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Model Home Vero Beach, Florida

I am switching over to Wordpress.
To view my first entry click on the following link:

http://alvarobaja.wordpress.com

Digital Photography Online with BetterPhoto.com

El Zocalo--Atlixco, México

BetterPhoto is an online photography community  from beginners to masters, there's the right course to keep you inspired and motivated. Register for one of their 4 or 8 weeks course: BetterPhoto.com

Annie Smith & Robert Brown Wedding

Cellist Playing in Stairwell

Our first visit to Guanajuato. We enjoyed staying at Alma del Sol located in the Centro Historico. For highlights from Annie and Robert's wedding, click on the following link for slideshow of their  Guanajuato Wedding 

New Listing: Casa Artisan Desert Duplex

Casa Artisan Desert Duplex, Todos Santos BCS, Mexico

After spending time and photographing this house, I've come to appreciate its design and construction. If I was in the market for a new house, I would  buy this one for myself. For details click on the following link for Casa Artistan

Northern Migration Pelican Graphic

The image wasn't anything worth keeping, but I liked the graphic element. I experimented with the various blending modes and brought out more detail in the diagonal artifact. Cool!

Agave Series Triptych

This week I am experimenting with layer masks and trying out various colored skies and agave. I love starting the day with something fun and creative, for it sets the tone for the rest of the day . . . .

weekend is here with new image--Blue Agave Series

New York Times Travel Article on Todos Santos, BCS

Todos Santos has been receiving some good press. Last month an article and video appeared in the L.A. Times. The latest article will appear in Sunday's travel section, New York Times.

Power walking near La Poza

Just back from an hour power walk on Todos Santos beach. I saw lots pelicans flying in formation and several couples enjoying the late afternoon sun.  The couple in the photo were birders and observing a variety of species at the edge of La Poza lagoon. April is the month when birds and seasonal residents start migrating north for the summer. By June it will mostly us locals and European visitors, mostly from Italy and Germany. Some of my best real estate sales have been made during the slowest times of the year, and I have a feeling this summer will not be an exception. 

Baja Cottage Virtual Tour

I've been part of a beta group and working with a new virtual tour program PFRE Tour. What sets this apart from most virtual tours is that is not based on Adobe Flash, so one can view the tour from any personal device such as iPhone and iPad. My latest tour is Baja Cottage and available for viewing at the following link: Baja Cottage Virtual Tour

Another glorious Todos Santos sunset . . .

The biggest palapa and tallest structure in Todos Santos. Someday a developer will be build condominiums, but I don't think it will be anytime soon. In the meantime, we get to enjoy sunset walks on La Poza mesa.

Sunday Dharma Talks

Every Sunday Robert Hall offers a dharma talk on a particular subject. He often incorporates current events, classic buddhism, western psychology, quotes and poetry and presents  buddhist teachings in such a way that it makes sense. Robert guides us through a session of meditation followed by discussion. Depending on time of year, we can have about 30-100 meditators on a Sunday morning. The talks are held at La A.R.C.A.--a community dojo where aerobics, yoga, meditation, martial art and dancing classes are offered by various instructors. The center was built for the community by the Stoltzfus family (propriertors of The Todos Santos Inn) and an incredible resource for the residents of Todos Santos. La A.R.C.A in an acronym for La Asociacion de Recreación de Cultura y Arte, located on the corner of Calle Topete & Pilar, one block down from the Todos Santos Inn. 

El Corazón on Easter Sunday

Our family was Catholic and my grandmother Baptist. Religion was a source of comfort and conflict in our lives. My mother believed in the immaculate conception and my grandmother believed Jesus was born like everyone else. However, they both believed in the resurrection and, on Easter, the differences didn't matter. Easter was about celebrating life and putting aside differences and taking the time to give thanks and spend time with family and friends. May you be surrounded by your nearest and dearest.

Thinking of Mama Rosa on Easter ... I can still hear the sound of her hands clapping making tortillas . . .

