Tranquility Break: Rube Goldberg vs. Isaac Newton

Robert:

Does this Rube Goldberg device defy gravity? You decide.

CLICK HERE to defy gravity.

Americans Are Suddenly Back In This Market

Robert:

We continue to be busier than anytime since pre 2008. And, we are seeing American buyers. We have written three offers recently, and all from Americans. This is the reverse of the last four years, when Americans (as buyers) vanished from the market due to the macro-economic collapse.

Suddenly, they are back.

Canadians have always been 50 to 60% of the market here. They, and affluent Mexicans, sustained the market post 2008. Canadians were not so over-leveraged as some Americans, and they have a commodities-based economy. So their economy, and their currency, held up much better during the long world-wide downturn.

No one can predict these things with accuracy, least of all I, but it feels as if this market is coming back to life.

New, Big Reduction, Casa Gia, Nuevo Vallarta!

This triplex in Nuevo Vallarta, in desirable section 2, has just been lowered by $50,000 down to $320,000! 

There are two 1-bedroom apartments downstairs, plus a maid's apartment.

Upstairs is an open, airy, and spacious 2 bedroom main living area.

Main living area upstairs.

Live above and rent out the two (plus) apartments below for steady income. Great area close to the Nuevo Vallarta canals and beach.

For more hi res photos and data, CLICK HERE to go to the main web page for Casa Gia.

Costa Dorada Beach and Pool Area Video

Robert:

Just a short video of the pool areas, restaurant, and beach front of Condos Costa Dorada in Bucerias.  CLICK HERE

We have multiple units listed there, mostly 2 bedroom 2 bath.

For the complete web page for Condos Costa Dorada CLICK HERE

Fire Eaters, Jugglers, Hoop Dancers, Ball Boys...

Robert:

Street entertainment is a long tradition here, and is everywhere. I'm always nervous for these folks, as they work in the middle of deadly-busy intersections.

They have their acts timed for the duration of red lights, with just enough time left over to run-walk between the lanes of waiting cars and collect the hoped-for tips, until the moment the light turns green. Then they have to twist and jump out of the way of the traffic, like a bullfighter avoiding horns. Scary way to earn a few pesos.

Yesterday there was a guy doing his soccer ball magic routine (reminiscent of the Harlem Globetrotters)  in front of traffic betwen Mezcales and Nuevo Vallarta (the WalMart exit).

I tried to flip on my video camera as fast as possible, but, I only caught a bit before the light changed.
 
 For a brief video of the Mezcales Globetrotter, CLICK HERE

"The aggregate of our joy and suffering..."

We miss you Carl.

Pale Blue Dot. CLICK HERE

New Beach Front Listing, Condo Swisher, In Los Alebrijes, Bucerias

We've just listed Condo Swisher, in highly coveted Los Alebrijes, right here on the beach in Bucerias. This condo complex is only 10 units and is really hidden away, even though it's a block from our office in the very thick of the Zona Dorada. There are shops and restaurants all around, yet this feels truly private and secluded.

  
These condos began as a family compound, designed and built by a wealthy family from Guadalajara. The family still owns several condos, but decided a few years ago to sell a few.

                                                               
This one is owned by a great couple, the Swishers, who are well known in Bucerias, but are moving on to different interests.

Condo Swisher is a three bedroom plus maid's quarters, four baths, and has a huge terrace looking over the common pool and bay.

The pool and gardens are just goose-bump, tropical-dream lovely, and there are two common beach side palapas. One of them is large and dramatic, yet restful,  as only big palapas can be.

There is also a tennis court, and covered parking for two cars. And all really tucked away. Close to all the activity and action of the Zona Dorada, yet in an almost secret world apart. Exquisite condo, exquisite grounds, exquisite location.

 
By the way, do you know what an alebrije is? Here's one.

What is this? A dragon-chicken?

Interesting, eh? Alebrijes are fanciful, imaginary animals or creatures, usually carved from wood and always brightly painted. They are very popular in Mexico.

For the main web page for Condo Swisher, CLICK HERE


To see the condo, call Deborah Foster, 322 117 3099

Our End of the World Proud Guarantee!

We at Robert Foster and Associates are proud to offer the following guarantee to our clients: Purchase a property at any time prior to December 21, 2012,  and we will put a clause in your purchase offer contract stating if the world ends on that date, your earnest money deposit will be refunded from escrow!

Oh nooooooo!

Note: Offer subject to the continued existence of us, you, and the escrow company.

Fire Sale? Distress Sale? This is the Real Deal

Robert:

We have a true barn-burner fire sale all of a sudden...this is Casa Rocio...the owners really need cash, and have reduced the price first from $325,000 to $299,500 and as of today, Dec 14, down to $275,000 USD      Amazing...

To see the  main web page plus Hi Def video tour for Casa Rocio, CLICK HERE.


I never exaggerate or kid around...this is an astonishingly low price on this house...it is very well built and has a lot of room...it's MUCHA CASA...plus, it's in a very clean and fine little gated community with a very close private access to the whitest-sand beach in the bay.

Contact Deborah
011 52 1 322 1173099
or deborahfoster@rfasoc.com

Web Page Up For Condos Costa Dorada

It was a late night in the office last night trying to finish the main web page linked to below. It's the page for our new listing of Condos Costa Dorada, the newly converted ("condominiumized") building on the beach, right across the street from our office here in Bucerias. Here are just a couple of facade shots as a preview. Some nice interior shots on the main web page.

Go to the web page with lots of photos of remodeled units and non-remodeled units by clicking the orange link below.

 Click HERE For Condos Costa Dorada Web Page

(FYI, I just love the word, "condominiumized." It comes out of your mouth like a snare drum roll.) 

