Casa del Milagro

A Happy Thanksgiving, indeed!

2011-11-24T12:10:00.016-07:00

Just in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season our little part of Agua Viva is coming alive with colorful plants. I honestly doubted whether this would ever happen – that’s how beaten down we’d become here on our side of Loreto Bay. It was such a tremendous struggle just to get our homes built that it seemed that’s all we’d ever have – our homes perched on dry, dusty land.

But as the photos attest, that pessimism was totally misplaced. The walkways are progressing rapidly on both sides of the Paseo now – not just in our sub-regime. And with the addition of bougainvillea, hibiscus and a variety of other colorful plants and trees we’re that much closer to feeling like a real community.

There are still obstacles to overcome, but if we put aside our differences and stop the petty bickering and infighting, we can become one united community. Not a resort, but a village of like-minded people who want nothing more than to enjoy this beautiful place and our beautiful homes. Here’s hoping…

And here's hoping your Thanksgiving is as happy as ours!

Yippee, yahoo and hurray!

2011-11-17T10:26:00.009-07:00

If you’d told me a few years ago I’d be thrilled to be getting a walkway outside my door, I’m sure I’d have scratched my head and said “Huh?” But that was then and this is now and WOW! To say George and I are thrilled is to say the very least. Not only do we have a walkway going in, we also have a beautifully built retaining wall and stairs – be still my heart.

No more slogging, slipping and sliding through dust and dirt up an embankment to our front door. No more wondering what might happen to said embankment and our casa if a hurricane hit. This is a big deal for us, our neighbors and the community as a whole. Because even though the line of demarcation between the Founder’s Neighborhood and our own Agua Viva is geographically distinct, we are all part of Loreto Bay. So when our property values go up with the construction of beautiful new walkways, the property values in Founder’s also get a little boost. We’re all in this together – sort of.

The sort-of comes into play because we’ve taken on the burden of completing our walkways here in Sub-regime I all by ourselves. Through the efforts of our rep and committee members (disclosure: George is the rep for our sub-regime), we’re completing our area with funds left over from the last assessment imposed on our home owners. We’re doing this in spite of the fact that half the home owners (including individuals, contractors and our less than shining knights, Homex) did not pay and left the rest of us holding the bag and assuming complete financial responsibility for our part of Agua Viva. Shame on you guys, by the way!

I really can’t say enough about what our rep and committee did for us here in Sub I. They worked tirelessly (well, OK, they did get tired) for months to bring all this together with the help of Associa, including Jorge and project engineer Eduardo. They were able to negotiate a favorable contract with one of the best landscaping contractors around and we’re now seeing the reality of all that very hard work. And all of this is being done without any additional expense to the home owners who have already paid much more than their fair share.

So thanks, Terry, Tom, Mike, Nick, Julie, Bradley, Penny, Rich and Ed. And how can I forget George?! As the man on the ground here in Loreto Bay, he’s all HOA, all the time and he’s put in more hours than most people do in a regular full-time job. It should come as no surprise to anyone that I simply can’t wait for his year to be up in February (let me throw in another Yippee! here). In fact, I’m insisting that his involvement cease and desist on that date. Hey, we’re supposed to be retired and that new boat needs cleaning!

What’s happened here in Sub I is a perfect example of determined home owners making a difference in their community. So to each and every person who helped make this a reality – thank you very much.

The name says it all

2011-11-10T14:19:00.016-07:00

And the name is Poco Loco, which aptly describes our boat buying experience, because both George and I went a little crazy during the whole process.

Our adventure started with a boat show in San Diego and ended – after much nail biting, anxiety and trepidation – with an awesome boat. It took almost two months of searching from San Diego to Newport Beach until we finally settled on our 37-foot Cruisers Yacht and she’s everything we wanted in a boat.

But the adventure wouldn’t really begin until we got our Poco Loco to Puerto Escondido, so we contracted with a shipping company, crossed our fingers and hoped like hell that all would go well. The Poco Loco was trucked from San Diego to the mainland of Mexico and put onboard the ferry in Mazatlan for the trip to La Paz. (If you’ve ever driven down Baja’s Transpeninsular Highway 1 you’ll understand why the shippers took the route they did.) Then it was back on the highway for the remaining 200 miles from La Paz to Loreto. Talk about stressful! But she finally arrived – with only some minor damage and lots of dirt – at Puerto Escondido. I’ll never forget our first sight of her on a trailer outside the marina with a pair of boxer shorts and a towel waving from the stern as we drove up. (See photo above!) It was awesome.

And it’s been awesome ever since. We spent many hours cleaning (something experienced boaters have told us we'd better get used to) and having her prepped for a life on the Sea of Cortez and finally this past week we were seaworthy and ready for a spin.

We were lucky to have our good friends, Tom and Sue and her cousins, Helen and Pam, on our inaugural voyage. It was a perfect day, sunny and warm with just a little bit of choppiness, but Captain George handled the swells like a seasoned pro.

People are always asking us what it’s like living in paradise. In many ways, it is paradise here, but for us it’s home and all that comes with living a life anywhere. In other words, it’s not a vacation for us and it can be tiresome living here. The heat is oppressive in the summer and it’s hard not to miss super-clean, super-stocked supermarkets and the convenience of malls and big box stores. And let’s not forget movie theaters!

But with the addition of Poco Loco we get to take advantage of the most wonderful part of living Loreto – the beautiful, magical, life-affirming Sea of Cortez. And that makes up for the lack of all of the aforementioned and more. So maybe we haven’t gone a little crazy after all. Maybe this is the sanest thing we ever did!

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign…

2011-06-25T19:58:00.013-06:00

Signs and banners are popping up all over Loreto Bay, bringing a welcome touch of color along with a sense of optimism for the future of our little community. Maybe there’s hope after all! Heck, we’ve got a paved main road, two new restaurants with a third on the way (Beinvenidos, Bajaja Deli Bar & Grill!) and signs of progress in the newest phase of Agua Viva with construction of four new homes by Homex.

The improvements have been slow in coming but they are coming. There are welcoming billboard-type signs at the south entrance to the development and just north of us where Homex workers are busy putting up the new model homes in the second phase of Agua Viva.

The Paseo through Loreto Bay now has festive banners pointing the way to Loreto Baja Golf Course (formerly known as the Loreto Bay Golf Course, which sounds lots better than the new name as far as I’m concerned) and the Loreto Baja model homes, while the south road has banners guiding visitors to the Inn at Loreto Bay.

And speaking of the Inn, the bell tower is now adorned with very attractive lettering on both the front and back sides. The pool at the Inn is also looking much better after a much-needed cleaning this past week. It had gotten so murky in the past few weeks we'd quit swimming there, opting for the hotter but cleaner community pool across the Paseo.

