By Richlion
Wednesday January 13
I went to Starbucks to see about the how the sale of my flat went. The internet is was not working. So, I typed this diary you see. Later, Tatiana came in and I told her the news and I told her where we will rent. I showed her the building (you can see it from Starbucks). She says she has a flat to rent, too. She said that it costs 650 euros/month but it's in bad condition.
This is very interesting to know. It shows the good buy that we got.
A few minutes later, Chris came in and said hello to me. He told me about another flat that was for rent that he was going to show me, which in the same area. He said that he found out it was rented already for 700 euros. I told him about the problems with it and it has mould. He didn't know that.
I offered to pay him some money and he would not take it. I just wanted to show my appreciation and of the money and agony he saved us by telling us of the area we were going to rent. I said I'd buy him a drink the next time he comes in.
I had a thought this morning and that is, having this apartment makes is special because of its location. Since it's on the main street, in a nice building, it makes it perfect for having clients come to our flat for EFT. Since the flat has nice furniture and also because it's big in size would be good to bring clients there. I taught many students in my flat in Russia, so why not help people with EFT.
Yianis had told me that his 1-bedroom flat rents for 470 euros, and there is one guy that pays 600 euros. So, it puts what we have in perspective of how good a deal we have. His place, of course, is with the same neighbourhood, neighbors, poor furniture and the noise in the area.
In the evening Yiannis took us to the owner's house where we signed the Ageement and the payment of 6,600 euros was paid for one year.
Thursday January 14
At 9am Jayne and I went out to get a taxi to take us to the electric company. We were told that the electric is already on, but we got it in our name. We were also told that there is a claim against the owner as the seal was broken on the heater unit (in the building but one that is associated to this flat).
I called Maria to tell her about this. I had also told the electric compnay that rthey didn't get a notice about it. She said that a letter will be sent out. However, we were able to get the electric in our name and no deposit had to be paid as Jayne is an EU citizen and it was put in her name. If it was in my name I would have to pay the deposit.
I went to the office to see Yainnis and pay him for the rent for the extra few days we stayed there. The told me to wait until the electric bill comes in and I can pay everyting at once. Then he offered to take us to have the phone/internet put in. this is great of him!
When we were there, Jayne told the woman what we want and we were told that a deposit had to be paid. Yiannis said that this is against the law, as EU citizens don't have to pay. She said that there are no exceptions. He said that Cypriots don't have to pay and she confirmed it. He said to pay it but we can sue them. Well, I wouldn't have said that, as she didn't like to hear that, but we went ahead to pay it.
There is a 100 euro deposit as well as the installation fee. The total I had to pay was 150 euros. I got the service that is 2 MB/second and it would cost 43 euros month. This is their second highest speed. There is one higher and two lower. She said that it can be changed without charge, then just pay the rate for that speed. It will be three business days before it is installed.
I got a wireless modem to take home. This is the company's, but it is given out to the customers.
When we got back, we continued packing and cleaning the flat.
The other day, Jim had offered to use his car to move our things. So we took him up on his offer. (Actually it's his brother's car.)
We loaded up the car and took our things over to the new flat. Then Jayne stayed behind and I got the rest of the things in the flat.
It was really nice of Jim to do this. We had planned to rent a car, so this saved us money the second time today (with Yiannis taking us to Cytanet (local telephone/internet company), this saved us money from getting a taxi).
Later I went to Starbucks to go on the internet to see about the sale of my flat in Ecuador. I got an email saying that it was delayed because the Buyer had brought a second check for the balance and it was not certified but he wanted the deed, and my lawyer, Maria del Carmen said no because if the check was no good, she would have no recourse to get the money from him and the deed couldn't be reversed.
How sneaky many Ecuadorian are!
Jayne and I had dinner with champagne to celebrate out being here.
Friday January 15
I got up about 7.30am. I went to the balcony to see where the sun would be on our new flat. It was partly cloudy but I still enjoyed it. As I sat there, I thought about the two buildings in front of me. They probably rent for more and sell for more, but I thought how much better Jayne and I were in our flats. For those that are facing us, they don't have what we have. They don't have the sun, the sea and a balcony to enjoy the weather. We have all three (there's a space between the two buildings).
As I was leaving to go to the café to go on the internet, I found out that the outside door knob does not turn. The metal that goes in the whole is still there, which means that I would not be able to get inside even though the door is unlock. That means that if Jayne and I both leave we would not be able to get inside.
When I got to the café, I called the owner and told her all the problems that there are. I said that the door is the most important one. She said she would send someone out.
