Funinthesun: Mail, Visiting Friends & Renovations

WE GOT MAIL TODAY!!!!...

In January we discovered that our previous beach house tenants had registered a mailbox at the Progreso Post Office so we changed it to our name for receipt of our Banamex Bank Statements.

You cannot imagine our surprise when we unlocked our post box today to find 2 Christmas cards from the Gibsons and Templemans, and a post card from the Chihoniks while on their January cruise; all of which found their way to our box despite having our Chuburna home address instead of the more formal post office address.

YEAH!.... So here is our mailing address should you ever want to send mail to Mexico. We'll let you know when we receive it!.

Dorothy and Gord Kaytor
APDO Postal #38
Centro CP 97320
Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico

RETIRE TO LAKE CHAPALA AREA OR CHUBURNA!!!

Before we started the renovations inside the house we had a visit from our Calgary friends, the Dolhas, who are also planning to retire to Mexico... They had explored the more temperate Lake Chapala and were now in the Yucatan to consider its merits; which of course included a trip to the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal founded 500 AD and 2 hours from our home.

OUR CASITA IS READY FOR COMPANY...

The caretakers who used to live on our property raised 4 children in our casita which is 400 square feet. Everyone slept on hammocks and they often cooked and sat outdoors. It is similar to many homes in the area and in particular in the local fishing villages. Even our contractors shake their heads at the room we have in our beach house for the 2 of us; as much room as 3 casitas.

With a total makeover, it has been a great place to live while our house is being renovated. Here are some before and after photos... Our son David and his girlfriend Julie will be our first guests to have the privacy and luxury of their own accommodations at Namaste! ( our beach property)

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE photos of the inside of casita are on my other computer packed away for the renos...

Suffice to say the inside was a gross yellow and purple color on cracked walls and floor.. a coconut jammed into the hole where the toilet sat and rusty taps and shower stall.

All that was left of the kitchen was a space where we had taken out the greasy counters and old sink the last time we were down.

A very big make-over as you can see below:

The sofa couch will be replaced with a new Queen Size bed for guests
once we move back into the house .

We've since added a 2 burner stove and an under the counter fridge.

The Casita has it's own hot water tank for showers and washing dishes....as will our house.

In most homes on the beach and in the villages dishes are washed in cold water.

CHIP CHIP CHIP in the house How many spanish words can you find that end in ``o``

1st all the walls are chipped by hand : chip a "Nicho" into the wall and then get rid of the old cemento walls ( pareds) and kitchen (cocina). We are not touching the ceiling ( techo)

Using this small hatchet and arm power every bit of all the walls downstairs is chipped off before the new cemento goes on in 3 layers.
Really rough and not spread = Rich
Spread evenly - Reboko
Final smooth, even finish with paint included - Macilla

There goes the COCINA!

THE KITCHEN WALLS ARE READY FOR THE BUILDING OF THE CEMENT SHELVES AND COUNTER TOPS (TAPAS) USING WIRE AND WOODEN FORMS... more in the next blog..

BUILDING ARCOS ( arches) in all entrances and the pantry.

A group planning session

Here down to there!

THEY USE A PIECE OF WIRE NAILED TO A BOARD WHERE THE ARCO BEGINS TO DETERMINE THE EVEN SPAN OF THE ARCO JUST LIKE WE WOULD USE A COMPASS ON A PIECE OF PAPER TO DRAW AN ARCH.....CHECKING AS EACH BLOCK IS ADDED.

THIS BECOMES.........