What I like is the park in the back of the house that offers shade for anyone walking through. Mangos hang heavily, waiting to drop or be picked. What surprised me most about my new neighborhood is that now I hear the birds singing. Birds like trees, and even in my old colonia most of them had been cut down in the last eight years or so to make room for progress. I was quite moved to hear the birds and enjoy more than ever working out of my own home. I shall never take them for granted again.
Really, the point I want to make is about moving. I must say that this move was the most strenuous and stressful move I’ve ever made. Prior to moving to Mexico, I lived in a number of cities, namely Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Minneapolis and Albuquerque, and had moving down to a science. But nothing prepared me for this one. And so my heart goes out to those who have a move coming up, whether it’s into town, out of town, across town, wherever.
Open houses were on the scarce side this month, but then, you already knew that. In fact, there were two that I was not even able to attend, both the weekend I went to Guadalajara for my annual summer trip. However, I was able to visit one while doing the research on the piece this month covering Ixtapa and environs. Charlie Rondot of Coldwell Banker La Costa was vacationing in Canada, so I was unable to see the house he opened. The third one I attended was in an area new to me, Lomas del Pacífico in Mismaloya, which I will talk about first.
Carmen Espinoza of The Real Estate Store showed Casa Vista Linda in Mismaloya. It’s quite an interesting house for the right family, built on 1342 square meters (14,700 sq. ft.), with over 500 square meters of terraces. Built in the style of a Mexican hacienda, the house contains a large swimming pool with great outdoor space for entertaining. Currently it’s the last house on the road where it’s located, Elizabeth Taylor Street, in the Lomas del Pacífico development. Just above a river, the sound of the water is constant music as you sit on the shady balcony underneath gigantic trees along the river bank. I didn’t walk to the beach, but they say it’s close by. In addition to the three large bedrooms in the main house, there is another guest house and detached studio next door. A wall protects the house from the road in front, even though it doesn’t seem to have any traffic. Asking price is $675,000 USD, a great price for this tranquil entertainment hideaway.
Just before press time, several open houses were lined up for a weekend show in the Conchas Chinas area, namely Casa El Calmante by Harriet Murray and Villas de los Suecos by Carl Timothy. I’ll get to those next month, watch for them. Even more important, show up at the open houses, which take quite a lot of organization for the busy agents, even if just to see how everyone is doing. It’s a good opportunity to catch up, at least for me.
Looking around the city, summer vacation is nearly over. We’ll be getting back our parking spaces. And if the projection for the parking garage at Hidalgo Park is true, those 160 spaces will be available by the beginning of the Fiestas Patrias on September 15. Does that mean that we’ll never again have to face the incredible shortage of parking that we just went through this summer? I hope so, even though detractors of the parking structures believe that the problem with parking is just beginning. At press time, another proposal is on the mayor’s table from the architecture college for revising transportation (i.e., buses and taxis) to allow downtown to function properly. Meanwhile, the work continues on Benito Juárez Park, promising 340 parking spaces on five levels to be completed before Semana Santa next year.
The month of September, as already mentioned, is time to bring out the patriotic red-white-and-green bunting for the Fiestas Patrias, celebrations including parades, mariachi, fireworks, folklore dances and the annual beauty contest. September 14 is the Day of the Charro, celebrated by a parade from the South Side through downtown to El Pitillal. Don’t miss one of the highlights of the year, worth even going out into the heat of the day for. At least El Grito events are cool, proclaimed at midnight on September 15 with mariachi, fireworks and all things patriotic, followed by a national holiday September 16. Stay up late, all night if you really want to follow tradition, then sleep in the next day. Before you know it, the month will be over and October will be beginning of one of the busiest seasons in history on the front doorstep. Welcome, come right in!