The repairman finally got here at 5.30pm. I showed him all the things that needs repaired. As he was leaving he said that he would be here about noon tomorrow.
Angela had called earlier to invite us to go to dinner with the group and to see Katerina who plans at a hotel that night. I told her about the door and if it's repaired we'll go with them.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Apartment Hunting
Thursday January 7
(This has not been proof read.)
Jayne and I went apartment hunting. This time we went by bus to where the Four Seasons Hotel is and where there are other nice hotels. We looked at apartments there. We wrote down some phone numbers we saw. I also came across two estate agents that deals in rentals. We stopped in one and talked to the guy, but he couldn't find anything for us.
I called one number that I saw and talked to the woman. The flat sounds interesting.
We got home with nothing promising.
Yiannis invited us to come to his house for dinner. That was nice of him and it was a surprise. This is the first time since the New Year that I was able to see him.
Another couple came over, Aristos and his girlfriend and their daughter.
Friday January 8
At Starbucks I met two black guys and we got talking about the internet. One comes from a Dutch island in the Caribbean. The other is an American from Ohio.
Then this girl came over, whom I met at the café last month. Christy is also into alternative health. She came with her friend, Maria. We talked and I told her what I did and did a demonstration on her with her fear of roaches. She went from an 8 to 0 in a few minutes! Another success story.
There was another guy who came in, that i've seen there many times before. He knew one of the black guys (Gerald). I talked to this guy, who's name is Chris. As it turned out he is an estate agent. And it was his office that we've seen (but the office was closed). I told him about our needs and he thought of one place. He said it's near the San Rafael Hotel. Now, this place is outside of where all the other people live. However, he told me that buses still go by there.
He described this place and it's on the beach, has a garden outside the flat, and has full sea view. It's one bedroom.
Later, I called Chris and asked him to ask the landlady that we are willing to pay one year in advance for less money. Instead of paying 650 euros/mo. We'd pay 550.
He got back to me later to say she said OK, but there is a tenant in there now and they won't be out until February 1.
This woman, Natasha, who owns the flat that we want to look at said that she would like to show the flat to us. I told her that we have plans to see another flat Tuesday, but I thought that there would be no harm in looking.
Saturday January 9
Natasha came and picked me up at Starbucks and we went so I could pick up Jayne. We all went to see her flat. It looked nice and was lower on the hill than I remembered. There is also a mini food market there, which is important to us. It's on the first floor (second by American standards). It's two bedrooms, about 90 sq. meters total. Has a nice terrace with views of the sea. The kitchen it big. This is completely furnished with kitchen appliances.
She also agreed to a lower price if I paid up front. In short, we would pay 6,500 euros for one year, which works out to about 541 euors/mo. And this included common expenses. The other expenses would be electric, water, and internet (when I get it).
Sunday January 10
On the internet, I got the standard contract that Natasha mailed to me. I looked over and made some comments. I sent this back to her and she called me so we could discuss this. She agreed with my points.
There are some things that we important that were not in there. She agreed with them and said she'd make changes.
It looks like we will be meeting her Monday evening, where we will be signing the Agreement and the keys will be handed over.
Jayne will have to go to the local bank here and transfer money from one account to another, so she can write out the check. And I will have to go to the car rental place to get a car so we can move. I'll rent the car for at least a couple of days. I just need it really for one day, but it would cost more to rent. In the meantime, I could use the car for other things, such as taking Jayne's computer to the store, and doing some shopping at Debimhams.
Monday January 11
I think that an Angel was watching over us. Today I met the other real estate agent at the café (that I met and talked to a week ago) about showing us a flat. Then I told him that we found another flat and we would not be looking at the one he wants to show us. Today I told him where it is, which is right in back of his office.
What he told me was that there is a lot of noise there. There is noise from the street and from the gas station. He said that at night young people skid around in their cars in the lot there, and you can hear the car washing machine, too. Then he said that there is usually an accident at the intersection once every day! His office is right there, and when there is an accident, he always gets a call from the police that ask if it's bad and if they need to bring an ambulance. So they know before they come out. He says he hates it, because as soon as there is an accident he sneaks out of the office and drives off so he doesn't have to talk to the police or give testimony as a witness. Can you image in that! If it was in a movie it would be comical.
The flat that he will be showing us is further out by 3 minutes, but he said that it quite there, it's right across the sea (sea view from the flat), when you walk out of the balcony there's a garden, and they also have a swimming pool.
It really sounds nice.
