Pavimentación de la parte tres

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!

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

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

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

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.