Hacienda in Oaxaca

I've seen Haciendas for sale mostly in the Yucatan with many retaining much of their former glory. This one had no glory left and was not even the house but the crop storage barn. Don Pedrillo is the old Hacienda name dating back 400 years and was later incorporated into larger land holdings.

Everette and Beth Deese bought this old place back in the early '90's, did some support work on it and then let it sit until 2007. Quite the project compared to what most Expats undertake to build a house in Mexico.  A number of interesting photo stories about their project on the Blog.

Everette and Beth Deese | Photos of Don Pedrillo

Three house projects

I consider these finishing touches to a house that began very simple and not all that well planned. The largest is the awning (marquesina) along the house that will help keep rain away from doors and windows. Oscar is up there now filling the joints between the awning and the house that they had to cut out to attach it.

The second is a palapa over the ugly block of cement that covers the cistern in the middle of the yard. The four posts (castillos) are up and the palapa builder will be here next week to build the wood structure that sits on top. Gonna use the long palapas rather than the royal palm that is very much more expensive. He says with the right pitch and placed close together it should be good for 5 years. We'll see.

The third project is to replace a jury-rigged lamina roof that was over the outside wash and pump area. It will extend out 5 meters rather than the 1.5 meters of the old one. Will be much better protection for the area, equipment and can act as a partial garage. One column of the same type used above and two cement cross supports (vegas) that they just poured this morning.

Posts for palapa, house awning and lamina supports

New lamina supports for utility area

Soon to be covered with a palapa

Another view of the house awning

Painting rebar is my game

Painting rebar is my latest activity after cleaning up when the new roof supports where taken down yesterday. I was amazed at how much stuff was left either on the floor or still embedded in the ceiling. Half the rebar still there will be cut off because it won't be used to continue building but the other half needs paint or it will rust quickly.

Then there's the sand ... and lots of it. This time we ordered clean sand for less work 'screening' the rocks out of it. Not as important with cement but stucco needs a uniformly fine sand.

My rebar art

More sand

Stucco work on upstairs laundry room

Building a house in Melaque Mexico

Moving - not my favorite thing

But some moves easier than others. Finished my second trip to the Chapala area a few days ago and will head back for the third in a few days more. Silvia, my helper, wants to be back in her hometown for Independence Day on the 16th and I should have another load ready to go. Sounds exciting as I've only experienced the fiesta and Grito in the small town of Melaque and Seattle.

Got very lucky to locate a nice house on the first trip with the help of Trailrunner my new neighbor. Second trip was to sign a contract, pay rent, buy some furniture (unfurnished) and clean the place up.

Place has a great yard for the cats (out at night), fruit trees (from avocado to pomegranite), covered fiesta area, four bedrooms and I can almost see the lake from the second floor.

Quite a different feeling to use a sheet or even a blanket this time of year. The house has no fans.

So when you buy a bed-frame and mattress ... why would the price be the same for a double or a single. Mexico only!

Melaque landlord will be here this weekend to figure out what he wants to exchange for rent or just buy ...... because I installed an air-conditioner, replaced the stove and fridge, replaced the hot water heater, painted the place, added a security gate on the front door and fixed the older cyclone fences. I want my washing machine but the new place has no fridge so we'll see what happens there.

And I just rebuilt the well (I wasn't going without water for a few weeks or even a few days in this weather).

Got back from Chapala and noticed the pump was running but tinaco not overflowing. I had water so just turned the pump off over night. Next morning the toilets would not fill. Seems a combination of the water level dropping and the well filling with sand clogged the intake and ate the pump. Had to sink a new 6" casing inside the well, extend draw pipe a meter, new intake valve and rebuild the pump. Worked perfectly 'till the tinaco filled and we found the shutoff float was stuck.

No lessons here ... just stuff that happens

Inexpensive house in Melaque - Yes possible

I got tired of looking at lots on the beach side of the highway in Melaque with prices of $40k and up and always listed in US dollars. The Realtors here are out of control and hopefully the current economy will put a plug in them. That's the main reason we bought our lots in Pinal Villa.