Well be seeing the flat tomorrow, so I plan to send you pictures the day after tomorrow (hope you have time to look at them ).
The flat is the same price as the one that we looked out Saturday. To get this lower price we would have to pay for a full year, but if there is no noise there, that would be fine. The only “noise” would be from the sea, and that would be great! The sounds of the sea is soothing for humans.
If we moved into this flat where there is a lot of noise, we would have paid a year in advance, too. But had we moved in, and Jayne would not be able to sleep, it would affect her health. If we moved out earlier to some other place, we would have lost the rest of the money.
That's it for the flat news.
I met with Yiannis later and he told me about anohter flat. I told him we can still take a look at it after I see the one tomorrow. He seems to think that paying 550 euros a month is too much. I told him that is all we found, if there are some cheaper, where are they?
Yiannis called the woman who owns the flat that he looked at for us before we came here. As it turns out this flat is still available. However, they want 600 or 650 (Yiannis isn't sure). Again, this is more than what I'm looking at. So, I'm still right in that I haven't found a nice flat for less than 550.
When Yiannis called he said he talked to the woman and said he'll give her my phone number but the plans are that we will meet tomorrow about 11 or 11.30am (after I see the other flat).
Now, if this woman went down to 550 when we first came here, she would have already had four months rent or more than 2,000 euros. If she finds someone this month to rent it for a year at her 650/mo or even 600/mo she would still have lost money in a year. I was told she is rich, but she still lost money.
Some people are good at making money, but they are not good at investing. There are a lot of people like that, and as a result, they are not as rich as they could be!
Tuesday January 12
Checking Rental Properties
I went to Starbucks first, as Jayne wasn't ready. I wanted to go early so I could go on the internet before we met Chris. As it turned out, he was already there with his wife. Chris was here for awhile then he must have left and called me on the phone to say that the owner would not be there until 10.30am, so we can meet at 10.15.
Jayne came over, then we went to see Chris who was with his wife. I think her name is Kleo. Then the three of us went in his car to see the flat.
It was not as I pictured. But what pictures we get in our minds has nothing to do with what is told us. Anyhow, it is located near the hotel San Rafael. This is build up area, too. I never realized it, though I had driven past this a couple of years ago.
Anyhow, we met the English lady owner. The current tenant is still in there, who is an Asian. I guess her husband is, too.
The flat is on the ground floor and is only one bedroom and kind of small. There is a patio with a garden and in front of that is the community swimming pool.
Now for the problems with the flat.
I smelled something, which I thought was from the swimming pool, but Jayne said later that it's mildew. She saw black on the curtains and around one door frame.
I noticed right away noise from the traffic. As I saw from the back that the main highway is 150 meters away!
The woman wants 550 euros of month – that's with our offer of paying one year in advance.
Right away we will not take this, but we didn't tell Chris that. We just told him of the problems, so he would put two-and-two together. When we left he drove around the area to show us that there are bus stops there and that is a mini-market (looks like they would just sell canned goods).
Then he drove us back to Starbucks. Jayne and I went back there to discuss the problems. When she went to the toilet, I was in line to order something. I saw this woman come in, and I remembered her. I smiled and she did, too.
When Jayne and I were sitting outside, this other woman and her friend were sitting at another table.
I told Jayne that I know her and she's Russian and deals in real estate. So, I went to her and introduced myself. She recalls seeing me before but can't place it. I reminded her. She didn't know Yiannis or her being in my flat to use my internet. Anyhow, I said to her, 'It looks like the angel is looking down on me.' And I went on to explain that we are looking for a flat and just looked at one now.
This woman's name is Tatiana and I gave her my phone number and what we are looking for.
Then I called Yiannis to tell him if he had called the woman about the flat. Yiannis knows this rich lawyer who owns a flat that is near Starbucks and she was to call me, but I didn't receive any call. He had talked to her yesterday and told her that I would like to look at it.
He said he'll call her.
A short while later Yiannis called me back to say that he got the keys to her flat and will show it to us. About 10 minutes later he drove up and pulled into the driveway. We saw him after he got out of his car and yelled to us. We went over while he parked the car.
The apartment is real nice. The furniture is real nice, too. It has two bedrooms, kitchen, dinning area, living room and a big balcony. It's on the third floor (fourth in America). The view is mostly of another building in the back but you can see a little of the sea, too, which is nice.
We listened for the noise on the balcony and inside, and there wasn't any! Thank God! Though the flat is on the main street, it's in the back so you don't hear the noise.
