Loreto, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico

In-Wall Speakers

Hopefully soon we'll be working with our architect to create floor plans, sections and elevations that our contractor in Mexico will be able to use.

In addtion to sections and elevations, I would like to have additional plans that show the locations of power outlets, lights and other details. One of these details could be the location of "in-wall speakers".

We are thinking that in the main living room, where the big screen plasma TV will be placed, we will have the speakers built-in the concrete wall. There are a few advantages:

- No need for wires all over the place. Makes it easier to clean the room and makes sures kids, pets or clumsy adults don't trip over them.
- The above in-wall speakers can be turned to aim the sound wherever we want. With the 5.1 surround sound experience, this is important.
- The speakers can be replaced in a few years when they stop working or better technology is available.

I don't know if this "in wall speakers" idea will become a reality, but maybe logging it here will make it so. :-)

For more information on in-wall speakers and for other cool stuff for your home, check out http://www.smarthome.com; click here for an example of in-wall speakers, I copy its specs below.

6.5-Inch Rectangular In-Wall Speakers (Pair)
Smarthome.com, 3/25/2007, $539.99, Link

Essential Information
- Speakers mount in the wall for clean look with full sound
- In-wall speakers include rigid steel frames for ease in mounting
- 6.5-inch speakers provide 100-watt power

You don't need to install bulky, awkward speakers around your room in order to aim sound toward its "sweet spot." The 6.5-Inch Rectangular In-Wall Speakers are designed to be flush-mounted in your wall for full, 100-watt sound in an unobtrusive housing. Unlike standard wall speakers, these in-wall units feature Teteron soft dome pivoting tweeters that can aim the sound toward your ideal listening area. These in-wall speakers connect to your home theater system using 16-gauge or larger speaker wire, sold separately.

Speaker Details

The 6.5-Inch Rectangular In-Wall Speakers feature an elegant design with a fine mesh grille that houses a new driver with "Vectran" cones, German Atmos-Air wire, gold plated connections and polypropylene capacitors that blend to create a seamless audio experience. Butyl rubber surrounds offer performance and durability, and Kapton voice coils are cooled with Fero fluid, which increases the life of the loudspeaker and increases power handling. The ribbed baffle design creates an extremely strong, inflexible platform for the contained drivers. This design eliminates both "baffle run on" and "baffle flexing," thus preserving the three dimensional soundstage so that the sound is not smeared or distorted.

Easy, Secure Installation

Install the rigid steel frame and mounting assembly by passing the black mounting ring through the cutout. Verify that the speaker frame fits into the cutout, and once the frame is in place, pull the mounting ring against the rear side of the wallboard. The steel clamp eliminates vibration and reduces baffle run on, so you'll be left with a more secure, stable installation. Included in the package is a perforated metal grille to protect the driver; the grille is removable for servicing. All surfaces of the speaker are paintable to match your décor, as well.

Specifications

Angstrom Loudspeakers Product No.: AV-6.5W
UPC: 845466000023
Dimensions: 9 1/16" W x 12 5/8" H (23cm x 32.2cm)
Cutout Size: 9 1/16" W x 12 5/8" H x 3" D
Description: In-wall loudspeaker with 6.5" Vectran Woofer and 1" Teteron Tweeter
Frequency Response: 42Hz-21KHz
Sensitivity: 90dB 1W/1M
Power Handling: 50-100 Watts
Impedance: 8 ohms
Speaker Wire: 16 gauge or larger
Warranty: Lifetime, limited

Mountain Biking in Loreto

The Outdoors News Wire web site (www.outdoornewswire.com) has a great article on mountain biking in Baja and in Loreto.

If ever want to mountain bike in Baja, the article also mentions that Trudi Angell runs bike tours and bike/sea kayak combo tours out of Loreto. She can give you advice on riding and tell you the history and legends of the entire area. Email: info@tourbaja.com or Telephone: 800.398.6200.

[...] Later I sat in the little town of Loreto watching the whitecaps blow over the ocean. The mission this time around was just as simple - my compadre Brad and I would pedal from town into the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and ride virgin singletrack -- mule trails winding from rancho to rancho. Simple, no?