Homex has also been touching up the paving on the Paseo that was gouged and crumbling from cars driving on the fresh pavement last winter. The little things really do mean a lot, so thanks (again) Homex!

All of these improvements are a hopeful sign for the future of Loreto Bay and Loreto Baja. And unlike the song referenced in the title, these signs aren't "blockin' the scenery, breakin' my mind." They're improving the scenery, for sure.

Backstage pass Loreto style

2011-06-05T23:55:00.013-06:00

One of the perks of living with a musician is getting that prized backstage pass. And now that George is part of the almost famous, soon-to-be legendary trio that’s wowing audiences from Puerto Escondido to Nopolo that backstage pass has even more cache.

What started as three guys with guitars and a desire to play music has evolved into a tight trio with a dedicated fan base that has reached beyond the borders of Loreto Bay. (This is where George told me my prose might be a bit on the biased side – OK, his actual words were “over the top,” but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.)

Steve, Rich and George (pictured below left to right) are Los Beach Dogs and they have become more than just a trio of musicians here in Loreto Bay. At the risk of sounding over the top (again), they have helped our beleaguered community come together through music.

When they first started playing together the fate of our part of the development, Agua Viva, was still in doubt and the whole development was at a virtual standstill. Would we survive Citigroup’s abandonment? Could we build something from the rubble that surrounded us? Home owners were cautiously optimistic, but the outlook was grim.

There was no better time for a little music and that’s what the guys provided. Hesitantly at first, but after just a few informal gigs they started to come together (in the immortal words of the immortal Beatles) and home owners throughout Loreto Bay were hooked.

They started playing acoustic gigs on rooftop terraces throughout Loreto Bay and over time word spread and the terraces couldn’t accommodate the crowds. So there was a plugged-in courtyard concert in Founder’s that drew some 100+ home owners. The Dogs expanded their set list and started playing charity events (all of their performances are gratis in accordance with Mexican law). Then they played at Loreto Fest a couple of months ago, the big annual fund-raising bash at Puerto Escondido, and their fan base expanded and hit the floor dancing!

Each of the Dogs brings something unique to the trio and they bring out the musical best in each other.

Steve's intricate guitar licks add an extra dimension to the tunes, while showcasing his jazz roots. When he's not working and playing in Loreto Bay, he's working and playing with a jazz combo in Northern California.

Although Rich spent his formative years as an endodontist (root canal guy) in Minnesota, he has a real knack for penning tunes that totally capture the essense of living Loreto. Whether sweetly sentimental or wildly hilarious, his tunes are big crowd pleasers that all of us here can identify with.

And then there's George, who spent 20 years on the road as a solo musician/performer, and who can still wow a crowd with his expressive voice and commanding stage presence (he's going to absolutely hate that description, but I speak the truth!). And how about those mouth harps he wails on!

Last night it was an informal, mellow gathering to celebrate the completion of a neighbor's garden, but the result is always the same no matter the venue. The music brings us all closer together. The music makes us more of a community.

Gracias Beach Dogs!

FAQs

2011-04-11T11:07:00.009-06:00

Since George and I moved to Loreto more than a year ago we’ve been inundated with questions about life here south of the border. Some of the questions are downright silly and some have merit, but there are a few that keep cropping up, just screaming to be addressed, so here goes!

“What made you decide to move to another country?” This is a legitimate question and deserves a thoughtful and measured response... I sure wish I had one. Truth is we were up for a big adventure and after trolling the Internet for possible retirement locations we happened upon a Web site for Loreto Bay that struck a chord with us. The site was filled with photos of a beautiful place – a desert landscape we were familiar with being from New Mexico with the added bonus of being near water. The views are of dramatic mountains to the west and the sparkling Sea of Cortez to the east. It was a no-brainer. Bottom line is we were seduced by a Web site, which only goes to show the power of really good marketing.

“What do you do all day?” This one is harder. When this question has been posed (which is often), I’ve always stumbled and tried to rely on my wit and that hasn’t always worked, which should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. My typical response used to be something along the line of “a whole lotta nothing.” So much for my wit. It’s actually hard to describe what we do all day. We putter, we talk, we walk, we ride bikes, we hook up with friends, we lollygag and we shoot the breeze with anyone and everyone, in short, we have a great time. We enjoy the scenery, the people, the food and the lifestyle. Hey, it’s retirement! But after an unfortunate encounter with someone who persisted in pressing me for a different response (and how weird is that?!), a friend told me the best response is to simply say that we enjoy life. (Thanks, Robert!)

“Aren’t you afraid of the drug violence in Mexico?” No. Although the news north of the border is full of dire predictions about the fate of gringos in Mexico, the reality is that we had more to fear from drugs and crime in Albuquerque or most anywhere else in the States than we do here. Just for clarification, the vast majority of drug violence takes place on the U.S./Mexican border, which is 700 miles north of Loreto. Enough said.

“What do you eat?” Food. Really, really good food without the additives, hormones, antibiotics, refined sugars and other icky things that are staples in the States. So, what do you eat?

“Isn’t the language barrier a problem?” It should be but it isn’t. The people here are more than willing to help us with their language. We stumble and fumble and they smile and help us along. And the really cool thing is that they enjoy helping us understand their language.

“Don’t you miss the States?” No, we don’t, with the exception of family, friends and Costco. OK, I really miss Target, too, but that’s it.

“Don’t you get bored?” Are you kidding?? We live on the Sea of Cortez, which means we have access to water, water sports, wildlife including beautiful birds of all kinds, colorful fish, playful dolphins, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, boating, sunny days, incredible sunrises and sunsets and beautiful vistas. That one is definitely a no-brainer.

“What happens if you get sick?” We have gotten sick and we went to the hospital here in town, we were treated and it was an eye-opening experience in that it was totally unlike going to the doctor or hospital in the States. We waited all of two minutes before we were seen by a competent doctor. We were escorted into an examination room by the doctor (not a nurse or receptionist who, in the States, leaves us in the room to wait another 45 minutes before seeing the doctor) where he asked us about our problem (it was a tummy thing) and then proceeded to order tests. We returned with the requested test results (which we picked up the same day) and after reviewing and explaining the test results, the doctor wrote out a couple of prescriptions. We were charged nothing for the consultation and the doctor’s time. Zip, zero, nada. The tests cost the equivalent of $18 USD each and the prescriptions were about the same. And we recovered from this common intestinal problem after a few days of treatment. All in all, it was like visiting the family doctor 50 years ago. No paperwork, no hassle and no wait.

