Yacht 'A'

Yesterday we completed our personal challenge but today the sun was shining and to be fair the temperature in the pool was little changed from yesterday (if at all) so we decided to go in for a quick dip and some porridge before getting on with the day.

We shot off down to Polis today to do some bits and pieces, notably to move some money around so that we can live!!!!  It is a catch 22 situation - not to leave too much money sitting in a bank account in Cyprus in case they ever do a grab again like they did when the crisis hit and having enough so that we don't have to transfer money over when the exchange rate is shite - and with Brexit or No Brexit or half a Brexit or whatever it is that the UK is trying to achieve the exchange rate is very uncertain.  We obviously retired very early compared to many and manage on small pensions and we live a pretty good life on not a lot of money but we have to be quite savvy!

On our way down to the coast we could see the outline of the imposing Sailing Yacht 'A' just off the coast at Latchi - it has been there for a while but we haven't been out to see it.  It is absolutely massive and from our view point looked to be bigger than the new hotel in Latchi!

This vessel was completed this year and belongs to Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko who is a mere 45 years old and married to a billionaire pop singer.

It is a strange looking yacht and opinion is divided as to whether it is attractive or not - what it is for certain is big - about 7 storeys high apparently and cost a massive amount of money.  He also owns motor Yacht 'A' which was off the coast of Latchi last year and is an equally strange shape but looks so tiny in this photograph where it is next to sailing Yacht 'A' and having seen it last year I can assure you it isn't.

Apparently most evenings Andrey can be seen 'slumming' it in the restaurants alongside Latchi marina - his floating home has a permanent staff of over 50 people and he is ferried backwards and forwards from the yacht by a small boat which is 'stored' inside the yacht.  Bet he doesn't have to shuffle money between the Co-Op and Alpha Bank or worry about the affect of Brexit on the exchange rates.

This afternoon we were having our November ladies lunch at the Droushia Heights hotel and it was a little chilly inside particularly as they had the doors open.  Lovely Yiota went and lit the fire and it was lovely to see - the other people staying in the hotel seemed a bit non-plussed as they were clearly tourists in strappy tops eyeing up the swimming pool!

As always the hotel does us really proud.  We had a four course meal for 10 euros.  The soup was nice, the chef told me it was pumpkin and it came with a choice of garlic bread, rolls or nice artisan type breads.  Then there was the vast salad counter which actually would have been more than enough for me on its own.

Then there were all the hot choices and a selection of sweets and fresh fruit.  They even do specially priced carafes of wine and any drinks at discount.

It is hard to believe that the next time we meet will be our Christmas celebration when we have a secret santa just to add a bit of festive excitement.  I wore shoes today - big mistake as they rubbed a massive blister on my foot - the perils of wearing flip-flops for most of the year!