Loreto nestles against the ocean beneath a western skyline of jagged desert peaks. It's a quiet town where dogs sleep in the shade and kids cruise the cobblestone streets in low-slung Chevys. Loreto's significance in Baja dates back to 1697 when Jesuit explorer Juan Marea Salvatierra founded the Miss­on Nuestra Senora de Loreto and gathered the indigenous peoples to convert them to Catholicism...or else.

Over the years the Jesuits came and went along with other religious explorers, ravaging the native population under the guise of Christianity. Today, Loreto is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts who fly in from Los Angeles or drive the Trans-Peninsular Highway 1 to fish, kayak, snorkel and mountain bike.

Read the full article below, it's an interesting story.

Trial by Fire
After a long, cold winter, riding Baja's blazing hot single track is the perfect way to launch back into mountain biking.
by Nathan Ward, March 5th, 2007, Link

The skinny trail dipped through an arroyo and ground up through a forest of long-armed cardón cactus before dropping fast through the sand and sliding away into the desert. We rode like sweaty hounds, loping along the trail and waving our happy grins into the evening sun. If we looked up we'd have seen the red hills dropping into the green sea, the last sun rays peaking around the peaks or the frigate birds floating on the wind, but we only thought about riding. When darkness fell, we pedaled straight to a café where we took long swigs of cold beer, sucked on limes and tucked into fresh fish covered in sweet brown mole. Isn't this what life is supposed to be like in Mexico?

The Sierras sweep south out California's back door into Mexico, past towns like Tecate, Ensenada, Mulug and Loreto before grinding down near the candy-colored condos of Cabo. This is Baja -- an 800 mile long needle of mountainous land splitting the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the serene Sea of Cortez. For the last three decades, Americans have flowed south into this mysterious desert to search out the perfect remote beach, to catch the silver-skinned dorados, to hide from America and look for love in the eyes of a brown-skinned beauty.

Me too. The first time I turned pedals in Baja was a misadventure spawned from too much time watching the snow swirl outside the Colorado windows. An old girlfriend and I had been musing on places where the winter sun shone warm and fish tacos could be had on every street corner. Baja was nearby, foreign and promised adventure. Plus, we figured we would save money and just ride our bikes all the way south from the Mexican border with California.

A week later, after a thick slice of reality-pie, we sat in the scant shade of a scraggly tree as the sun beat down like hell's furnace. We experienced heat exhaustion, ran out of water, bonked hard enough to dream of licking the sugar coating off the Advil and decided that biking the length of Baja was a stupid idea. We hitched a hasty retreat north in the back of a beat up Ford to find that over sixty heat records had been broken in the US that week. It was hot.

Despite this trial by fire, the desire to mountain bike in Baja stayed with me. Two years later I sat in the little town of Loreto watching the whitecaps blow over the ocean. The mission this time around was just as simple - my compadre Brad and I would pedal from town into the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and ride virgin singletrack -- mule trails winding from rancho to rancho. Simple, no?

Loreto nestles against the ocean beneath a western skyline of jagged desert peaks. It's a quiet town where dogs sleep in the shade and kids cruise the cobblestone streets in low-slung Chevys. Loreto's significance in Baja dates back to 1697 when Jesuit explorer Juan María Salvatierra founded the Miss­on Nuestra Señora de Loreto and gathered the indigenous peoples to convert them to Catholicism...or else.

Over the years the Jesuits came and went along with other religious explorers, ravaging the native population under the guise of Christianity. Today, Loreto is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts who fly in from Los Angeles or drive the Trans-Peninsular Highway 1 to fish, kayak, snorkel and mountain bike.

Fresh off the plane, we oriented ourselves by sea kayaking, snorkeling and talking with Trudi Angell, the owner of the oldest sea kayaking company in Baja. Trudi came to Baja in 1976 for an outdoor course and never really left, becoming as she described a "Baja bum", traveling and exploring the peninsula.

By 1984, she founded a company, based in Loreto, and started guiding trips throughout Baja. She recently started mountain bike tours and gave us the idea to ride the mountain trails. "You ought to ride the mule trails around Rancho Viejo and San Javier. As far as I know, no one has ever done it," she said. How could we resist?