Any more questions?

A year, a month, a week and a day

2011-04-02T21:14:00.008-06:00

I’m taking some poetic license with the headline, but I am close when describing how long George and I have lived in Loreto Bay. It seems like a good time to do a ‘year in review ‘ kind of thing that is so popular in the newspaper business, which is where I spent my formative years. So this is what we’ve learned over the past year, month, week and day…

Never make a major decision (or any kind of decision, for that matter) after two margaritas. Just say no! Sure, it seems like a good idea at the time, but the next morning can be painful! But, truth be told, even though it’s been a strange, convoluted and sometimes painful journey to get to where we are today, we’d still drink the margaritas and make the same decision.

Because we love it here in Loreto Bay. Our home is beautiful, our surroundings are awesome and I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. But it’s been hard. We’re still waiting for sidewalks, landscaping and all those things we took for granted in the States. And we may continue waiting for quite some time. Our feet are always dirty from slogging through the dust and silt that awaits us outside our front door. We get cranky and talk endlessly about the problems that face us.

But…

We have forged friendships that will be a large part of our lives until we die. (You know who you are! Love you, mean it!) We’ve made the best of a difficult situation, which has strengthened us and made us better people. We’re a part of a community of people (see reference above to wonderful friends) who want to make this place a vibrant, welcoming and inclusive place.

We wake up every morning to the sound of birds chirping and the knowledge that we live in a special place. We can take our morning coffee to the tower and (as long as we don't look down to see the mess that is still a part of the scenery) see the panorama of the Sea of Cortez. And we have a paved Paseo (thank you Homex) to ride our bikes on. We have two new restaurants in the development and another on the way. Life is good and getting better.

We’re actively working to become a part of the larger community of Loreto. We take Spanish classes in town, courtesy of Senor Jesus Jacques, and although we struggle with the language, we are trying. We love to participate in the events in town, like the Optimist Club Spaghetti Dinner we attended this afternoon with friends. Maybe we’re not doing enough, but we’re trying and we’ll get better at it over time.

Tomorrow we’re off to La Paz for a few days for shopping and loafing and kicking back. How lucky are we? Very damn lucky.

Road Warriors

2011-02-23T20:37:00.005-07:00

Paving on the main thoroughfare through Loreto Bay has been going fast and furious for a week now and the results are amazing. (Forgive my movie references; it’s just that I’m giddy from the smell of tar and asphalt!) Almost all of the Paseo through the Founder’s Neighborhood is paved and it looks like all or most of Agua Viva will be paved by the end of the week, as workers have been hard at it all day and even into the night. Strangely enough, last night we could hear heavy trucks rumbling up and down the Paseo in front of our house, but there were no lights on the vehicles or lights in the road. Kinda scary!

Word is that Homex has put the rush on for the big meeting between company officials and Loreto Bay home owners, which is slated for Friday. The big day will include some kind of ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Paseo, as well as a parade of golf carts and bicycles (only in Mexico!), then dinner and a Q&A with Homex bigwigs.

This will be the first time that Homex officials have met with home owners since they bought into the project early last year. We’re told the meeting will include an overview of their plans for the development, which will most likely focus on the second phase of Agua Viva, but those plans will have an impact on all of Loreto Bay.

We’re hoping for some good news from Homex and will share it with you this weekend!

Fits and starts

2011-02-14T16:26:00.011-07:00

It’s feast or famine here in Loreto Bay, especially concerning work on paving the Paseo. Last week Homex kicked it into high gear, with asphalt finally making its way north into Agua Viva. But today it’s once again quiet with no road crews in sight.

The fits and starts are frustrating, but now that actual resurfacing has happened on our end of Loreto Bay I feel more confident that we’ll be inhaling the sweet smell of tar and oil even further north in the near future.

It’s never a good idea to try to pin a date on the completion of improvements, but we’re thinking another couple of months and the road will be done. Or mostly done. Maybe.

In other news, we learned that Homex won’t just be selling off the 60-plus lots they bought in our phase of Agua Viva. Instead, they've decided to build on the lots they sell. That’s good news as it indicates they’re in it for the long haul and it gives them more of an incentive to make our phase of the project as attractive as possible. Like all else here, we’ll just have to wait to see how things unfold.

The sound of silence

2011-01-24T15:22:00.013-07:00

Ever since the end of the holiday season (no matter how you measure it that season has been over for some time now), we’ve been waiting for the sounds of paving and road work to once again fill the air here in Loreto Bay, particularly in the Founder's Neighborhood which has been awaiting asphalt since long before the holiday break. But it’s the sound of silence that continues to dominate, with only the occasional caw of a gull to break the monotony.

Homex started this project with a colossal amount of energy and speed that has dwindled over the past few weeks to a few workers here in AV finishing up the curbing and retaining walls. The only completed and paved portions of road after all this time are the south entrance from Highway 1 to the Paseo and then the short stretch to the Inn and a couple of other very short branches.

Even just a couple of weeks ago Agua Viva was abuzz with road construction activity, but now work is at a virtual standstill. The two photos below were taken from our roof tower at about 2:30 p.m. today. As you can see, there's a whole lotta nothing going on.

So what gives?

The most persistent rumor is that work has stopped because the paving contractor has not been paid by Homex and he’s holding out until he gets some cold, hard pesos.

I, for one, don’t blame him, if it’s true he hasn’t been paid in months. It seems unlikely that any small company could go months without an infusion of capital, while still having to meet overhead and pay employees. Why should a small Mexican contractor have to carry a behemoth like Homex for months at a time? Considering how many local contractors got ripped off by the old Loreto Bay Company, it’s a wonder anyone will do business out here at all. So if this rumor is indeed fact, then Homex should do the right thing and pay the contractor. Let’s get this show on the road, for crying out loud!!

Another whisper on the wind says Homex has stopped work because the bigwigs are mulling the possibility of asking home owners to ante up and share the cost of paving the Paseo. This particular scenario doesn’t make sense at all. Homex hasn’t allowed any home owner input regarding the layout and paving, so it’s hard to imagine they’d have their hand out for help at this point in the project. This isn’t some rinky-dink company we’re talking about here. Homex is one of the largest companies in Mexico, so it would seem safe to assume they’re not crazy. Then again, this is Mexico...

Maybe work will resume tomorrow or maybe it won’t. Maybe they ran out of asphalt like they did before the holidays or maybe we’ll never know what caused the work stoppage. Whatever the reason, we hope Homex pays up, gears up and finishes up this project before we’re all too old to enjoy a new road!