When I opened the small bathroom window I could see the green canopy of Starbucks. The ground floor of the building has a jewellery store and the elevator that you go in is very nice, too. There is a wooden plank that you often see in parking lots. This is what this apartment has and it's opened by remote control.
The building looks well kept. And the fact that it's close to everything makes it great. Now we have to discuss the price
Later in the day, Yiannis called the owner, Maria, about the price. Actually, the lawyer is her husband and she owns the flat, as I understand it.
When Yiannis first enquired about the flat she wanted 700 euors. I guess that is what she got from the past tenant. She had already gone down to, I think, 600 back in September. We didn't see, but we thought we could get something a lot cheaper. As it turned out, it has been sitting empty these past four months.
Yiannis said that we would pay 550 euros and we would pay for a whole year in advance. She agreed to this on the phone.
Back to right before Yiannis called her, I got a call from Tatiana to say she found a one-bedroom flat for 450 euros in a quite are. So, we made plans to meet at 5.15pm.
Now, we have to see the woman and her husband at 4.00pm. I should have told him that we have another place to look at, but I didn't. I think it's a good thing that I didn't since they might have backed out of the deal had I told them.
We needed to take our passports with us so the husband could write it down to put in the Agreement.
They live near where Yiannis lives. He told us they are rich and that they don't need to rent it out. They did him a favour by going down in price. We appreciate all of this. There home is beautiful. It looks like they have a formal living and dinning room. Then there is the informal dinning room and TV room. It looks like there are servants quarters in the back and there is a small swimming pool, too. When you enter there is a lobby with a nice staircase. Outside they have a balcony.
It looks like we will be moving in in two days. That would be Thursday January 14.
We were very pleased with what we saw. But we should keep the other appointment. This would be a savings of 100 euros a month if the 1 bedroom flat is nice. What we just saw was a two bedroom flat.
We met Tatiana outside of Starbucks. We got in her car, which was very nice and expensive. I think it's a Hunda SUV. We went to a street right near the Valana. The street is in back of the English Russian children's school. Well, the street and the flats on it are very nice. The street is a dead-end, so it makes it quieter.
The flat has one bedroom in the back with a kitchen in the middled and a counter separating it from the living room. However, everything was very small. I would not be surprised that the living room is a square 3 meters by 3 meters (3.5 meters maximum).
This is much too small for us. In fact, I would feel like we had more more where we are now.
I asked about a two bedroom and she made a call and took us to a place. This place is right next door to the supermarket that we use all the time.
This other flat is in old flat. One guy who entered right before us looks like an Arab construction worker that lives right across from where we looked at.
The owner came a few minutes later along with two workers. The flat is being remodelled now.
The building that the flat is in in not nice. It looks like there would be the same kind of neighbours that we have now. The flat has very poor furniture in it. Jayne had seen some roaches, and it's in the same neighbourhood. It's big inside, but it's not nice.
This flat looks like a good one for Jim and Vivian, who are neighbours of ours. They are looking, too. Jim is Irish and Vivian is Philodendron (Asian).
I told Tatiana about Jim and she didn't have time to show it to him. I asked for her phone number and she gave it to me.
We took Jim over to see it, and he liked it. Then he went to get Vivian to look at it, but when they went over there, the owner was gone.
So, ends our busy day of apartment hunting. It looks like we'll be in the flat of friends of Yiannis. Hurry and I thank the messenger (angle) of God!
Jayne didn't feel like cooking so we went out to eat. We ate a small place nearby that we haven't eaten at before. We had fish maze. It was very good! The cost for two was 25 euros. The owner happened to live in South Africa and had some restaurants there. I think that his ex-wife was Afrikaner (white). We had a nice chat with Christos.
Looking back
Yiannis had offer to look for a flat for us before we arrived in Cyprus. He said he knows a good friend that has a flat (the one we will finally be moving in). I think the lowest he got was 650 euros and he said they might go down to 600 euors. Well, we didn't even look at it as we thought we could get a flat cheaper.
He said that the owner is a lawyer and he is rich, so doesn't need the money. Well, as it turned out if they were willing to take 550 euros when we arrived they would have made more money. If we rented it when we came they would have gotten 2,200 euros already. They lost this money all for 50euros a month difference.
This goes to prove what I've said for a long time now. That a person might be rich but doesn't mean they do everything right. There are a lot of people who make good money but they don't know how to make their money make money. It's a two-step system. Even billionaires have made mistakes like this.