Baja doses out experiences in extremes and once one leaves the coast and heads inland, the desert and mountains take over with a vengeance. After plates of chorizo and eggs, we started riding with Trudi's clients toward the Sierra de la Giganta and quickly became reluctant friends with dust and the taste of dried sweat on our lips as we pedaled toward el Rancho Viejo.

The road rose steeply past forests of cardnes and dry washes over stretches of washboard and sections paved with flat rocks. The sun floated overhead heating the ground and dust devils spun crazily up and down the road. We traveled upward past an oasis of palms and a gorge with faint geometric designs on the walls, designs created hundreds of years ago by medicine men in tobacco trances.

Near the top, our companions climbed into their support truck while Brad and I shifted to our little rings and made grunting comments on how incredibly steep the road had become as it switchbacked across the rocky hillsides. We stopped to rest and treated ourselves to the amazing view unfolding behind us.

If you look at a topographical map of Baja, the land rises quickly from the Sea of Cortez, peaks in a series of rugged mountain ranges and slopes gently down westward until reaching the Pacific Ocean. We looked east down the steep face of the red hills that drop to the slim green plain of Loreto and fade into a deep blue ocean dotted with islands.

At moments like this, the allure and constant pull of Baja becomes clear - the proximity of rugged desert and soft, inviting ocean feels fat with possibility.

At Rancho Viejo the roosters started crowing at 4am just a few feet from my head, shocking me to consciousness. Once awake, the serenity of the high desert morning swept over me - smooth cool air vibrating with birdsong, sunlight streaming over the hillsides warming us as we sat with hands wrapped around hot metal cups of black coffee. Chari, one of the ranch owners, made tortillas. Slap! Slap! Slap! She tossed dough balls from hand to hand and placed them on a hot tin sheet over the fire where they browned in seconds.

Chari set a tall stack of tortillas in the middle of the table along with a bowl of refried beans, eggs and shiny green jalapeños. Rancho Viejo became our base for two days as we did day rides in the area and returned to sleep under the palapas at night. When Trudi's clients returned to Loreto, Brad and I packed our gear and spun down the road to the village of San Javier, following the migration of the area's most famous mission.

In 1699, the Jesuit Fancisco María Piccolo founded Baja California's second mission at Rancho Viejo. They moved to San Javier in 1720 and built Baja's most striking mission at the foot of a dramatic canyon. As we rounded the corner above the village, the mission towers stood out above the whitewashed buildings and gave the valley a mysterious feel.

The Mission San Francisco Javier stands at the end of a long wide cobblestone street, its walls made of black volcanic rock and surrounded by green fields. San Javier feels quiet and old beneath a canopy of palm trees and the sound of water flowing through a complex aquaduct system created by the Jesuits. It's easy to imagine that this village has changed little over the years. Children play in the streets, old people gossip in the shade and lizards scamper along the stone walls.

Like many places, the world has almost passed over San Javier. A lovely woman, Rocina, sold us tortillas and coffee and said all the young people left for the cities. "Look around you," she said with a sweep of her arm, "what would anyone do for work here?"

Luckily, we just wanted to ride bikes and set out for a huge canyon at the edge of town where people promised there were mule trails. We found a trail without problem and started riding up it...for about thirty seconds. Behind every beautiful flowering desert plant in Baja is a sea of thorns, espinas. The most delicate looking little poppy presents an arsenal of razor sharp thorns for protection.

We'd ride a short way and stop to pick the thorns from our bleeding skin, victims of teddy bear cholla, chainlink cholla, ocotillo, barrel cactus and countless other spine covered plants. Quickly we abandoned our bicycles and hiked the trail. After serving as our own guinea pigs, we found that mule trails were extremely rough, loose and not very suited to bike riding.

After giving up on mule trails, we adopted a new tactic of riding from oasis to oasis. Leaving San Javier early in the morning, we pedaled south along the main road from the village. The road isn't paved, in fact it's a dusty track full of rocks and sand that passes flower-strewn ranchos, dry stream beds and winds into the hills. Our only map was a simple hand-drawn affair so we had only a vague idea where to go. We turned east at la Mesa Santo Domingo and followed a brackish creek high into the Giganta.

