there was no one else waiting to get in, there was no line. In fact, we saw no one else in there for services when we were there. Naturally, this would be the case as few Americans live or visit Cyprus. But of course, they still have to have the biggest embassy.
Then this woman radio and gave the number '45' to the another person to say we were coming. She opened one secured door and we were outside again in an inner court yard. There, another guy waited for us by another door. Again, we went through the metal detector dor and was check again by a hand held metal detector.
What's with all this checking. What they are saying is, that they don't trust the first person. But really, it's the air of force, power and police state that the US government wants to project.
Then he had to open another secured door. It was in this room where the cashiers are. This room seats about 25 chairs, but they were all empty. There are 4 windows you go to and another one where you pay for the services. Of course, this is never needed and they don't have the Americans here.
We were told that they don't stamp other documents but all they can do is for me to fill out an affidavit that I never was married before. I filled that out and it cost me 21 euros. Since the girl was closing up I had to pay before I filled out the document.
Then we got out of there.
We met Yiannis at the snack bar where we were the week before. He told us that he tried to get in there but they would not let him in as he is not an American. He thought 'Jayne is not an American, but got inside' but he didn't say anything.
Yiannis talked Greek to the guy and girl out front and they didn't know Greek. He thought they might be Turks and thought it strange that the US government would hire them. Then I thought about it and I think that they are Jews. This would be more like, as the US has its nose up the butt of Israeli. Also, Cyprus is near the Middle East where they can conduct their spying from.
Then we went to another office to get the marriage paper stamped. Then back to Limassol.
Jayne has yet to get money into Cyprus to her account. And Yiannis has to put her on his book that she is working for him. Without that, it would not look good if we go in right now to the immigration office here. So, we'll wait.
At Starbucks, I saw John there (who has an internet business). Also, I saw the guy who has the make your own water and electricity business. John had told me about one website that he has that cost him $13,000 to make but he never did anything with it. He said he'd sell it for $4,000. I asked why so cheap and he told me that he doesn't have time for it.
This site is about helping guys talk to girls by sending 'one liners' to their cell phones. I said that was nice but I suggested that we start out with me just working the business and he gives me part of the profits. He said that was OK. He suggested that we be JV (Joint Venture). He offered me more than 50% of the profits.
I hope that this isn't talk. But it looks like it is exactly what I need. For a long time I wanted to buy an established internet business. Right now, I don't have the extra money. We need all we have to live until I get money in for the sale of the flat. Had we met in early 2006 or earlier, I would have had the money.
I asked him to tell me what to work on, and I can start that before I work on my own page. This will bring money in sooner. For my own page, I still want to do it, but it will take a lot more money and time. Since his page is already up, all I have to pay for now is have one of his workers get traffic, and I can work on getting traffic, too.
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