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.