Arroyos split the dry mountain landscape, offering water and lush green environments. This backroad cut through an amazing cardn forest thick as pines on the mountains of Colorado. The higher we rode, the more the vegetation exploded into a sea of palm trees where the creek flowed and hundreds of tiny frogs hopped along the shore. In these green areas we came across settlements where ranchers wrestled a living from this difficult land.

The ride back to San Javier taught us even more about riding in Baja. After just 37 miles our bikes were dry as a bone and sounded like the metal was grinding away each pedal stroke. The ride completely drained us, even a cloudy cool day. If we attempted this ride on a sunny day, Baja would have undoubtedly taught us a more severe lesson. As Brad clearly pointed out, "Sometimes Baja seems like nothing but dry and dusty roads."

Touring the backroads of Baja with a full trailer or panniers is very possible. However, it will take a toll on body and equipment unless you bite it off in small pieces and keep your distances reasonable.

The next day we packed our gear and pedaled over the "great divide" to the brake-smoking descent back to Loreto. In Loreto we met Fernando, one of Trudi's guides and a local mountain bike racer, who showed us the singletrack near town. Finally, perfect trails made by mountain bikers that swept along the ridgelines, descended into steep arroyos and took advantage of the landscape there above the sea. It was some of the best singletrack I've ridden anywhere and the perfect way to end our trip.

Before heading to Baja I harbored reservations about traveling to a place so close to the U.S., sure that thirty years of American tourism would have created an ugly monster. I was very happy to find that Loreto is nothing like the condo-littered beach party areas of southern Baja, it's quiet and laid back. Muy tranquilo.

However, despite its tranquilo flavor, an ugly American scene exists at times with guys running around wearing t-shirts that read "Women want me. Fish fear me." Also, while we sat on the steps of our hotel, we witnessed one man screaming at the local Mexicans because he didn’t get a free taco at the hotel's happy hour. He suggested they'd all listen better when he returned and held a gun to their head. This is obviously not the way we need to be representing our country abroad.

What impressed me about Baja was the unwavering friendliness of the Mexican people everywhere we went, despite the long years of tourism. Everyone we met was open, friendly, giving and laughed loud at all the funny things going on around us. It was refreshing to travel in this atmosphere, especially since I hadn't expected to find it so close to home.

Nuts and Bolts: Baja

Bicycle Touring in Baja: Baja is divided into two states, Baja California and Baja California Sur. Highway 1 goes all the way from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas, paved the entire way. Drivers are courteous but there is no shoulder and many big trucks. Dirt roads crisscross the peninsula and are well-suited to mountain bikes, though the roads are rough and steep.

What to Bring: Unless you stay on paved roads, mountain bikes are the best choice. Make sure your equipment is durable and carry the tools/spares to make any sort of repair. Brings lots of lube to keep the drivetrain running smoothly in a sea of dust. We used a 100oz water bladder and two 22oz water bottles each and still ran out of water on some rides. The more water the better.

Tour Baja has both good quality rental bikes and support vehicles with mechanics on their tours.

Dress is casual and the desert nights in the mountains can get chilly.

When to Go: The best months for touring are November through March because it's cooler. Summer is not the time to go because it is deadly hot, unless you like that sort of thing.

How to Get There: There are daily flights from Los Angeles to Loreto. Most airlines in the US will gouge you for taking your bicycle on board, but the Mexican airlines usually let it pass as just another piece of luggage.

You can also drive there on Highway 1. You must have Mexican Auto Insurance that is usually available at the border - make sure you check beforehand because you'll pay dearly if you don't have the correct insurance.

Local Information: Trudi Angell runs bike tours and bike/sea kayak combo tours out of Loreto. She can give you advice on riding and tell you the history and legends of the entire area. Email: info@tourbaja.com or Telephone: 800.398.6200.

Health Considerations: If you have any doubt about the water, treat it. There is a water purification station in Loreto to fill your bottles. Drink enough to stay hydrated and consider bringing an electrolyte replacement drink to replenish your body after profuse sweating. If you plan to ride the trails, bring tweezers to pick out thorns and a snake bite kit/compression bandage. Know how to use them.

