Nov 13, 2011
Palapa construction ~ Day 2
Our workers showed up before 8AM and worked long and hard with no breaks. It is amazing at how they are able to take something lying around and incorporate it into the construction process. Nothing is wasted. This morning I saw one of the fellows take the empty cement bags and wash them in the bucket of water then poured the water over the sand, gravel and cement mix. Not even a speck of cement dust is wasted.
Lupe is an Isla pulmonia driver most days but now he is our main man. Our 'contractor' has put Lupe in charge as he, Felipe, is at his wife's side in a Mazatlan hospital where she is clinging to life. In this photo Lupe is using some old logs laying about to steady the cardboard tube. He uses his level over and over to get the tube straight, that is a bucket of gravel hanging from a rope on the tube to pull it into position.
The fellow in black seems to do more watching than work. He is suppose to be mixing the cement but is much too slow for Lupe.
- Once all the cardboard tubes are in position over the rebar that was cemented in yesterday, the cement pour begins. Lupe is using an upended garbage can as his ladder.
Bucket after bucket of cement is poured and not one drop spilled over. A stick is used to tap the cement down into place.
The perfect way to pour the taller tubes. Now large rocks are being used to keep every straight. Colin later checked and commented that they very fairly straight.
I really hope that Lupe gets more pesos that this fellow.
So this is it for 2 days while the cement hardens. The plan is to use a palm log as the 3rd tall support, Colin thinks it should be cement. He will look into that today. We would hate for it to rot and cause the entire structure to sag in a few years. I wonder how much another cement post is going to cost us?
We were just finishing a very late lunch….we never eat at specified times. Lunch at 3 and dinner at 8!!
...when Maria arrived. She flew in today and is happy to be here for the next several months. She is staying in a house on the Isla. Maria is the one on yellow, on the right, greeting the ocean.
Mary is not an RVer but has been coming to the Isla for many years. Her blog is here.
Then Mel dropped by for a wee visit. He and Shelby are RVer's who recently moved into an apartment here on the Isla. This is now their full time home.
A very different sunset, you can see the low fog bank way out in the ocean.
Last night I even managed to stay awake long enough to watch a movie with dinner. It was a thriller so it I was easily kept on the edge of my seat. Today is another beautiful day in paradise.
The tide is high which makes it more difficult for me to walk right now so Colin has been taking the girls out in the morning and we all walk later in the afternoon. Small medical emergency already today, Colin stepped on a bee in the sand and hopped back home to me. I am happy to report that the entire stinger was extracted and he was back off to complete his walk. The girls were waiting.
I snapped this shot of Caeli while resting yesterday. She is laying/hanging on an afghan between 2 chairs. Guess I better put that coke box somewhere else. We are still unpacking. The coke is for the various soldiers we see enroute and the local workers.
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The dachsies pick some amazing places to curl up in, don’t they? Can’t wait to see the finished palapa.
Longdog2…..they can get so relaxed so fast. We too are looking forward to a finished palapa so we can get settled.
George….I think it will look fabulous and give us much needed shade.
Mary…so glad you are back.
Elaine……it is paradise, truly it is. Knowing I was coming here go me thru the past few months.
Susie…..paradise indeed my friend
Looks like construction is moving right along, will be nice when it is done!
lol…you took my picture. Thanks for the link. Yes I am back, I am in love with this place……and I have internet, all is well. Your palapa will look grand.
looks like its all coming together~and the furgals look so happy to be there also…no wonder you call it paradise just looking at those pictures make me drool…take care
All is good on our little piece of paradise!!!
oh, a center pole for pole dancing would be nice, a nice sturdy one.:)
Mary……seems like you a wee bit cheeky today!!