Pictures of Christmas Eve, pt 1

Top: Picture with the chef, taken by the restaurant manager. The manager came up with the idea and insisted to take the picture. (I made a copy for the pictures I took and gave it to the hotel.)

Bottom: Jayne

Dinner on Christmas Eve

Having Dinner at the hotel

When we went to get our food, I took my camera to take some pictures. One guy, who might have been the manager, asked if I wanted to take a picture of the chef. I said, 'He's too busy. I can't do that.' He said, 'No problem. He likes his picture taken.'

Not only did he get the head chef, but he said, 'Would you like to have your picture taken with him?' I said yes, of course. Seeing that I was with my wife, he took my camera and we had our pictures taken with him.

How nice! I was really surprised. Something like this wasn't even in my dreams. It goes to show that sometimes you get more than you ask for. It was a humbling experience. And I was honoured to have our pictures taken with him. I guess the guests thought we were some big-wigs.

Again, I think of how the Angels looked down on us and gave us all these blessings. We were put front, close to the dance floor and close to take good pictures from out seat and sitting next to a good couple.

As it turned out the German couple and us were the only ones dancing! There were about 4-6 other people (maximum) dancing. I don't know why people don't dance. The crowd was of mixed age, but few dancers.

I also noticed that most of the people left while there was still an hour or so for the music to play. When we left, which was about 10.30pm there wasn't many people in there and the singers were still playing. Normally, entertainment ends first and the people stay for 15 to 30 minutes more.
Jayne and I went to the piano bar. In the lobby and piano bar there were many people, and the woman that must have started at 7pm was till playing. We stayed until 11pm and left for our room.

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve.

More on Christmas Eve

When we were leaving I had the computer bag on my shoulder and the large suitcase. I asked her to get the trash bag and the canvas bag. She just picked up the trash to take out and not the canvas bag (which I didn't see).

I told her I need them. (In the bag was also my camera.) She said she would unpack while I walked back to our apartment. We discovered that we should have brought some snacks with us, the gin and tonic, too. This, we didn't think of, so I would have had to come back anyhow.
The funny thing is, that it's rare that someone would stay in a nice hotel that is also within walking distance to their home.

On the way back I stopped at the store to buy some things that we need (that Jayne forgot to buy when she went shopping while I was at the cafe). I bought lemon and olives for the gin and tonic that is at the flat.

I packed the food/drink items in one bag and picked up the other bag, too.

I got back within an hour.

We walked around the grounds and I showed Jayne where the indoor pool is.

I took a shower and Jayne wanted a long soak in the tube. She wanted to do that rather than go in the lobby to see the Christmas carol choir. I went and saw them at 6pm.

The choir were Cypriots children, about 9 in total, all young girls with the exception of one and only one little boy. They sang in Greek and English. They were OK to put it the most kindly, but it was nice seeing them.

They sang for about 40 minutes, then I saw a woman getting ready to play the keyboard and sing, but I left before then.

Dinner started at 7.30pm, so I had to get dressed. Jayne was out of the tube by then but still had to get dressed.

At the entrance they asked what our room number is and our names. Then we were asked by another person who was standing a couple of feet from here. We were shown to our table, as each one had the room number on it and reserved sign.

Inside was beautifully decorated. When we got to our table it was up front and on side of the small dance floor with a good view of the woman singer and the guy who played the keyboard.
How nice to be put in a good position. Also, I'd like to mention that we did not asked if we could have the seafront room, but we got one. How nice and perfect for Jayne and me anniversary of meeting and for Christmas, too.

The room with a sea view costs more, but I thought we before we went there that I would not ask for a seafront, but wait on the LORD to what we would get and we got a perfect room on the 3rd floor, which is the 4th in American counting. So, the view of the pool and the sea was great.
The singing and playing was going on while we ate. The food was buffet style, which is better than a fixed menu, as you can choose what you want and as much as you want.

We started a conversation with the couple next to us. They are German and are real nice. Their English is excellent, too. The table to the other side of us was empty, though it was reserved for a room. Why they didn't come, I don't know. Maybe they just didn't check in to the hotel. Maybe they were in the room, but only book the meal but didn't pay for it and decided to eat elsewhere (to save money). Just a guess.

We found out that the couple next to us are teachers in high school and college. They just arrived to Cyprus two hours before and that this is their first time to this country.

To be continued...