Visas: US citizens do not need a visa, just a tourist card that you can get when you get there. Bring a copy of a birth certificate and a driver's license, or a passport for identification.

Message Board for Baja residents and visitors

There are many message boards for Baja residents and tourists, but here's one that I particularly like:

http://forums.BajaNomad.com

There are many forums in the message board, including:

Baja Questions & Answers
Baja Trip Reports
Baja Restaurant Reviews
Baja Accommodation Reviews
Baja Surfing
Baja Diving & Snorkeling
Baja Real Estate Available
Baja Real Estate Wanted
and more...

Check it out - there's a lot of good information whether you're planning to build a house in Baja or you're just going for a short visit.

Cruise to Loreto, $949

A couple of months ago I reported on a press release from Holland America where it was announced that cruise ships would stop in Loreto (click here for that article).

This morning I received a message from Holland America with more details. As you can see from the details above, for less than $1000 you get a round cruise trip from San Diego all the way to Puerto Vallarta. But here's the cool thing: you also stop in Loreto! Click here for the on shore excursions available in Loreto - I bet Loreto Bay is happy. :-)

Notice Holland America explicitly mentions Loreto in the message:

House for sale in Todos Santos: "Village Casa"

Since we are building the house in Loreto, Janelle is selling her house in Todos Santos. We call it "Village Casa" and it's located in downtown Todos Santos, a couple of blocks from Janet Howey's bookstore, "El Tecolote Libros", and Hotel California.

We spent a lot of great vacations in this house - I hope someone will enjoy it as much as we did.

Janelle's house is located in downtown Todos Santos.
Click on image to view a larger picture.

It's a 2.5 bedroom / 1 bath house with A/C in both rooms, a fridge, new stove, oven, microwave, coffee maker and toaster. It contains a huge backyard with mango and avocado trees. It also includes two beds, three fans, a sofa, a kitchen table with chairs, and more. There's also a third room that can be used as a storage room or an extra bedroom (that's the extra ".5"). :-)

See below for over 30 additional pictures of the house, including all rooms and the backyard. Update: You can also view more pictures here and see the real estate agent listing here (Milagro Real Estate).

If you are interested or you know someone who might be, please send us an email using the contact information on the main page (look for "Contact Us" in the top right of this page).

To view a larger picture, click on the image itself. If you'd like to zoom in on a detail, download the "high-resolution" image (2400x1800).

Entry gate - car can be parked inside the gate.
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Back Deck.
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Back Deck.
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Back Deck.
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Back Deck.
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Back Deck.
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Back Deck.
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Kitchen: new stove, coffee maker, and toaster. I put this screen up when it's hot to keep the sun out.
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Microwave oven. Cabinets are teal green.
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New refrigerator (frost-free).
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Living room and dining area.
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Living room.
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Living room facing kitchen.
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Dining area facing the front deck.
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Living room, dining area, facing the front deck.
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Master bedroom.
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Master Bedroom Armoir.
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Master bedroom: the picture came out dark but the room is quite bright and has windows on three sides.
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Master bedroom: fan and air conditioner (I love the A/C).
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Master bedroom.
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Guest (2nd bedroom).
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Bathroom: sink and shower. Shower area is on the left behind the yellow wall.
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Bathroom sink and mirrors.
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Separate WC.
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Front deck viewed from the backyard.
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Front deck column with backyard view.
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Back yard as viewed from enclosed parking area.
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Back yard, parking area looking towards the street.
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Here are a couple of additional satellite pictures of Todos Santos:

If you have Google Earth, click on the link below to see exactly where Janelle's house is located and to fly around Todos Santos:

Janelles-House-Todos-Santos-BCS-Mexico.kmz

If you don't have Google Earth, download it, it's great! Click here for more information and links.

Home Depot… in Cabos San Lucas!

Janelle and I are getting ready to start the construction of our home in Loreto. Last time we flew down to Baja we learned that Home Depot had opened a store in Cabos San Lucas.