Unplugged in Loreto Bay

2011-01-19T20:31:00.011-07:00

Saturday our Internet and phone went out here in Loreto Bay. Everything went kaput. But we weren’t alone because the entire development suffered the same fate. It was excruciating that first day. Initially, all I could think was "What if something happens out there in that other world, that world of family and friends and news in the States? How will we know what’s going on?"

Sunday morning dawned and still no Internet and no Vonage phone… Holy crap! I can’t read Frank Rich in the New York Times! I can’t read the New York Times period or Huff Post or emails or call my son in New Mexico as I do every Sunday! How will I spend my day?? What the hell is going on?

George and I groused and grumbled about Road9, the carrier that keeps us in touch with the outside world. Then we left for the Farmer’s Market as we do every Sunday. We saw other Loreto Bay home owners and compared notes about our isolation. "When will this end," we asked each other. We were all dismayed, but we’d had no word on how or why our lifeline was shutdown and for how long we’d have to be incommunicado. Agony!

When we got back from the Farmer’s Market there was still no phone service or Internet. We had to adjust because we had to rethink our whole day. And we did. I made waffles and bacon and fresh squeezed OJ for brunch. And we talked. Gasp! We talked instead of reading the news on the Internet and then groaning over what we were reading. We didn’t agonize over Tea Party insanity or Sarah Palin’s latest outrageous Tweet. We talked about the things that make up our day. Imagine that! And then we spent the day reading books. Good books that we always seem too willing to put aside, opting instead to read the mostly depressing news that keeps us tethered to the "real" world.

We went to bed that night wondering what the heck was going on and we awoke Monday morning to more of the same. No phone, no Internet. We shrugged and talked idly of the rumors that were circulating. Road9 has gone out of business we heard. They’ve walked away and we’ll never have Internet again. They’re upgrading to wireless. They’re being forced out by TelMex. You name it, we heard it. More shrugs. Oh well. Hey! Let’s read some more. Let’s go for a walk to see those jelly fish we heard about this morning. Let's talk.

Imagine that!

My thoughts kept going to the those hardy souls who moved down here before the advent of the Internet and Vonage or Skype phones. How the hell did they manage?! Weren’t they worried about staying in touch with family and friends? But you know what? They managed. They lived their lives and stayed in touch however they could.

Tuesday was more of the same, but it was easier to tolerate. More talking, more reading, a trip into town for Spanish lessons and a chance to check our email. Oh well.

This morning we woke to discover that Internet service had been restored. Although a large part of me was thrilled, a smaller part of me was not.

Imagine that.

That George is one lucky guy!

2011-01-12T15:04:00.013-07:00

Life is all about the milestone markers. When we’re young those milestones have a triumphal feel. “Hey, I got my driver’s license!” “ I can vote this year!”
“Let’s go get a drink, I’m finally legal!”

But as we get older, those milestones sometimes feel more like millstones around our neck. Our bones start aching, our joints start creaking and wrinkles pop up in all manner of strange places. When those things start to happen the passing years become a lot less exciting. Let’s face it, once you hit a certain age birthdays can be downright depressing.

George marked one of those milestones this week when he turned 60 – a very youthful 60, I’d like to add. But his milestone took on the feel of one of those youthful triumphal moments thanks to two friends here in Agua Viva. The two Tracys (one a home owner, the other a friend of her’s who visits regularly) decided it would be fun to celebrate George’s last day as a 59-year-old by preparing a pre-birthday meal before they left for home the next day.

We were greeted at the door of Tracy’s casa with the news that lobster and steak would be served, as well as baked potatoes, salad and fresh bread from Loreto’s newest (and best) bakery. My first thought was “Great!” my next was “How am I ever going to top this!”

Watching the two Tracys in action was like watching a synchronized Olympic event. They displayed a combination of gracious hospitality and intensity of purpose that was a sight to behold. The drinks were divine (massive quantities of vodka paired with cucumber and mint, yum!), the conversation was entertaining and the meal was superb, including an excellent wine Tracy 2 decided she'd like to share with us. But the highlight of the evening was watching these two friends as they worked in tandem to prepare the meal. They were so in synch it was almost scary. How’d they do that?! They shrugged off the compliments and went out of their way to make George feel special. And they succeeded. What guy on the verge of 60 wouldn’t be thrilled to have two good-looking young women cooking up a storm for him?

Thanks Tracy and Tracy for making George’s coulda been a millstone into a very fun milestone. You two are the best!

But that wasn’t the end to the 60th birthday festivities. A bunch of friends came over last night to help us celebrate and both of his birthday parties have me thinking that maybe turning 60 isn’t so bad after all…

A little Feliz Navidad, a lot of Merry Christmas

2010-12-09T16:18:00.006-07:00

This is our year of firsts. The first time we drove the Baja, our first hurricane season (thankfully we dodged the hurricane bullet this year), our first summer (stunningly hot), our first Thanksgiving (which we were lucky enough to spend with our friends, Carol, Al, Sue and Tom) and our first Christmas holiday season, which is currently under way – in an understated Mexican kind of way.

It’s a different sort of holiday season for us with the only real sign of Christmas the appearance of a vendor selling Christmas lights on Salvatierra past El Pescador and a very small Christmas tree lot under a tent on the road into town. What has been very nice, though, is a total lack of the Christmas hysteria that pervades the holiday season north of the border. I stopped buying into the holiday shopping frenzy years ago, so the more relaxed and much less commercial feel to the holidays here in Loreto suits me just fine.

But I have to admit that it’s been hard to get into the holiday spirit with the temperatures hovering just under 80 degrees and the palm trees swaying in the breeze. Not that I’m complaining. The weather has been incredibly wonderful. But it does put a damper on the old holiday spirit when you’re wearing flip-flops and sweating like a pig while you put up the traditional Christmas tree. In our case that would be the traditionally fake Christmas tree I load up with lights and lots of ornaments (which always leave me feeling misty-eyed with memories of Christmases past) every year while tunelessly humming old standards like “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” or that Burl Ives classic “Holly Jolly Christmas.” I’ve always loved Burl Ives’ rendition of that song, even though he always kind of gave me the creeps. Go figure.

To be honest, I had to force myself to put the tree up this year. I kept coming up with excuses not to do it, which is something I’ve never done before. I’ve always been one of those people who puts up the tree as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are done. But not this year.

Maybe it was because of the weather or maybe because I knew I wouldn’t be with my family this holiday season. Whatever the reason, I was about to go treeless for the first time in my life when it occurred to me that George and I have to make new holiday traditions here in Mexico to add to the old tried and true traditions we brought with us from the States. Just like we brought (at my insistence) this oversized piece of fake evergreen nostalgia that I put the finishing touches on today. And it’s beautiful, even if does look more than a little out of place in our casa here in Mexico.