In the news in the past year there are articles about how many billions that Gates, Warren Buffet, and also Russian billionaires have lost money. They lost in in the stock market.
When someone says, “They are rich, they don't need the money.” But I say, why lose money? In this case, IF they woman really doesn't need the money then WHY didn't she go down in price. After all, it's just 50 euros a month.
The woman who owns the flat, didn't even put it on the market, which she could have.
(This has not been proof read.)
Jayne and I went apartment hunting. This time we went by bus to where the Four Seasons Hotel is and where there are other nice hotels. We looked at apartments there. We wrote down some phone numbers we saw. I also came across two estate agents that deals in rentals. We stopped in one and talked to the guy, but he couldn't find anything for us.
I called one number that I saw and talked to the woman. The flat sounds interesting.
We got home with nothing promising.
Yiannis invited us to come to his house for dinner. That was nice of him and it was a surprise. This is the first time since the New Year that I was able to see him.
Another couple came over, Aristos and his girlfriend and their daughter.
Friday January 8
At Starbucks I met two black guys and we got talking about the internet. One comes from a Dutch island in the Caribbean. The other is an American from Ohio.
Then this girl came over, whom I met at the café last month. Christy is also into alternative health. She came with her friend, Maria. We talked and I told her what I did and did a demonstration on her with her fear of roaches. She went from an 8 to 0 in a few minutes! Another success story.
There was another guy who came in, that i've seen there many times before. He knew one of the black guys (Gerald). I talked to this guy, who's name is Chris. As it turned out he is an estate agent. And it was his office that we've seen (but the office was closed). I told him about our needs and he thought of one place. He said it's near the San Rafael Hotel. Now, this place is outside of where all the other people live. However, he told me that buses still go by there.
He described this place and it's on the beach, has a garden outside the flat, and has full sea view. It's one bedroom.
Later, I called Chris and asked him to ask the landlady that we are willing to pay one year in advance for less money. Instead of paying 650 euros/mo. We'd pay 550.
He got back to me later to say she said OK, but there is a tenant in there now and they won't be out until February 1.
This woman, Natasha, who owns the flat that we want to look at said that she would like to show the flat to us. I told her that we have plans to see another flat Tuesday, but I thought that there would be no harm in looking.
Saturday January 9
Natasha came and picked me up at Starbucks and we went so I could pick up Jayne. We all went to see her flat. It looked nice and was lower on the hill than I remembered. There is also a mini food market there, which is important to us. It's on the first floor (second by American standards). It's two bedrooms, about 90 sq. meters total. Has a nice terrace with views of the sea. The kitchen it big. This is completely furnished with kitchen appliances.
She also agreed to a lower price if I paid up front. In short, we would pay 6,500 euros for one year, which works out to about 541 euors/mo. And this included common expenses. The other expenses would be electric, water, and internet (when I get it).
Sunday January 10
On the internet, I got the standard contract that Natasha mailed to me. I looked over and made some comments. I sent this back to her and she called me so we could discuss this. She agreed with my points.
There are some things that we important that were not in there. She agreed with them and said she'd make changes.
It looks like we will be meeting her Monday evening, where we will be signing the Agreement and the keys will be handed over.
Jayne will have to go to the local bank here and transfer money from one account to another, so she can write out the check. And I will have to go to the car rental place to get a car so we can move. I'll rent the car for at least a couple of days. I just need it really for one day, but it would cost more to rent. In the meantime, I could use the car for other things, such as taking Jayne's computer to the store, and doing some shopping at Debimhams.
Monday January 11
I think that an Angel was watching over us. Today I met the other real estate agent at the café (that I met and talked to a week ago) about showing us a flat. Then I told him that we found another flat and we would not be looking at the one he wants to show us. Today I told him where it is, which is right in back of his office.
What he told me was that there is a lot of noise there. There is noise from the street and from the gas station. He said that at night young people skid around in their cars in the lot there, and you can hear the car washing machine, too. Then he said that there is usually an accident at the intersection once every day! His office is right there, and when there is an accident, he always gets a call from the police that ask if it's bad and if they need to bring an ambulance. So they know before they come out. He says he hates it, because as soon as there is an accident he sneaks out of the office and drives off so he doesn't have to talk to the police or give testimony as a witness. Can you image in that! If it was in a movie it would be comical.
The flat that he will be showing us is further out by 3 minutes, but he said that it quite there, it's right across the sea (sea view from the flat), when you walk out of the balcony there's a garden, and they also have a swimming pool.
It really sounds nice.