Mama Rosa was my maternal grandmother who raised me since I was 3. She immigrated from El Salvador to San Francisco in 1964. My parents worked several jobs, so they needed someone to take care of my younger brother and I. We only spoke Spanish in the home, so we grew up bilingual. She taught us about our culture and so much more  . . . it wasn't until I moved to Mexico that I realized what a gift she had given me. Rosa Chavez was a devote Baptist and she lived for her church. Easter Sunday was the most important day of the year for her. Here's to Mama Rosa!

The aftermath of the Huerta fire...

I walked around near where the fire started . . . the ground was covered in ash... stark, but interesting terrain. Now I can see the fence lines.

Palo de Arco Blossoms

Palo de Arco has been one of my favorite Baja plants since I first discovered it. It grows naturally around Todos Santos and also cultivated in ranches in Pescadero and the Sierras. The yellow blossoms have a delicate scent and they move with the slightest breeze. The bees like the nectar for honey, and local artisans use the stalks to make furniture and woven stick fences. It also makes a good natural barrier and ideal for planting along fence lines. I've been trying to capture this flower without much success. On the night of the full moon just before sunset I found some blossoms close to the ground. I used off camera flash and bounced the light off the ground and was able to freeze the motion and backlit the blossoms. I like the warm tones and luminous light radiating from within.

Junebug Real Weddings

Last November I worked with a couple to coordinate the wedding of their dreams. I first met Michael and Jeanne on Thanksgiving of 2008. They had spent several days touring wedding venues in Los Cabos and decided to take a last minute day trip to Todos. They met Chef Dany Lamote at the Hotel Calfornia and he called me on the cell and suggested I meet with them. I took Michael and Jeanne on a tour of ceremony sites. They treated to fish tacos and we discussed their wedding over lunch. They decided that Todos Santos was the right balance of rustic and chic, and much more affordable than the venues they visited in Los Cabos. They said some venues were quoting up to $5000 usd just to be married on the beach, and that only included the location fee! Along with designer and stylist (and good friend) Barbara Matthews, I enjoyed working out the details with the bride and producing their wedding. Michael and Jeanne brought their own photographer which turned out to be Ben Chrisman--rated one the top 10 wedding photographers in the USA. After watching him work and viewing his images, I can certainly see why. The rehearsal dinner took place at Michael's Restaurant. We hired mark up artists and hair stylists from Los Cabos for the bride and seven bridesmaides. The ceremony took place at Villa Punta Lobos and the reception was hosted at the Hotel California. Delicia's Restaurant hosted the farewell brunch and everyone enjoyed an amazing weekend. The wedding was featured in Junebug Real Weddings. While you are there, make sure you visit Chrisman's Photography site. Click on the following link for the feature: Junebug Real Weddings

Las Palmas Sale Closed

I am pleased to report my first real estate closing of the year. The property was on the market for 1.5 years and listed with Coldwell Banker Riveras since November 2009. The 2Bed 2 Bath with 1700 M2 lot was reduced to $330K and closed at $320K. The listing agents were myself and Lisa Welsch, and I was the selling agent.  The buyer bought a quality home in one of the best neighborhoods and now the family has a winter getaway from the Northeastern winters.

Fire in the Huerta . . .

We were home getting ready to go out for the evening and our friend Susan Doyle called. Susan lives in Las Briasas and asked if were alright with the fire. I asked, "Fire, what fire?" I looked out the window and the huerta/palm grove was smoking (first image). I called the fire department and they were already on their way. The fire appeared to be in the middle of the huerta and no immediate threat to homes. We watched the fire as the ocean breezes took it up the palm orchard towards Calle Benito Juarez. Some of the locals said it was the biggest one they'd seen in 40 years. Luckily the winds subsided and the local volunteer fire department were able to bring it under control. Click on the panoramic image to see the damages and path of the fire.

Michael's Restaurant at La Galeria de Todos Santos

We celebrated our friend Wendy Rain's birthday at Michael's Restaurant. It rained on and off for much of the weekend, which is very unusual for this time of year. Michael moved the tables indoors and we got to dine in the main gallery, which made the evening even more special. We started out with the sweet potato and shrimp fritters, and Pat Cope severed up her famous Ume martini's made from her family's house made plum liquor. Dinner served Thursday-Saturday 5:30-p.m. and reservations recommended 612-145-0500.