So Ron was down for a few weeks and a waiter we've known for a long time said he knew a place for about $450,000 pesos. After a few meetings with the owners the price went down to $370,000 which is about $28k US. Now this place is very Mexican but well built and has water, sewer, electric, walls around, lot size 10x20 and two rooms that with just a little work would be livable (maybe no work says Ron). I'm sure with $10k he could make this place very nice and another $10-15 could put on a second story. Ron should be down from Vallarta in about a week to finalize.

This place is still available.  Ron's wife didn't like it so they bought a couple of lots on the east side as of (3/15/2010)

Bottles on the rebar Quiz

I've heard tons of stories of why the bottles are placed on top of rebar on the roofs in Mexico. My builder just gave me the only answer that makes any sense to me. No it is not to keep them dry and it's not to bring attention that the house is unfinished. You guys get to make a guess or two ....

No more quesses - OK

Rebar sticking out of the roof makes a great lightning rod .... and either glass or plastic will act as insulators

A Mexican flower garden

Something about our garden is typically Mexican to me. Even though there is earth to plant the flowers around the perimeter they get placed all over in containers. The lawn can't be used for kids to play but that might be to keep the kids out so they don't destroy everything playing soccer. Anyway, Mari really likes her flowers and we get them for only $20-30 pesos down the street or they are given by friends. Need to buy a few plastic pots so she doesn't start with the pots and pans and old tin cans.

Barbara's house - at least it was

I promised to get a few pictures of Barbara's house. Sadly after her only being there a few months she decided to head back north. She asked if we wanted to take over her house and of course the answer was yes. It's more secure, prettier, feels larger, has a yard ... and is only a block from the beach.

So we're happier, have a garden to play with, easy for walks on the beach, a block from the kindergarden for the 4 year old (Marcos) ... and looking forward to cooler fall weather. Hopefully no hurricanes in the next few months.

Front of our new house in Melaque

Side street view with the ocean a block away

Our palapa in the front corner of the lot

Back yard - green tarp is for shade this summer - it's hot

Living room and one of 3 bedrooms with Jania on the floor (she's 8)

Side yard with palm, bananas and limes

Settling down in Mexico

I've created other BLOG's for areas along the Costalegre as well as a few others about places I've been ... but have ignored this one. Since this is more about my life here rather than Melaque specifically - here goes.

After living for almost a year in a nearby bungalow the landlords personality just became too much of an issue. My neighbor (Barbara) and I finally just had to get our own places. No pool this time but a lot more peace of mind. Landlord issues are just another thing you may have to deal with in Mexico - especially if they are on the property. Believe me, gringo (or ex-gringo) landlords can just as bad as Mexican ones - and you can understand the words but don't have a clue where they are coming from !!

So Barbara got the place I originally wanted but since I've taken on a family the landlord was too skeptical about the kids. The pictures below are of our place which is very basic, suits the purpose well ... but lacks in the aesthetics department. We put up the palapa for afternoon shade ... and rather than a real pool we have a kiddy pool in the rear garage space.

For those interested in prices, ours is $3250 pesos a month (a little less than $300us), a large 2 bedroom that we made into 3 easily, 2 bath, secure parking, air-conditioning (we pay electric which is expensive), water-garbage-cable TV are included. We pay phone, DSL, drinking water and electric.

Barbara is paying $4000 pesos for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath - a block from the ocean and it has a beautiful garden. We´re 6 blocks away and have no real garden. I'll post another picture or two if I get good ones - and maybe a foto of Barbara's. It takes some looking to find decent places ... and if at all possible, avoid realestate agents, some here want as much as 20% a month for their services.

So quickly, my family now has 5 kids from 4-13, 2 boys and 3 girls. Then there is Mari who is really either aunt or grandma to these kids - an amazing woman who really keeps them inline ... and is a great cook !!

Adios for now

Front of our new house

Kitchen area

The living room from the kitchen - a lot of furnishings were included