Well be seeing the flat tomorrow, so I plan to send you pictures the day after tomorrow (hope you have time to look at them ).
The flat is the same price as the one that we looked out Saturday. To get this lower price we would have to pay for a full year, but if there is no noise there, that would be fine. The only “noise” would be from the sea, and that would be great! The sounds of the sea is soothing for humans.
If we moved into this flat where there is a lot of noise, we would have paid a year in advance, too. But had we moved in, and Jayne would not be able to sleep, it would affect her health. If we moved out earlier to some other place, we would have lost the rest of the money.
That's it for the flat news.
I met with Yiannis later and he told me about anohter flat. I told him we can still take a look at it after I see the one tomorrow. He seems to think that paying 550 euros a month is too much. I told him that is all we found, if there are some cheaper, where are they?
Yiannis called the woman who owns the flat that he looked at for us before we came here. As it turns out this flat is still available. However, they want 600 or 650 (Yiannis isn't sure). Again, this is more than what I'm looking at. So, I'm still right in that I haven't found a nice flat for less than 550.
When Yiannis called he said he talked to the woman and said he'll give her my phone number but the plans are that we will meet tomorrow about 11 or 11.30am (after I see the other flat).
Now, if this woman went down to 550 when we first came here, she would have already had four months rent or more than 2,000 euros. If she finds someone this month to rent it for a year at her 650/mo or even 600/mo she would still have lost money in a year. I was told she is rich, but she still lost money.
Some people are good at making money, but they are not good at investing. There are a lot of people like that, and as a result, they are not as rich as they could be!
Tuesday January 12
Checking Rental Properties
I went to Starbucks first, as Jayne wasn't ready. I wanted to go early so I could go on the internet before we met Chris. As it turned out, he was already there with his wife. Chris was here for awhile then he must have left and called me on the phone to say that the owner would not be there until 10.30am, so we can meet at 10.15.
Jayne came over, then we went to see Chris who was with his wife. I think her name is Kleo. Then the three of us went in his car to see the flat.
It was not as I pictured. But what pictures we get in our minds has nothing to do with what is told us. Anyhow, it is located near the hotel San Rafael. This is build up area, too. I never realized it, though I had driven past this a couple of years ago.
Anyhow, we met the English lady owner. The current tenant is still in there, who is an Asian. I guess her husband is, too.
The flat is on the ground floor and is only one bedroom and kind of small. There is a patio with a garden and in front of that is the community swimming pool.
Now for the problems with the flat.
I smelled something, which I thought was from the swimming pool, but Jayne said later that it's mildew. She saw black on the curtains and around one door frame.
I noticed right away noise from the traffic. As I saw from the back that the main highway is 150 meters away!
The woman wants 550 euros of month – that's with our offer of paying one year in advance.
Right away we will not take this, but we didn't tell Chris that. We just told him of the problems, so he would put two-and-two together. When we left he drove around the area to show us that there are bus stops there and that is a mini-market (looks like they would just sell canned goods).
Then he drove us back to Starbucks. Jayne and I went back there to discuss the problems. When she went to the toilet, I was in line to order something. I saw this woman come in, and I remembered her. I smiled and she did, too.
When Jayne and I were sitting outside, this other woman and her friend were sitting at another table.
I told Jayne that I know her and she's Russian and deals in real estate. So, I went to her and introduced myself. She recalls seeing me before but can't place it. I reminded her. She didn't know Yiannis or her being in my flat to use my internet. Anyhow, I said to her, 'It looks like the angel is looking down on me.' And I went on to explain that we are looking for a flat and just looked at one now.
This woman's name is Tatiana and I gave her my phone number and what we are looking for.
Then I called Yiannis to tell him if he had called the woman about the flat. Yiannis knows this rich lawyer who owns a flat that is near Starbucks and she was to call me, but I didn't receive any call. He had talked to her yesterday and told her that I would like to look at it.
He said he'll call her.
A short while later Yiannis called me back to say that he got the keys to her flat and will show it to us. About 10 minutes later he drove up and pulled into the driveway. We saw him after he got out of his car and yelled to us. We went over while he parked the car.
The apartment is real nice. The furniture is real nice, too. It has two bedrooms, kitchen, dinning area, living room and a big balcony. It's on the third floor (fourth in America). The view is mostly of another building in the back but you can see a little of the sea, too, which is nice.
We listened for the noise on the balcony and inside, and there wasn't any! Thank God! Though the flat is on the main street, it's in the back so you don't hear the noise.
