As we approach the “high” season here in Loreto – the time
before, during and after the Spring Break period in North America, there has
been a noticeable increase in the number of visitors here over the past couple
of weeks and an increase in the number of events in Loreto Bay and the town of
Loreto.
This past weekend is a case in point. After a busy week in the Office when I did
more tours of homes than any week so far this Season, the HOA hosted an
official opening party for the new Community Pool that was finished in Agua
Viva (the second phase of the development) around the end of last year. Prior to this pool being completed there was
one Pool near the south end of the Founders Neighborhood, so the completion of
this major amenity is an important development for the growing number of
occupied homes in the north end of the Loreto Bay development.
While this new Pool is smaller than the original one, in an
organic somewhat kidney-shape, it has been very nicely finished with several
shade structures and some specimen plantings in the landscaping around its
borders and the finishing touches are underway on a large decorative fountain
at the entrance to the Pool area. The
surrounding Pool deck area has been well furnished with nicely upholstered
metal lounge beds and some table and chair groupings, making it a welcoming and
comfortable social and relaxation center for the residents in Agua Viva, as
well as the Loreto Bay community as a whole.
Associa, the Homeowner’s Management company had set up
several tables and ice-chests near the entrance to the pool area where they
distributed draft beer and bottled water along with some light snacks, soon
there was a good sized crowd assembled enjoying the refreshments and visiting
among themselves. The weather, however,
was unseasonably cool – discouraging all but one brave soul from venturing into
the actual pool itself, and sending part of the crowd further down the path to
enjoy the last of the afternoon sun’s warmth.
While this Pool is the largest project undertaken last year,
the first of the two year infrastructure completion project currently underway,
work has already begun on the third and final Community Pool that will be
completed about mid-way between the two existing ones at either end of the
Development. While these Pools are
important additions to the amenities and enjoyment of the Community, they are
also a tangible expression of the pride and confidence that all of us who own
homes here feel about the community where we have chosen to live and what our
vision is of its future.
But my evening was
not yet finished, I left the Pool Party well underway and headed into town
where I took in the opening reception of an Art Festival that had been
organized by Rick and Jill (who I wrote about a few weeks ago “Have I got your
attention yet?” January 2013 http://livingloreto.blogspot.mx/2013/01/have-i-got-your-attention-yet.html). This Festival included several local artists
along with a number of others who had been invited from the surrounding area. The Festival was held in the beautiful
surroundings of Rick and Jill’s small boutique Hotel with the ten artists
setting up in different areas around the main building and the pool
patio. Wine and beer were available from
a small poolside bar, catered by Cynthia and Will from the Wine Bar @ Nopolo
along with some tasty snacks. Although I
was only there for about an hour or so, there was a good sized opening
reception crowd in attendance, made up apparently of a combination of ex-pat
and Mexican “townies” with a good representation of people from Loreto Bay as
well. 
The next day I headed back into town and spent some more
time browsing the variety of art available at the Festival which included paper
mache sculpture, gourd art, acrylic, oil and water colors along with decorated
ceramic tiles, among other media. Of
course, Rick had several areas dedicated to displaying his photographic art
ranging from small matted prints to magnificent wall-sized framed feature
pieces. Speaking with several people
involved, I gather that there was a steady flow of browsers and customers
throughout the day, and many homes will be proudly displaying some new art
accents as a result.
When I left the Art Festival I checked out the town square for
early signs of the third big event of the weekend – a (mainly) Harley Davidson
Motorcycle rally, which was visiting Loreto over the weekend. There was a main stage being assembled in
front of the City Hall, and a couple of BBQs loaded with sides of pork starting
to slow cook, but only a handful of motorcycles were in evidence so far,
although apparently most of the Hotels in town had been fully booked and I had
noticed that there were numerous big bikes parked in front of many of them.
I carried on with my weekend “hunting & gathering”
re-stocking my kitchen for the week and then, on my way back to Loreto Bay, I
stopped at Del Baracho, the Saloon/Diner just off the highway for a hamburger
and draft, while I checked out the patio band they had laid on for the Harley
weekend. When I finally got home, I just
had time to put away my shopping and tidy up a bit before it was time to meet
up with some neighbors to share a taxi back into town for the evening’s
festivities!
Since I had been there earlier in the day, the Plaza had
been transformed with dozens and dozens of immaculate motorcycles parked side
by side on both sides of the approach street as well as a double row of more
gleaming bikes the length of one side of the Plaza. The square itself was packed with hundreds of
people, many denim and leather clad Bikers, mixed in with even more Loretanos
and ex-pats, there for the live music, food, beer, and above all else, people
watching!
In addition to the BBQ pork I had seen being prepared
earlier in the day, there were vendor carts selling hot dogs and snacks as well
as a beer tent selling cans for 10 pesos (less than a dollar) – Bikers,
Motorcycles, Rock & Roll and cheap beer, ya gotta love Mexico! After checking out many of the beautiful
bikes on display and enjoying the music with the lively crowd in the square, my
friends and I made our way to a nearby bar where things were a bit quieter and
we sat at the bar, had a few more beer and enjoyed another rock band of
surprisingly young, but very talented locals.
After a while, as the bar filled up, we decided it was time
to get something to eat so we made our way back to the Plaza and went to 1697,
a favorite restaurant that opened Loreto Bay branch I wrote about earlier this
season “El Cardon . . . “ December 2012,
http://livingloreto.blogspot.mx/2012/12/el-cardon-mexican-cantina-in-loreto-bay.html” We were welcomed by the Chef/Proprietor
Kieran and ordered a selection of their delicious thin crust pizzas to share,
and with the music from the Plaza filtering into the Dining Room we began to
wind down the evening.
When our late night dinner was over we left the restaurant
to find Oscar, our driver for the evening, waiting patiently for us outside the
restaurant, and so we headed back to Loreto Bay. On the drive home, reflecting on the busy
day, and weekend I had enjoyed, I was struck by how the social life that now
surrounds us has grown over the past number of years – so that some times there are
almost more things going on than there is time to fit them all in – and that’s a good
problem, when you are “Living Loreto”!