I’m already feeling more Christmassy and I expect that feeling will grow warmer and brighter as I take in the Christmas traditions here in Loreto. There’s the day of wrapping Christmas presents at the Internado School and the Christmas Carol Mexican Songs Contest for elementary and junior high kids outside the Mission. This Sunday is the Caritas Christmas bazaar – the same charitable organization that Drew McNabb wrote so poignantly about in his blog, Living Loreto, last week. Those events along with our own traditions – luminarias, green chile stew, posole and making gifts of cookies and candies - are sure to make this a Christmas season to remember.

This year we’ve got just a little bit of the new Feliz Navidad with a lot of the old Merry Christmas. But that ratio is sure to change over the coming years. And that will be a good thing.

Our morning constitutional

2010-12-09T11:55:00.015-07:00

The advent of cooler temperatures this fall was a welcome change from the brutal temperatures we endured well into October and it made the prospect of long morning walks much more tempting. So now George and I usually start walking as soon as our morning dose of caffeine kicks in. Most days we try to remember to bring along our little point and shoot as our walks have gotten a lot more interesting with all the Paseo road work.

Crews are busy building a rock retaining wall on the west side of the Paseo right across from our casa. The work is going faster than we thought it would, but we do feel sorry for our neighbor, Tim, whose casa is only a few short feet from all that work.

He seems pretty OK with all the noise, but was initially concerned his house might fall into the street after bulldozers scraped away a good chunk of the embankment.

Our side of the Paseo was being compacted this morning which resulted in a whole lotta shakin' going on inside our casa! Looks like paving will start on our side very soon.

After all the activity in Agua Viva this morning, we were surprised to find it all quiet on the southern front down in Founder’s with only a very few workers finishing up curbs.

Rumor has it that paving will start very soon on the Avenida from the southern entrance east to the Paseo and spiffy, new round-about.

We were very surprised to see the recently renovated Inn pool drained and being worked on.

There was no sign of Inn manager Peter Maxwell, so we don’t know why the work is being done. We’ll post as soon as we find out!

All that Paseo work is interesting, but the best part of our morning walks is the opportunity to take in the beauty of this area. Even after all these months, the incredible panorama of the sea and the mountains never fails to take my breath away and remind me how very lucky we really are. At least for a short while I can forget the dust and the noise which is the current reality here in Agua Viva and comfort myself with the knowledge that this too shall pass...

This Great Blue Heron looked as though he was an official sentry of the golf course along the back nine.

While walking along the estuary, we spied these beautiful fish.

Another great day in Loreto Bay. And now it's time to go hit some little white balls!

Show road is better than no road

2010-12-02T18:09:00.001-07:00

There are mutterings here in Loreto Bay that the improvements to the Paseo and south entrance road are mere window dressing. That what Homex is doing is just for show - a cosmetic face-lift to our roads, so to speak. And to that I can only say: Are you kidding me?!

It’s been years – long, dusty, bumpy, uncomfortable years – since anything good has been done to those roads and now that Homex is actually doing something (and footing the bill without asking us to chip in which is what most of us expected) they’re being criticized (by only a few, I hope) for not doing enough.

Hello? Do you live here or visit here regularly. The idea that we will have drivable roads free of dirt, gravel and potholes in the very near future is truly cause for celebration. We were eating dirt here even before Re:Play tore up parts of the Paseo before getting the boot almost two years ago.

Some have taken umbrage over the fact that Homex did not consult with our HOA before beginning the road work. The fact of the matter is they were only required to consult with the owner of the road – Fonatur – before proceeding. Sure, it would have been a nice gesture for Homex to have reached out to the HOA before the work began, or even after the work began, but they didn’t. So what? We’re still getting a new road with very nice new curbs. And that’s something I was beginning to think I’d never see in my lifetime.

I’m not sure why there are still some people who think Homex is our developer because they are not. Homex bought the Inn at Loreto Bay and the golf course and they are the developer for the second phase of Agua Viva. They also bought the Posadas and a few dozen lots in the first phase of Agua Viva, but they are not the developer for Founder’s or the first AV. Unfortunately, we’re still stuck with those unsavory shadow-people who front for Citigroup in the form of TSD and Alvarez & Marsal.

I’m sure it’s true that Homex decided to refinish our roads because it was in their best interest to do so. It would be awfully hard to sell in AV II with the rest of the development looking like little Baghdad. That decision may have been self-serving, but it certainly serves our interests too. So lighten up, sit back and prepare to enjoy a pothole free drive through lovely Loreto Bay!

Pavimentación de la parte tres

2010-11-30T12:43:00.018-07:00

Communication is often spotty and slow to make the rounds here in Loreto Bay (not so with rumors, though, they fly like lightning), so we thought we’d pass on the most current, sort of official news on what Homex plans for the Paseo.

Following is an email from Jorge with Associa -as written - outlining plans for the Paseo (with a focus on Agua Viva as this is the report he sent to the AV reps):

“I visited the area yesterday and there are not works done in our Sub regimes or master area, they are working only in Paseo now ( as you know is a Fonatur area ), I had a conversation this morning with the engineer in charge from Homex, his name is Ignacio Arias, he confirmed they will only be doing paving on Paseo and they will also start doing retaining walls on Sub Regimes K and L facing Paseo (Which I think is great ), they will raise the level of Paseo by around AV 281 to allow the rain to run part towards the canal and part towards SR I, they will run a pipe ( that will be the only job done in one of our Sub regimes ) towards the area to launch kayaks (between AV 34 and AV 101 ) to drain rain water there. He had talk to Miguel (note: Beck engineer in charge of the infrastructure installation) and he told me he got great information from him, I got a set of plans from Miguel before he left for some days to mainland showing on that area water, propane, fiber optic and electricity infrastructure running through that area, they should not have problems, I asked him if he has any doubts he should wait for Miguel as he will come back tomorrow.

“He also told me they will not scrape any more streets (he is proposing a small area in front of the Haciendas buildings, but he is waiting for approval) and that all of the Paseo (both sides) will get a coat of asphalt, there are only two areas that they will not touch, that is from FN 363 to 402 and the “dry arroyo” area ( in front of hotel in E2 area ), but the rest he said it will look like new both sides from tennis center to Hotel.”

Like most of what we get in the way of news, some of this needs to be clarified. And some of it – especially that last paragraph – will not come as welcome news to some Founder’s home owners.

It’s good news that retaining walls will be built along the embankments in subs K and L here in Agua Viva, but bad news for us that our part of that crumbling and rapidly eroding embankment will not be a part of that project as we’re not right on the Paseo.