When I opened the small bathroom window I could see the green canopy of Starbucks. The ground floor of the building has a jewellery store and the elevator that you go in is very nice, too. There is a wooden plank that you often see in parking lots. This is what this apartment has and it's opened by remote control.
The building looks well kept. And the fact that it's close to everything makes it great. Now we have to discuss the price
Later in the day, Yiannis called the owner, Maria, about the price. Actually, the lawyer is her husband and she owns the flat, as I understand it.
When Yiannis first enquired about the flat she wanted 700 euors. I guess that is what she got from the past tenant. She had already gone down to, I think, 600 back in September. We didn't see, but we thought we could get something a lot cheaper. As it turned out, it has been sitting empty these past four months.
Yiannis said that we would pay 550 euros and we would pay for a whole year in advance. She agreed to this on the phone.
Back to right before Yiannis called her, I got a call from Tatiana to say she found a one-bedroom flat for 450 euros in a quite are. So, we made plans to meet at 5.15pm.
Now, we have to see the woman and her husband at 4.00pm. I should have told him that we have another place to look at, but I didn't. I think it's a good thing that I didn't since they might have backed out of the deal had I told them.
We needed to take our passports with us so the husband could write it down to put in the Agreement.
They live near where Yiannis lives. He told us they are rich and that they don't need to rent it out. They did him a favour by going down in price. We appreciate all of this. There home is beautiful. It looks like they have a formal living and dinning room. Then there is the informal dinning room and TV room. It looks like there are servants quarters in the back and there is a small swimming pool, too. When you enter there is a lobby with a nice staircase. Outside they have a balcony.
It looks like we will be moving in in two days. That would be Thursday January 14.
We were very pleased with what we saw. But we should keep the other appointment. This would be a savings of 100 euros a month if the 1 bedroom flat is nice. What we just saw was a two bedroom flat.
We met Tatiana outside of Starbucks. We got in her car, which was very nice and expensive. I think it's a Hunda SUV. We went to a street right near the Valana. The street is in back of the English Russian children's school. Well, the street and the flats on it are very nice. The street is a dead-end, so it makes it quieter.
The flat has one bedroom in the back with a kitchen in the middled and a counter separating it from the living room. However, everything was very small. I would not be surprised that the living room is a square 3 meters by 3 meters (3.5 meters maximum).
This is much too small for us. In fact, I would feel like we had more more where we are now.
I asked about a two bedroom and she made a call and took us to a place. This place is right next door to the supermarket that we use all the time.
This other flat is in old flat. One guy who entered right before us looks like an Arab construction worker that lives right across from where we looked at.
The owner came a few minutes later along with two workers. The flat is being remodelled now.
The building that the flat is in in not nice. It looks like there would be the same kind of neighbours that we have now. The flat has very poor furniture in it. Jayne had seen some roaches, and it's in the same neighbourhood. It's big inside, but it's not nice.
This flat looks like a good one for Jim and Vivian, who are neighbours of ours. They are looking, too. Jim is Irish and Vivian is Philodendron (Asian).
I told Tatiana about Jim and she didn't have time to show it to him. I asked for her phone number and she gave it to me.
We took Jim over to see it, and he liked it. Then he went to get Vivian to look at it, but when they went over there, the owner was gone.
So, ends our busy day of apartment hunting. It looks like we'll be in the flat of friends of Yiannis. Hurry and I thank the messenger (angle) of God!
Jayne didn't feel like cooking so we went out to eat. We ate a small place nearby that we haven't eaten at before. We had fish maze. It was very good! The cost for two was 25 euros. The owner happened to live in South Africa and had some restaurants there. I think that his ex-wife was Afrikaner (white). We had a nice chat with Christos.
Looking back
Yiannis had offer to look for a flat for us before we arrived in Cyprus. He said he knows a good friend that has a flat (the one we will finally be moving in). I think the lowest he got was 650 euros and he said they might go down to 600 euors. Well, we didn't even look at it as we thought we could get a flat cheaper.
He said that the owner is a lawyer and he is rich, so doesn't need the money. Well, as it turned out if they were willing to take 550 euros when we arrived they would have made more money. If we rented it when we came they would have gotten 2,200 euros already. They lost this money all for 50euros a month difference.
This goes to prove what I've said for a long time now. That a person might be rich but doesn't mean they do everything right. There are a lot of people who make good money but they don't know how to make their money make money. It's a two-step system. Even billionaires have made mistakes like this.
In the news in the past year there are articles about how many billions that Gates, Warren Buffet, and also Russian billionaires have lost money. They lost in in the stock market.