Janelle looks cute in front of the Home Depot
store in Cabos San Lucas, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico

Although the capital of BCS is La Paz, Cabos San Lucas is the biggest town in Baja California Sur. Many folks know it as "Los Cabos" since there are two towns near each other: San Jose del Cabo and Cabos San Lucas. La Paz is about 4 hours south of Loreto, and Cabos San Lucas is another couple of hours south of La Paz.

We just went down to Baja and stopped in “Los Cabos” for a couple of days. The next few articles I’ll publish will include pictures we took of different items we found at the local Home Depot. This includes:

- Windows
- Kitchens
- Doors
- Bathroom
- Tiles
- Paint
- Miscellaneous, items that didn't fit anywhere else, including some appliances, cabinets, and skylights.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available and the price has not changed.

See below for more information on the items we found and a few more general pictures of the Home Depot in Cabos.

The Home Depot in Cabos, Baja California Sur

The Home Depot in Cabos looks very familiar – the same brand with the orange logo is seen everywhere. Except that everything is in Spanish, measurements are in centimeters and meters and prices are in Mexican Pesos.

We took some notes and for many items and we have the following information available:

- Width x Height (in centimeters or meters)
- Article Number
- Price in Pesos. $1 US dollar is roughly 10 Mexican pesos, but note that the tax is sometimes not included.

In addition for every item we'll be able to access:

- A preview picture of the item, typically at 450x300 pixels image like the once above.
- A low resolution version of the item, typically at 800x533 pixels. Enough to get a general view of the item.
- A high resolution version of the item, typically at 3456x2304 pixels. Great for zooming in and checking out prices or detailed items among a collection of items.

Cabos Home Depot - Miscellaneous

This is the eighth and final article in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico.

Cement blocks and other materials are also available
at the Home Depot in Cabos, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico

See below for miscellaneous items we found, including appliances, cabinets, and skylights. Or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available. If you'd like to zoom in on a detail, download the "high-resolution" image (3456x2304). Unfortunately, I do not have prices for any of the items below.

Item No.: Misc-01
Name: Stoves
Prices: N/A, you may see some prices if you download the high-resolution image (picture 2)
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Item No.: Misc-02
Name: Dryers
Prices: N/A, you may see some prices if you download the high-resolution image (picture 2)
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Item No.: Misc-03
Name: Fridges
Prices: N/A, you may see some prices if you download the high-resolution image (picture 2)
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Item No.: Misc-04
Name: Skylight
Size: 60 x 60
Price: $285.00
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Item No.: Misc-05
Name: Skylights
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Item No.: Misc-06
Name: Hampton Bay Fan, Portland, Ventilador de Techo con Lamparas
Model: 371-494
Price: $829.00
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Item No.: Misc-07
Name: Cajonera Tambor Caobilla 4 Cajones
Article No.: 214067
Price: $2,360.00
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Item No.: Misc-08
Name: 5 Tambor Caobilla
Article No.: N/A
Price: $1,380.01
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Item No.: Misc-09
Name: 5 Tambor Caobilla
Article No.: N/A
Price: $1,380.01
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Cabos Home Depot - Paint

This is the seventh in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Paint Department at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico.

Choose your Paint wisely – it can make a big difference

See below for some of the Paint available or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available. If you'd like to zoom in on a detail, download the "high-resolution" image (3456x2304). Unfortunately, I do not have prices for any of paint items below.

Item No.: Paint-01
Name: Multitono
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Item No.: Paint-02
Name: Dutch Boy
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Item No.: Paint-03
Name: Dimensions
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Item No.: Paint-04
Name: Berel, Berelex and Berelinte
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Cabos Home Depot - Tiles

This is the sixth in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Tiles Department at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico.

The Tiles Department at the Home Depot
in Cabos, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico

See below for 18 tile types or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available and the price has not changed.