We were pleasantly surprised, though, to learn that Homex does plan to address the drainage problems on the Paseo and the kayak launch area in the southern part of Sub-Regime I.

Paving update!

2010-11-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

This morning heavy trucks moved into Agua Viva (by the bat cave) and began tearing up the paving on the Paseo going north. Right in front of our casa, as a matter of fact. At first we thought trenches were being dug for utility lines, but as the morning progressed we saw that the entire lane on the beach side of the Paseo was being dug up.

During a scheduled meeting with Jorge of Associa this morning, George learned that the work was being done to prepare the road for paving. Talk about a shock!

Yesterday I mentioned in my first paving post that we'd probably find out about paving in AV when it actually started happening and all I can say is I sure hit the nail on the head on that one!

The original plan for the Paseo called for the road from the north end of our phase to right in front of our AV220 to be raised by four or five feet. It's obvious that plan has been scrapped, but who cares! We're going to have fresh new asphalt in the very near future! And maybe they're planning on doing something about the drainage problems on that part of the Paseo before the paving gets under way. Only time will tell.

Regardless, this is great news for those of us who own homes in Agua Viva and particularly good news for those very few of us who live here full-time or months at a time. As all of us who own here know, the dust situation just keeps going from bad to worse, but at least now we'll be able to drive into AV without kicking up a dust storm.

Jorge also confirmed this morning that Homex did, indeed, buy the Posadas. Loreto Bay has suddenly turned into a very happening place!!

Paving the way

2010-11-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

Excitement is in the air in Loreto Bay, along with diesel fumes and lots of noise after work suddenly (and apparently without notice) began recently on much-needed road improvements in our development.

The work is said to be a joint effort between Homex and Fonatur to grade and pave the south entrance to Loreto Bay and the Paseo (the main road through the development) from the hotel to the Posadas, across from the golf club.

The question mark hanging over this good news is whether the work will continue north on the Paseo from the Founder’s Neighborhood to our beleaguered piece of paradise here in Agua Viva. There’s been no word yet, but odds are we’ll find out when it actually happens and not before.

Work hit a snag, though, when a water line broke, according to one Founder’s home owner, who said some fiber optic lines were also damaged as a result of the road work. As soon as those utilities are repaired, workers will begin paving. For now, crews are busy building curbs on the south entrance road and continuing to grade the Paseo. As I was taking photos this morning a home owner walking by asked, "Is your water out too?" We are often without water in Agua Viva, so we hear that question too often, but not today! The water outage was only in Founder's.

The road work is great news, but like a lot here in Mexico there are always more questions than answers.

Will Agua Viva see new asphalt?
Will embankments along the south entrance be stabilized?
Will the Paseo get new curbs, too?

Whatever the answers we’re happy that something so vital and positive is finally happening.

And if the work does stop in Founder’s, leaving those of us here in Agua Viva spinning our wheels in the dust, the one question I won’t ask is “why.” We’ve learned that’s the most frustrating question anyone can ask here in Mexico…

Making our house a home

2010-11-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

After months of typical procrastination, George and I finally filled the pots we purchased last spring with flowers, plants and palms to adorn our roof terrace. It’s transformed our bare terrace into a more inviting space where we can relax and entertain in the cooler months ahead.

We searched high and low for the perfect plants and finally settled on several that were not what we’d initially discussed, but they ended up being perfect. That’s Mexico for you. It’s all about improvising and making due and enjoying the end result.

Jose with Vivero Santa Anita helped us make our choices, which consist of a bird of paradise, a large and small palm, bougainvillea, gardenias, desert roses (my favorites) and small flowering plants. He also supplied the skill and labor in installing the irrigation system we brought down from the States this summer.

The work was done quickly and efficiently – busting yet another myth about Mexico and we’re happy, even thrilled with the end result. The world beyond our walls may be dusty, barren and dotted with abandoned homes, but we’ve taken another step in creating a more lush and colorful world within the confines of our home.

Our new plants, along with the two little hummingbirds that flit and flutter through our space every day, are helping make our lovely house here in Agua Viva a real home. The final touch to our rooftop oasis are the rope lights that George and our wonderful friend Terry put up today around the pergola posts.

They add an incredible ambiance to our space

that invites good conversation with all the great friends we’ve made here in our little piece of paradise.

Viva Mexico!

Hummingbird hijinks

2010-11-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sundays are always special days here in Agua Viva and that’s because it’s the one full day of the week that’s quiet. No heavy trucks rumbling up and down the Paseo, no construction workers making construction noises, no loud radios and even louder cars. But today was special for another reason – we had visitors!

Earlier this week we finally put up one of the hummingbird feeders we bought in the States this summer and our efforts were rewarded this morning with the arrival of two of the little chirping, humming charmers.

All morning long they swooped through our courtyard, putting on quite a show as they dipped and dove and hovered before making their way to the feeder. They were curious and unafraid, even flying into the living room a couple of times before buzzing right out again. They were very friendly and seemed totally at ease around human-types.

I’m not sure what type of hummers they were as a quick Google search didn’t help identify them, but they were dark green with some darker shading. The only thing I do know is they are not Xantus’s hummingbirds, which are the endemic hummingbird in this part of the Baja, characterized by a distinctive cinnamon color on its breast and a red beak, both of which were lacking on our new feathered friends.

Whatever their name, the birds were a joy to watch and a nice addition to the frog that has been living in our courtyard for several months now. Or maybe he’s a toad. Or maybe he’s a she! It’s hard to tell with toad/frogs. Whatever he/she is, I’ve named him/her Sparky. Not really appropriate for his/her temperament (a bit withdrawn and quiet), but I do like the sound of it. And Sparky is still hanging out here, so it must sound good to him/her too. And if those two little hummers keep coming back, I’ll try to come up with equally inappropriate names for them as well.

All in all, today was perfect. In the morning we enjoyed the nature found inside our courtyard walls, while the afternoon was spent enjoying the broader palette of nature found at the beach. And did I mention the weather?! Perfection! The temperature was in the low 80s with a slight breeze, all under clear blue skies. It simply doesn’t get any better than today.

"Without bread all is misery"

2010-10-05T12:38:00.001-06:00

There is much to love about Mexican cuisine (George and I should know as we love it just a little too much). From salsa and guacamole to chile rellenos and chicken mole, the food here in Loreto (and the whole of Mexico) is not just good, it's great. But sadly, there is one glaring exception to that awesomeness and that would be bread, or more specifically, loaf bread.