When someone says, “They are rich, they don't need the money.” But I say, why lose money? In this case, IF they woman really doesn't need the money then WHY didn't she go down in price. After all, it's just 50 euros a month.
The woman who owns the flat, didn't even put it on the market, which she could have.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
New Year 2010
30 December
I found out on the internet that Club 71 has a New Year's Party that includes cold food and all you can drink for only 30 euros. I'll have to check that out and see if Angela wants to go with us.
I called Yiannis about Club 71 and the price. He didn't seem too keen on it, so I left it at that. I called Angela about it and that the price is the cheapest we'd see for NY. She said that she will stay home for the night and so will Jan. She doesn't like the idea of the drunks on the road and having to drive.
So, Jayne and I decided to stay home ourselves. We will spend the money on food and drinks and have a nice quite evening at home.
New Year's Eve
Thursday 31 December
We went to the food stores to buy what we need. Then we stopped at a restaurant to have a cup of coffee.
We had a nice dinner of shrimp, salad and boiled potato. We also had Amurula, which is made in South Africa. It like Baileys Cream Whisky. We watch two films on the computer that Jayne had bought about two weeks ago.
New Year Day 2010
1 January
At midnight, we saw fireworks from our balcony (what could be better than that?). We also heard a group of people cheering outside. This must have come from Club 71.
The difference between here and Ecuador is the fireworks started in Cyprus at midnight and wasn't all day long.
I found out on the internet that Club 71 has a New Year's Party that includes cold food and all you can drink for only 30 euros. I'll have to check that out and see if Angela wants to go with us.
I called Yiannis about Club 71 and the price. He didn't seem too keen on it, so I left it at that. I called Angela about it and that the price is the cheapest we'd see for NY. She said that she will stay home for the night and so will Jan. She doesn't like the idea of the drunks on the road and having to drive.
So, Jayne and I decided to stay home ourselves. We will spend the money on food and drinks and have a nice quite evening at home.
New Year's Eve
Thursday 31 December
We went to the food stores to buy what we need. Then we stopped at a restaurant to have a cup of coffee.
We had a nice dinner of shrimp, salad and boiled potato. We also had Amurula, which is made in South Africa. It like Baileys Cream Whisky. We watch two films on the computer that Jayne had bought about two weeks ago.
New Year Day 2010
1 January
At midnight, we saw fireworks from our balcony (what could be better than that?). We also heard a group of people cheering outside. This must have come from Club 71.
The difference between here and Ecuador is the fireworks started in Cyprus at midnight and wasn't all day long.
Day After Christmas
Picture: Taken Christmas morning. Jayne and Craig with a nice German couple we met, Edith and Hans-Jorg.26 December
I got up at 8am. And I woke Jayne up after I got ready. We got to the restaurant about 9am.
I saw the Hans and Edith come in and I went to them to tell them where we are sitting. We had a nice talk again. Then I gave them the DVD that I made.
Then we sat outside, where Jayne had her cigarette. After that, we said our goodbyes, but said let's meet before they leave. I said we can meet at Starbucks. I think they are staying until January 6th. Hans has my phone number so, I do hope we meet again. Edith kissed me and Jayne.
We took the taxi that's at the hotel home, but this cost us about 2 eruos more. I thought it would as all hotel taxis charge more. I could have called the same guy but we would probably have waited 20 minutes, as I'm sure he's busy.
We didn't like to be in the flat. We both look forward to moving to a nicer flat and in a nice location than where we are now. And of course, living in building where the neighbours are quite and it's not next to a hotel.
I downloaded the pictures that I took and made some of them small so I can send them tomorrow via email.
Christmas Night
part 2 (of 2)
Back at the hotel, we had a coffee there.
Back in the room, I called my family. First I tried to call my Mother but there was no answer. So, I guess she just didn't hear it, which Carol told me was the problem. It does ring but she doesn't hear it.
I wonder if I will every be able to speak to my Mother again. It is a sad situation.
I called Carol's home, and Heather answered it. The time was about 12.15am. I talked to Heather, then Carol, John, then Sharon. I told them some other part of our news, so everyone doesn't have the same story to pass around. Plus, I heard about the news from each one of them.
It was good to talk to them. After the call on my cell phone, which must have lasted 15 minutes at least, I saw that the call was only 2.58 euros. International calls on a cell phone is cheap. Jayne said it's cheap to England, too. Well, I knew this years ago when I called Russia often.
That was our Christmas Day.
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.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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
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