Christmas Day

Anniversary of Our Meeting

part 1

I woke up first at 6.15am and the sky was just getting light. I went back to sleep and got up at 8am. I then got ready and woke Jayne up. Since breakfast ends at 10am, it's good to be there at 9am.

I put a gift down on the night table and on the writing table for Jayne. And Jayne reached into the suitcase and gave me a gift, too.

What I gave her was two of the gifts and saved the other one for tonight.

When we entered we were given a class of champagne. We saw Hans and Edith (the German couple) there. They had just got there themselves. So, we had a nice conversation.

After breakfast we went outside and talked at a table.

The weather today has light clouds, but the sun was still shinning.

Back in our room, Jayne wanted to lay down.

What I did was, first I called Angela and wished her a Merry Christmas (knowing that she is home by herself). Then I made a DVD for the couple we met, as I said I would. I also made a DVD for the manager as I said I would. Then I made one for Angela of the pictures I took the few months. Some of them were of her. I also put on the disk the pictures/videos I took last night.

Then, I went down to the piano bar and typed what you are reading now. Jayne was still asleep when I left. Since I have a lot to write, and want to enjoy the hotel, I thought I'd do this.

I found a seat near an outlet to plug my computer in.

After my typing I went upstairs to get ready.

We got ready just in time and when we went downstairs, Angela was already there. She had picked up Jan first before coming to the hotel and Jan was in the lobby looking for us.

We were the first ones in the dinning hall. The dinner starts 7.30 and we got there about 7.15. but shortly after we arrived some other guests arrived, too.

I ordered a bottle of white wine for the whole table; had our pictures taken and chatted a bit. The woman singer and gentleman who sings and plays the keyboard were getting ready.

The buffet was in the next room which is like a hall, so it's perfect for buffet displays.

The meal was nice, with salads, shrimp, etc. the hot portion was meat, vegetables but no fish. So I made do with what was there and was happy. The food was not as lavish as the Miramare but they were more expensive, too. The cost of the meal without drinks was 30 euros each.

The singers sang all Greek songs. So we didn't care for that. It looked like the guests were all Cypriots, so many that is why.

We were eating while the singing was going on. Then the magician act came on where there was a man and a woman. The show was very good but it was short. I filmed nearly everything on video.

Then the singing started again. After hearing one Greek song after another, Angela asked the head waiter if they could sing something in English. After a little while she did. With the first song, Jayne and I danced. The second song, Angela and I danced. These were slow songs.
Later, they play a twist song, so Angela and I danced. I think this is the first time that Jayne saw me jive. The crowd seemed to like what we did as there was an applause afterwards that was not like the little clapping that the singers go.

The woman singers was quite good by the way.

When Angela and I were dancing, some old fat guy came up to Jayne to ask her to dance. She seemed to have a little conversation with him. Angela and I were laughing from the dance floor. Finally, Jayne and this guy went to the dance floor. This guy had a big belly and his shirt was wrinkled and hanging out the back.

I wish I had the camera for that.

Later, Jayne and Jan went out to the rest-rooms. Angela and I got up as they played another song we could dance to. The musician played Tom Jones 'Sex Bomb'.

Then I innocently took off my jacket and Angela was laughing. I took off my tie, too. (You know, it gets hot dancing.) Well, the crowd started laughing, and Angela turned her body away from me. Then I unbuttoned my shirt.

With all the food that we ate, my waist-line got a little bigger, so I had to take off my belt. By this time some people were taking pictures. At this time, Jayne comes walking in. She gave a non-serious look and went up to the dance floor and started to button my shirt up.

I gave her my tie and jacket.

The guests, I'm sure by now knew that Jayne was my wife.

I got a good applause when we left the dance floor. Jayne said to take a bow, and I did. I also held out my hand as it to say, 'Donations are appreciated.'

We stayed to about 11.30pm.

When I went to pay the bill, the woman brought it over and I saw that the total for the four of us was 161 euros. The cost of each meal was 30, then there was the local wine which was 18 euros, the coffee and koinak.

When the woman brought the machine for the card, it said the battery was low. She said if you want to leave a tip, enter it. Well, I did, though we paid a lot for everything. As it turned out, it couldn't process the card. I guess because of the battery low. So, she went to the reception and got another machine. This time, it didn't go to the place where you enter a tip. So, I didn't enter one. This little waiting was worth it as it saved me 15 euros.

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...

Christmas Eve 2009

I got up and left early to go to Starbucks to go on the internet. Since I didn't get what I wanted done yesterday, I have to do it today.

I sent of a bunch of e-card for Christmas to my friends and family.

After I left Starbucks, I went to the jewellery store to buy Jayne some gifts. I looked over everything carefully and picked out a silver diamond cut necklace. I also bought two polished stones that has silver around it that can be worn around the neck. This is what Jayne likes, so I hope she likes what I bought her.

One gift will be for the anniversary and other other two will be Christmas gifts.

We had a bit to eat at home. Then I called the taxi to take us to the hotel. We used the same guy that is a friend of Yiannis' who took us to immigration. It's within walking distance but it doesn't look nice walking to a hotel and pulling a suitcase along. It was close to 2pm when he came. The cost was 4 eros and some change, but I gave him five euros.

Check-in time is 2pm. The cost for 2 nights and the gala dinner came to 310 euros. It broke down to 100 per night and 55 euros per person for the meal.

When we checked into the room I asked Jayne were my other bag was (that has my computer cable and her gifts). She didn't take it with her!

Continued in the next post...

Close to Christmas

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.

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.