Julia Child once said, "How can a nation be great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?" Truer words were never spoken. That handy paper product is exactly what Bimbo bread tastes like to me. Yuk!
Before anyone takes me to task for dissing all Mexican bread, I will freely admit that most of the commercial loaf bread sold in the States is awful too (just not as awful as Bimbo bread, the most awful of them all). The difference is that in the States we can get some good commercially-produced bread, but that kind of bread can't be found in a 200-mile radius of Loreto. And believe me, we've looked.

My doughy complaint lies strictly with commercial breads like Bimbo, so it should be noted that the local panaderías here in town offer some decent bread, it's just not my cup of tea. And speaking of tea, who can deny the joy of a thick slice of fresh, warm bread slathered in butter and/or jam accompanied by that fine beverage? Not me, that's for sure, and not Frank McCourt who wrote in his best-selling memoir "Angela's Ashes" that "...after the egg is there anything in the world lovlier than fresh warm bread and a mug of sweet golden tea?" No, Mr. McCourt, there is not!

All this complaining is just a prelude to the announcement (drum roll, please!) that there is a new bakery in town and the bread is as good as any artisan bread north of the border.

Pan Oli recently opened two doors down from Dali Gourmet (which re-opened this week after a summer break) and although they didn't have much to offer when I stopped by yesterday, they did have some rolls and very nice round loaves of fresh bread.

We went back to snap a photo and stock up on some fresh bread when we happened to bump into another Agua Viva home owner who had just discovered the new bakery. He, too, was thrilled at this new addition to the Loreto business community.

Today we went back and bought some ciabatta bread, focaccia and a cinnamon roll for George, as those little treats are his absolute favorites. We haven't yet tried the focaccia, but the rest was awesome. They also offer different types of rolls and pastries and will open a small restaurant in the coming months.

When you're next in Loreto, be sure to stop by this new bakery. It's well worth a visit.

Note: The quote that acts as a headline for this post is from a British journalist, William Cobbett (1763?-1835). He was a smart man.

If this don't beat all!

2010-09-30T19:40:00.001-06:00

Following is a letter we received from TSD (Trust for Sustainable Development) Loreto Partners, the company used by Citigroup to manage the Loreto Bay development, which they then used to hide behind after they decided to stop construction in June 2009. Since abandoning the Loreto Bay project, TSD has been nothing more than a shell company - stripped of assets and acting as a dummy company to shield Citigroup from litigation and public scrutiny. But before we get to the letter, I've got a few things to say...

A brief history should explain this situation: This is the company that left us with unfinished homes and no idea if we'd ever be able to recoup the MILLIONS of dollars we'd all sunk into this project. This same company is now very upset that people have decided to seek redress for those losses in a court of law. Wow, the nerve!

These folks also stole money from home owners in the amount of $1.3 million for infrastructure work that was never started. This work was signed off on by representatives of TSD who knew the work was not done. But what nerve for home owners to call them on it! (And, of course, special thanks go to Stewart Title International for being a party to that theft.)

So now they're upset that home owners are fighting back? How dare those of us who were left high and dry show some totally righteous anger and seek legal counsel!

It's just incredibly surreal to hear them whine about how badly the abandoned home owners have treated them. These folks are the real deal when it comes to crazy.

But after re-reading this self-serving piece of garbage, we should thank Mr. Embree C. "Chuck" Bedsole for one of the funniest letters we've ever read, because this has to be a joke.

Let's recap: This is the company that abandoned construction, tore up the only road through the project leaving it a pot-holed, barely passable nightmare, absconded with our $1.3 million in utility infrastructure money, left Mexican contractors and workers unpaid, left a huge local tax and utility debt unpaid, who never bothered to communicate with home owners in any kind of meaningful way after leaving us high and dry and they're upset with us? See what I mean? It's gotta be a joke.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Dear Homeowners,

As you know, TSD Loreto Partners S. en C. por A. de C.V. (“TSD” or the “Company”) has been diligently working with its secured lenders, FONATUR, local and state government authorities, federal tax authorities, contractors, homeowners, Beck Construction, and unsecured creditors to try to secure new funds and develop a reasonable plan to provide continuity to Loreto Bay (the “Project”) as a whole. Unfortunately, the Company has not been able to secure sufficient funds to continue the development of the Project as originally envisioned.

During this process, many homeowners have not met their obligations, creditors have exercised their contractual and legal rights and Company assets have been subject to liens and foreclosure actions. Nonetheless, the Company has used its limited resources to work with creditors to reach agreements on substantial reductions in the amount of their legal claims, and to work with homeowners who defaulted on their contracts prior to June 6, 2009 to arrange payment programs. The balance of our resources have been committed to defending claims from third-parties who have attempted to take an unfair advantage of the current situation based on false, unfounded or misleading claims.

TSD understands that despite the significant efforts expended by the Company to achieve the best outcome for the overall Project, not every homeowner has been or will be satisfied with these results or with TSD’s responses to their inquiries regarding the status of the Project or his or her individual unit. Even though TSD has tried to resolve many of the issues for which TSD is legally responsible and to keep the lines of communication open on these issues, TSD cannot resolve the remaining outstanding issues to the homeowners’ complete satisfaction, regardless of how many times or in how many different forms the issues are presented. Nonetheless, TSD believes that it has responded candidly to all issues raised by homeowners when and where possible.

Finally, there has been much speculation regarding the purchase of certain assets of the Project by Homex and the relationship between Homex and TSD. To set the record straight and avoid future misunderstandings, TSD has no contractual or legal relationship with Homex. An affiliate of Homex is the owner of certain assets of the Project that were previously owned by the Company and foreclosed by TSD’s creditors. TSD, in its efforts to assure the continuity of the Project, is cooperating with and providing information to Homex as required even though this acquisition of assets by Homex did not create any legal or economic relationship between TSD and Homex. TSD continues to be a separate and independent entity solely responsible for its obligations and prepared to defend its rights against third-parties that continue to try to affect TSD’s interests, including defending against those homeowners that have opted to initiate a harassing and defamatory battle against TSD’s and its officers based on false, unfounded or misleading claims.

It is unfortunate that the Project, as originally envisioned by TSD will not be achieved; however, we believe the foundation has been set out for future development companies to make Loreto Bay a destination homeowners may enjoy.

Best Regards,

TSD Loreto Partners S. en C. por A. de C.V.
By: Embree C. “Chuck” Bedsole, as attorney-in-fact.

But just in case this self-serving piece of garbage isn't a joke: Bring it on, Mr. Embree C. "Chuck" Bedsole! And best regards to you, too.

On second thought, though, the joke is on Mr. Bedsole and company because Agua Viva home owners have left them far behind. Sorry, guys, but you're ancient history at this point. We picked up the pieces and made something good from the mess you left behind. It wasn't easy and it wasn't fun, but we have a community now that has nothing to do with Citigroup or TSD. We did it without your help and in spite of your hindrance. Good for us. Now go away and leave us alone!