Item No.: Tiles-01
Name: Muro Indonesia BCO (“Muro” means “Wall”)
Size: 20 x 25 1M2
Price: $119
Article No: 728108
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-02
Name: Piso Indonesia BCO (“Piso” means “Floor”)
Size: 30 x 30 1M2
Price: $117
Article No: 728207
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-03
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $244.37
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-04
Name: Piso Ridgeview Beige (“Piso” means “Floor”)
Size: 45 x 45 RD02
Price: $244.37
Article No: 533371
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-05
Name: Piso Ridgeview Beige (“Piso” means “Floor”)
Size: 30 x 30 RD02
Price: $109.00
Article No: 533339
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-06
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $117.00
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-07
Name: Muro Gold Rush Oro and Muro Gold Rush Crema (“Muro” means “Wall”)
Size: 5 x 5 5202 2.24M2
Price: $481.80
Article No: 533017 and 533765
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-08
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $119.00
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-09
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $119.00
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-10
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $492.80
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-11
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $109.00
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-12
Name: N/A
Size: N/A
Price: $109.00
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-13
Name: Muro Treviso Café (“Muro” means “Wall”)
Size: 30 x 45 1.5 M2
Price: $223.04
Article No: 581342
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-14
Name: Piso Treviso Café (“Piso” means “Floor”)
Size: 45 x 45 1.64 M2
Price: $244.37
Article No: 580475
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-15
Name: Piso Treviso Marfil (“Piso” means “Floor”)
Size: 30 x 30 1.0 M2
Price: $125.00
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-16
Name: Muro Treviso Marfil (“Muro” means “Wall”)
Size: 30 x 45 1.5 M2
Price: $223.04
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-17
Name: Piso Treviso Marfil (“Piso” means “Floor”)
Size: 45 x 45 1.64 M2
Price: $244.37
Article No: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Item No.: Tiles-18
Name: daltile, the brand for the previous tiles
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution

Cabos Home Depot - Bathroom

This is the fifth in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Bathroom Department at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico.

The Bathroom Department ("Banos") at the
Home Depot in Cabos, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico

See below for sinks, toilets, faucets and more or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available and the price has not changed. If you'd like to zoom in on a price or a detail, download the "high-resolution" image (3456x2304).

Item No.: Bathroom-01
Shower Heads - Download high-resolution picture to view prices and article numbers
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-02
Faucets - Download high-resolution picture to view prices and article numbers
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-03
Towel Racks - Download high-resolution picture to view prices and article numbers
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-04

Article No.: #8 (in picture), 609071, American Standard
Price: $4,159

Article No.: #3 (in picture), 240821, American Standard
Price: $7,164

Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-05

Article No.: #3 (in picture), 224919, Lomosa Brand
Price: $1,239

Article No.: #4 (in picture), 224900, Lomosa Brand
Price: $1,619

Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-06
Miscellaneous Sinks
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-07
Article No.: #1 (in picture), Single Sink, 548163
Price: $159
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-08
Additonal Sinks and Toilets. Prices not available.
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-09
Tubs. Download high-resolution picture to zoom in for prices and details.
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-10
Custom Order. Download high-resolution picture to zoom in for prices and details.
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Bathroom-11
Sink. Download high-resolution picture to zoom in for prices and details.
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Cabos Home Depot - Doors

This is the fourth in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Doors Department at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico.

I don’t have a picture of the doors department,
but popcorn, hotdogs and refreshments were available

See below for the doors that Janelle found interesting or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available and the price has not changed.

Item No.: Doors-01
Size: .91x2.13
Article No.: Maprex AD693-A
Price: $7,385
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-02
Size: .91x2.13
Article No.: Maprex AD600-R
Price: $7,385
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-03
Size: .91x2.03
Article No.: Pro Masa Interior 819316
Price: $999
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-04
Size: .81x2.03
Article No.: Pro Masa Interior
Price: $899
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-05
Two previous doors side by side with prices
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-06
Size: .80 x 2.03
Article No.: 116423, Interior hollow
Price: $419
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-07
Size: .90 x 2.13
Article No.: Infinity Brand, Tamesis model, SKU 688298
Price: $499
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-08
Close up of previous door
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-09
Size: .60 x 2.03 or .90 x 2.03
Article No.: 270797
Price: N/A
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Doors-10
Size: 89.4 x 2.13
Article No.: 593876, Pued Devian, Built-in Blinds
Price: $2,999
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

New draft of house design: "Z Shape"

Janelle has been working hard on the house design and she has allowed me to post a first draft of a new design:

She calls this the "Z Shape" design due to it's resemblance to, well, the letter Z. This would be the ground floor of the house and contains:

- Two bedrooms, a master suite and a guest bedroom.
- Two bathrooms, each room has its own.
- A kitchen.
- A living room with a great view of the golf course, the sea of Cortez and the mountains.

