2 February 2026 Larnaca: On Our Way Back to Cyprus

Only in Spain can you find a vending machine selling four different levels of  Iberico ham, or jamon as it is called in these parts. Welcome to the Barcelona airport.  It is big, it is busy and it is our home for the next four hours.  Our flight was due to take off at 8:00 PM and as soon as we were done with the fingerprinting we popped into a taxi.  It took a half hour to get there and once again we only had small bags and had already checked in online.  We did not have a picnic lunch this time.  So we first got a bit tipsy and then ordered some food.  The chicken dish and the burger were tasty and since we were not going to arrive in Larnaca until 1:00 AM we knew that we needed to have something to eat.  We actually took off on time and even though we were cramped, had a an overly tattooed center seat interloper, the four hour flight went by pretty quickly.  Before we left for this trip we debated between just driving the hour and a half back to Paphos arriving at 2:30 or getting a place in Larnaca for the night.  It was the right decision to get the room as it was a very long day topped off with a long flight.  So when we landed it was immigration, then getting the car and driving to the hotel.  Laying on the bed never felt so good.

Sometimes we like to play departure board bingo.  how many places have we been to?  7 out of 12 on this board

6 out of 14 on this one

9 out of 16 with Larnaca, our destination on this board

Is this allowed for carry on luggage?

I looked closer and these are wooden hams

Pre-tipping results in a good pour

Lots to choose from

Anybody's guesses are as good as mine.  No English menu

I was going to order the more Americanized burger but the waiter recommended the one with jamon!  It came out on the rare side which was tasty 

A fine marinated chicken dish for Leslie

A big lizard

Waiting for our plane

A big WTF!

The shades made it look like she forgot to take off her sleep mask

Ripped stockings, goofy shades and a huge hat, now that is a look

We have arrived at the hotel and are ready to knock before entering

It was been 3 years and 242 days since we began our Migration
 

2 February 2026 Larnaca: A Busy Day in Barcelona

 

Leslie's first set of fingerprints were not good enough to be read by the FBI.  We were unable to find a place in Cyprus to retake then so we added this task to our already busy day in Barcelona.  First we went to the Turo Park medical clinic and were able to get certificates of health.  This was our third time visiting so our medical history was available for the Doctor to see.  He signed off on the certificated right away.  That went faster than we had expected.  We then hopped in a taxi and went to the Santander bank  office to open a Spanish bank account.  We were early so we stopped into a bistro and had something to eat. The bank office was located across the street from Casa Baltio a beautiful Gaudi building.  We walked over and checked it out while waiting for our appointment.  At the appointed time we met with our re-location team leader Agustina and went into the bank.  It was straight forward opening an account and once we did it was time to taxi over to the hotel where we stayed the previous night.  Here we were reunited with our luggage and we met with our new finger printing tech, Skandar.  The next hour and a half was spent meticulously manipulating Leslie's shy fingers and getting the prints onto the paper forms.  Comparing the first fingerprinting session to this latest one was like comparing night to day. Leslie's first session took all of 5 minutes.  There were no practice runs and no verbal give and take.  The latter is most important as it is a dance with the fingers, the ink and the paper.  Pressure, position, the level of tension in the finger all come into play and this had to be practiced to get it right.  He was finally able to get three good cards and we are very hopeful that this set will be acceptable to the FBI.  Come on baby!

Watch out Venezuelan fishermen

Salt and pepper

A detour through the park

A very odd item

OK is makes sense from the other side

Barcelona is mush more in the winter mode than Cyprus is

Can't stop for treats, must be healthy for the Doctor

In the center of the roundabout

Our first stop an International Polyclinic

Done with the doctors and we are treated to a architectural tour of Barcelona on the cab ride 

Grand new buildings

Charming old ones

Skinny ones

Wide ones

Ones with domes on top

Lordy, lordy

Gaudi was here

We saw a concert on the roof top of this place a few months ago

So very shiny and clean

Casa Balito, another Gaudi building

Good to see some fancy knockers

An apple!

The king of roofs

Some fancy lighting in the WC

In the heart of the city, deliveries have to be done on foot

Big beer tanks at the Bistro

The crowds would ebb and flow

Next door was Casa Amatller

Fantastic stone carvings

Watch out for dragons

Very aggressive dragons they are

The detail!

Back when quality mattered

Speaking of quality, no need to enquire as to the cost

We noticed this huge burl on the tree and I was photo bombed by a trendy dude

We are ready to get the prints.  Anecdotal reports say that rubbing hot sauce on your fingers will raise the prints

Practice makes perfect

A little ink here

A little ink there

Lots of ink everywhere

Making a mess as the ink needs to be removed between each attempt

One down three to go

There is an official paper holder

Practice runs and good prints to the right

This has been an extended effort

Back breaking work!

It was been 3 years and 242 days since we began our Migration