Continuing Life in Cyprus

Friends!
I've given up on putting family there because my family are my friends.
We're super disapointed because our cheap internet spot has just closed for good-their selling their computers and everything. Fortunately we can still go and see our friend Leo who works there because they also rent out movies- he's super sweet and talks to us for forever and lets us rent movies for free. Vanessa says it's cause he's got a crush on me. It doesn't matter cause he's nice anyway. He's a DJ at a club down here and we're thinking of going to see him this weekend- I've never actually been to a club and we definately didn't bring propper atire or the proper attitude. We'll see how that goes...
Sunday we were able to stay after church for a while and talk to several of the people we had seen last week, their sweet and interested and amusing. Their all super surprised that two American girls are here in the middle of winter when all of the clubs and partying is turned off.
Also our landlady Diane has come down and is staying in the nextdoor apartment and was nice enough this morning to take us out in her car and drive us around everywhere where the bus goes so we could judge where were the best places to return to and when would be a good time to return there. She also took us to the main supermarket in Paralimni where we loaded up with groceries. You can get some stuff here in Ayia Napa but the prices are all jacked up and there's very little selection so we were happy for that opportunity.
Last Saturday we took our first trip out of the city and ended up in a Taxi up to Paralimni where we shopped, walked, ate and checked out three churches that were open there. An interesting trip to say the least, showing us a city that isn't quite as dependant on tourism so life goes on in the winter without a scandinavian population. Vanessa bought a bracelet that is super cool and I thought of buying several scarfs and shirts- there's too much selection and nothing that's spring like which is what I was hoping to bring home. We'll see, I have a couple of things I have picked out that I might go back for.
I love hearing from all of you, I'm glad to hear the rules of Batchi, as rough as they were Andrew, I'm not going to pick up a Cypriot man Lindsay- though I have gotten several phone numbers- mostly from older Cypriot men, and I'm sorry because I haven't gotten any post cards out yet. I'm working on it!
We're enjoying our time and have learned how to be beach bums and are now quite good at it! Not only that but at times we find ourselves picking up slight english accents!
I love you all and keep up the letters, Kristen Rose pedasis@juno.com

Painting at the Beach...

Family and Friends,
I don't know why you have to be capitalized but I feel like you do.
Thank you, first and foremost, for your prayers, letters and thoughts. I love knowing people are praying for me and wishing me well even if they are on the other side of the world from me.
Today we spent down at the beach painting, reading, wading and eating a picnic lunch. The sun was out most of the time but the wind was pretty bad the whole time and when the sun did disapear we nearly froze. Vanessa was brave enough to get into a swimming suit and into the water but I didn't- way too cold yet!
The beaches are kind of sad, the umbrellas and chairs all folded up and stacked away and everything completely desserted, there are a lot of people walking but mostly they are older Swedish couples and Vanessa and I keep thinking how great it will be to come back here some day with an old, funky husband and trot around the island. Maybe play some Batchi because there are definately some tournaments of the lawn bowling game going on down here and I really want to ask someone how to play the game, it really cracks me up and I would love to play it. Vanessa thinks I'm crazy for this and probably with good reason.
Thanks again and I'll be in touch as often as I can.
Much love, Kristen Rose

My BAG arrived!

Dear Family and Friends,
Praise the Lord, my bag has finally returned to me! THank you for all of your prayers and encouragement in this area because I know I would have fallen apart without them.
I sort of feel like my trip can begin now and we're looking into day trips away from sin-city. We've sort of made friends with the guy here at the internet place and plan on asking him some of the better places to go or do in the area, he is a twenty something internet gaming boy but we'll see if he has any good suggestions.
We want to get down to Larnaca for their Sunday market and around down to some of the other beaches here now that I have my painting stuff. We're hoping it warms up enough to swim really soon here because we think that will help us get out of any sort of slump and sort of depression we're in. Pray that Cyprus experiences unusually warm weather for January if you would.
Once again everything looks a little bit better this side of the bag fiasco and we're going to try and take advantage of every opportunity we can. I have my address book so I'll try and get postcards out as soon as possible.
I love you all, Kristen Rose

My LOST bag...

January 20
Dear Family and Friends,
What a way to start a letter! I have more time today so I'll go over some more of what we're seeing and doing and experiencing.
First off, for those that don't know, the airlines lost one of my begs en-transit and I have yet to get it back, their supposed to be sending it to the post office here in town. That's super frusterating of course but I'm trying hard to be patient and understanding.
We're in the party capital of Cyprus and though it's the off season and everyone keeps asking why we came now instead of in the summer you can tell it's a party town by the number of bars, naked women posters, funky post cards and advertisements for lap dances. Fun!
We are only ten minutes walk from the beach and yesterday went down to get our feet wet and explore some as it's still a little too cold to go swimming or anything- hopefully in a couple of weeks or so we'll be able to actually go in and get out without being blown to pieces. The weather isn't that bad and we can get around pretty well but it does rain some in the morning and get real chilly at night.
Our apartment is nice and very centrally located so we can easily walk pretty much everywhere. We ahve a decent kitchen, a toilet that doesn't flush paper of any kind and a water heater that takes a half hour to heat enough for a shower. It's big and comfy and we have a nice porch with a clothes line so we cna do sink laundry without having our whole place littered with drying clothes. NIce!
Today when we were walking we stumbled apon the monastery here in town and it was a welcome relief and a great escape, we'll probably be there often. We were excited to that it was advertising church services in English and we are hoping to get to one this sunday. It was really peacefull and pretty and we took a lot of pictures and bought some post cards. Unfortunately I don't have any of your addresses as they are in the bag I don't have so I'll try and get them out as soon as I get the bag.
I love you all and appreciate all of your prayers as we're experiencing some homesickness and serious jet-lag as we're nine hours ahead of Colorado time!
Love you and miss you, Kristen Rose

I'm here in Cyprus

January 19
Cyprus is a great island for all I can tell, its warmish during the day, windy today but we'll see. But it definitely gets cold at night. I have to go my time is ending but I love you all and would appreciate all prayers. Love, Kristen Rose

Before I leave Colorado...

Its Friday, January 6th and I'm scheduled to have my wisdom teeth removed today... Oh Joy! ....more on that after I recover from the laughing gas...

Kristen