The guest bedroom would be converted to an office or workout room once the second floor is built.

If you'd like to view the first draft of the Z-Shape design, here are some files available:

- Low Resolution image (1127x1225, 188 KB) where you can see the Z-Shape house itself.
- High Resolution image (2698x1510, 192 KB) which also includes the garage and the (potential) swimming pool.
- PDF file. If you don't already have one, you will need a PDF reader, you can get one here or here.

This is exciting stuff, great work Janelle! Hopefully we'll soon work with our architect to create sections and elevations for our contractor in Mexico.

Cabos Home Depot - Kitchens

This is the third in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Kitchen Department at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico.

The Kitchen Department ("Cocinas")
is right behind the Decorations Department

See below for some of the available kitchens or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available and the price has not changed. If you'd like to zoom in on a price or a detail, download the "high-resolution" image (3456x2304).

Item No.: Kitchen-01
Article No.: Huesca (Special Order)
Price: $86,404
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-02 (Price of Kitchen-01)
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-03
Article No.: Canton
Price: $21,531
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-04 (Price of Kitchen-03)
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-05
Article No.: Thorton Tofee
Price: $63,811
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-06 (Price of Kitchen-05)
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-07
KraftMaid – Cabinet Selection Center
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Kitchen-08
Article No.: Mill’s Pride (Special Order)
Price: $52,911
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Cabos Home Depot - Windows

This is the second in a series of articles with pictures of items we found available at the Windows Department (Dept. #30 435 5242) at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico.

Janelle checks out the available windows ("Ventanas")

We heard that one of our Loreto neighbors spent as much as $30,000 (thirty thousand dollars US) just on windows. And he wasn’t very happy with the quality of the windows - they leaked! It’s nice to know we have options.

See below for the windows that Janelle found interesting or click here for the index listing all items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos.

Disclaimer: please note that these items were available on 3/4/2007. Call Home Depot in Cabos before driving down to make sure the item you're interested in is still available and the price has not changed. If you'd like to zoom in on a price or a detail, download the "high-resolution" image (3456x2304).

Item No.: Windows-01
Size: 120x150
Article No.: 841192
Price: $7,165
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Windows-02
Size: 120x120
Article No.: 847839
Price: $6,435
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Windows-03
Size:60x60
Article No.: 847776
Price: $3,850
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Item No.: Windows-04
Size: 60x40
Article No.: 522503
Price: $750
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

Aluminum Windows; seem to be a bit cheaper. I’m not sure of the quality. Technovent Brands, http://www.technovent.mx

Item No.: Windows-05
Size: 120x120
Article No.: 521861
Price: $690
Picture 1: Click Here for low resolution (800x533)
Picture 2: Click Here for high resolution (3456x2304)

No specific item here; just Janelle looking cute.

Custom Windows can also be requested. We couldn’t get any prices on any of those displayed though.

Category pages

The site has grown to quite a few articles and it's not very convenient to display all article in the main page. For this reason, I will only display the articles that have been published in the last 30 days on the main page.

One way to access archived articles (which are not being displayed on the main page) is through the category pages. You can use the links under the "Categories" section on the right, or use the links below:

01 - General: General items that didn't fit anywhere else.
02 - Videos: Videos of Loreto, our lot and more.
03 - Pictures: Pictures of Loreto or our lot. Requires username and password (which friends and family can easily get for free).
04 - Maps: Maps of Loreto, Baja, etc...
05 - Loreto Bay: Articles related to the Loreto Bay project.
06 - Links: Links to other sites.
07 - House Ideas: Ideas we have while we are designing the house.
08 - Loreto Activities: Fun activities available in Loreto.
09 - House Designs: Different designs of the house and we change our minds.
10 - Home Depot: Pictures and descriptions of items we found at the Home Depot in Cabos San Lucas in Baja.