A mixed blessing

2010-09-22T20:03:00.000-06:00

Yesterday’s rain was a real blessing here in Loreto Bay and the surrounding area. The mountains and landscape have taken on a soft green glow that we haven’t seen all summer, or for that matter, since we moved here. It’s an amazing transformation that seemed to take place almost instantaneously.
It’s a blessing, too, for the scrawny livestock that have had slim pickings alongside the highway for the past few months. Now they’ll have something green and tasty to eat. Thank God! It’s such a pitiful sight to see the cattle, goats and horses foraging in the dirt and rocks alongside the highway. At least now there’s some greenery poking up through the scrabble.

The downside to the rain is the mess it makes of the road - the Paseo - in front of our home. We’re on the north end of Agua Viva, which is one of the lowest points of the Paseo. So we’re left with a totally flooded road even though we only got about an inch of rain (I’m averaging the guesstimates we’ve heard). The problem with the road is serious for all concerned. How can the new owners expect to sell homes when the main road through the project is in such bad repair? Any prospective buyer would be taken aback to see the road when it’s dry. When it’s wet, it’s a nightmare.

We’ve heard via the LB grapevine that Homex knows they’ll have to do something about the Paseo. It’s a shame the main thoroughfare through the development ever got in this shape in the first place. Shame on Citigroup, Re:Play, TSD and all those responsible for the road conditions here in Loreto Bay. Here’s hoping Homex steps up to the plate and takes care of this problem soon.

Every little bit helps

2010-09-21T12:41:00.000-06:00

George and I have lived through many firsts since moving to Loreto Bay last February, but today was the first time we've seen real rain since we got here. Yippee!
We missed the big four-inch downpour in August as we were on our six-week 'Adventure in Gringolandia' tour. That particular storm wreaked some havoc with our casa in the form of leaks in the ceiling of the upstairs master bedroom. But the good news was that the repairs were all completed before we arrived home and from what we've heard, the rest of the new homes in AV fared better than we did. We were lucky that we had such a good property manager in Robert Ortola. He and Donella did a fantastic job looking after our house and cleaning up after the workers left.

Today's rain has managed to tamp down the dirt (another big Yippee!!) and it's possible we may see more precipitation in the next couple of days thanks to Tropical Storm Georgette (click on the weather widgit on the right side of this page for more weather info).

We ran some errands in town this morning and were treated to a brief deluge while we were at Gustavo's checking out his new offerings. If you haven't been to his store in a while, plan on a trip as he's got some really great new furniture and accessories.

We also had brunch at the new Gourmet Guaycura Restaurant on the Malecon by Augie's. In fact, it's in the same second floor location that Augie's restaurant used to be.

It's one of our favorite spots on the Malecon and we're glad to see that space being used again. The restaurant has some really nice touches like orchids in vases on the tables, nice color schemes, great background music (Spanish guitar instrumentals of Beatles tunes. Awesome!) and one of the best views on the Malecon. And the food was great!

It looks like Loreto proper got more rain than we did here in Nopolo this morning, but right now it's coming down pretty steadily here at home. Wish I had a rain gauge!

We'll keep you posted on any significant developments.

In other good news:

When we left here on August 4 work was just beginning on the improvements at the Inn.

We were very surprised and pleased to see that the pool work was done and other cosmetic touchs could be seen throughout the grounds, including some new contrasting paint and really nice new palapas and outdoor restaurant furniture.

The changes have succeeded in making the Inn look a lot more alive and vibrant.

The evening we got back the Inn was hosting a Viva! Mexico fiesta in honor of Independence Day with dinner on the beach (ala the old Loreto Bay sales events), a scrumptious buffet, music and even fireworks. There looked to be about 40 or so joining in the festivities. Talk about a nice homecoming!

All those changes can be credited to the Inn's new manager, Peter Maxwell. Ironically, Peter, a native of Britain with an impressive resume in the hotel industry, was responsible for getting the original Inn - the Camino Real Hotel - going back about eight or nine years ago.

Peter (one of those managers that jumps right in no matter how small the task and how often do you see that anymore?) told us that for now Homex is taking baby steps in getting the Inn back in shape. That's obvious with the pool which could look better, but we're not complaining. The improvements are real and the whole ambience of the place has changed for the better. So congrats to Peter and his staff.

As for the outdoor dining area that was being demolished before we left, Peter said that renovation is on hold due to a lack of funds. But on the plus side, 90 of the rooms have gotten a facelift.

And we were very happy to see the fitness room full of equipment again. We did hear that some of the equipment isn't working, but hey, some of it is! That's good news for us as we managed to gain a good bit of weight while we were in the states. Sometimes it feels like we ate our way up the West Coast!

On a totally inane note, I was relieved to see that our resident frog (or maybe he's a toad) was still here when we got home last week. He's no friendlier than he was before we left, but it's still good to see him hopping around the courtyard every night.

Something to get excited about - finally!

2010-08-03T19:48:00.001-06:00

It’s been a long wait, but tonight we saw real progress being made here in Loreto Bay. Almost a dozen workers were busy tearing out the old tile in the hotel swimming pool and it was a wonderful sight to see.

When we moved here last February, seagulls had taken over the pool at the Inn and it was looking very shabby. Just a few weeks later Homex met with local officials and word leaked that they had indeed bought the hotel and golf course. We’ve all been waiting these many long months to see what Homex has planned and it’s looking pretty darn good.

The main swimming pool is being refurbished and in just one day the workers had accomplished a lot. New walls were going up and the old tile was being torn out and hauled away. As we made our way to the pool restaurant this evening, we also saw surveyors working on the hotel grounds and a large crew tearing down the pergola over the old outdoor restaurant just north of the pool.

Our waiter told us the pool restaurant and bar will be closing as soon as renovations are completed on the former outdoor dining area, which he said would take about a week. We've learned to be a little skeptical when we hear something will only take a week. So now we just add a month or two onto any guesstimate and we're usually not far off. But no matter how long it takes, this is an encouraging and welcome sign.

The pool restaurant will probably re-open once the pool renovation is complete. This information is all per our waiter, who seemed very excited about the work taking place. And so are we!

No news, though, about the former fitness center, which was housed in the building adjoining the restaurant. That space was turned into a dining room, but we never saw anyone actually eating there. Maybe the new restaurant, which will feature a new chef and offerings like Mexican specialties and lobster, will have both indoor and outdoor dining.

It’s incredibly nice to see these signs of life at the Inn and we look forward to many more exciting changes.