AMPI Nayarita Meeting and Posada, 2012

This morning we hosted the monthly AMPI (real estate association) Nayarita meeting in Laurie Hurwitz's listing, Huanacaxtle Penthouse 501, Punta Esmeralda.

This meeting also doubled as the AMPI Xmas posada (party), so AMPI footed most of the bill this time. About 35 agents and brokers attended.

Laurie did a great job working with the caterers and security to get everything done smoothly. If you've ever coordinated a seemingly simple catered event like this, you know that the planning, fretting, and last minute problemitas can make your cabeza explotar!

But, Laurie (below) looks bien tranquila.

Laurie, La Mujer Mas Tranquila del Mundo?

Here's  a little video of the event, and of the living room of the penthouse. It's a spectacular property. Look at those bay views! Look at all those sleepy, hungry agents and brokers!

Click HERE for video of the AMPI Nayarita Posada, December 2012

Below is the link to the web page for this penthouse, with a 360 virtual tour, lots of photos, and pertinent data.

Click HERE for the web page of Huanacaxtle Penthouse 501

Boxing Matches at the Mega Mall!

Hmmm, I guess I do live under a rock.  There was a real boxing ring set up yesterday in the Mega mall, in front of the Chinese restaurant. There was a big crowd and several amateur matches. I thought, how odd.

Only today did I see the results of last night's Marquez/Pacquiao fight. Or even realize there was a Marquez/Pacquiao fight.

So now I know why the big promotion at the mall. Du-uh. And all of Mexico is delirious with joy at last night's 6th round knockout of Pacquiao. And he went down cold. When your face breaks your fall, your lights are all out, all the way down.

Here is a video of the young Mexican aspirants last night in the mall. No doubt they are all inspired by Marquez's victory.

Click HERE for the video.

HD Video Up, Condo Glaser: Link

Robert:

The video is up on YouTube for Condo Glaser. If you have a fast connection, click your YouTube setting up to HD.

Click HERE for Video of Condo Glaser

Robert's Night Out

Every now and then I do crawl out of my cave, despite what you may have heard. I actually did so quite recently, and while above ground I discovered a cool rock and roll bar right here in the center of Bucerias. I'm posting a litle video of it because if you're planning a vacation here, I think you'll get a kick out of this place. It's called The Drunken Duck (El Pato Borracho).

They have a pretty good menu of tasty food (including "Costco Hotdogs" with various trimmings).

The food service starts in the afternoon. The bands start at 9 pm and goes until midnight or 1 am. There are three house bands that rotate. So, you can go three nights in a row and not see the same band twice.

The drinks are strong, but the atmosphere is never too rowdy. Often, early, there are little kids dancing with their parents or grandparents. Nice.

Only once did I see an obnoxious drunk. Not a dangerous drunk. Just an embarrassinly annoying one. What a crushing hangover that guy must have woken up to the next day. Had to have been horrible, because he was totalled. But normally, no hay problema. It's fun. Check it out. Order the Jalapeno Poppers or, if you're really hungry, the California Burrito with chicken. Filling and yummy.

Click HERE for a little video and music from The Drunken Duck.

What's that song the band is playing? I'm Your Captain? By Grand Funk Railroad? What year was that released? Anybody know?

New Web Page Is Up, Condo Glaser

Robert:

The new web page is is now up for Condo Glaser! Click the orange link below the preview photos to see all the photos and data. Hi def video coming soon to a screen near you.

Click HERE to go to the full web page for Condo Glaser.

Impromptu Parade In Front Of The Office Tonight

Robert:

So, I'm in the office a little late, it's twilight, and all of a sudden I hear a brass band, a siren and drums...that can only mean one thing...an impromptu Mexican parade. So, I go to the front door of the office to watch. It's a small parade. A modest affair. Who knows what it signifies.

"Desfile Quien Sabe"

Click HERE to see the parade.

New listing: 20 Units In Condos Costa Dorada.

Robert:

Congratulations to Patty de la Mora on this new listing. Today all our staff took the orientation tour to view the 20 units for sale in newly condominiumized Condos Costa Dorada, directly in front of our office here in Bucerias, and directly on the beach. The location? It...just...doesn't...get...any...better...than...this!

These units are in what was a family hotel for many years. Some have just been thoroughly remodeled and contemporized; others are more traditional, but we were all pleasantly surprised at how clean, roomy, and well maintained even the older units are. They're really very nice. And spacious. Big, nice bathrooms, large bedrooms, and looking out over the pool and the bay beyond. They have a really cozy, relaxing feel.

And, the newly remodeled units are just beautiful. Some shots of those below.

We'll be doing the web page with more fotos and data, plus the hi def video link over the next couple of days.

These are 2 bedroom units, except for one 4 bedroom unit. All units look out over the pools and ocean, except one, which has a street view. But it's a corner unit, so is nice and bright.

For more details contact listing agent Patty de la Mora, or stop in our office at 163 Lazaro Cardena, or across the street at the reception of the condos. They'll call us over to give you an instant tour of the furnished models.

patty@rfasoc.com
322 278-6961

"Convenience" Nursery at Mega

Robert:

The  "convenience" nursery in the Mega parking lot. Prices are a lot higher here than a regular Mexican nursery, but who can resist? Not I. When it comes to plants and flowers, I'm an impulse-buying fool.

A lot of people have noticed that the noches buenas (poinsettias) are prettier this year than last.

These flowers and plants start at 30 pesos, 60 pesos, and only a few of the largest or the hanging baskets cost as much as120 pesos.

Web Page Up For Casa Cantera

Robert:

The web page is up for lovely Casa Cantera.
Really an exceptional home. Click the orange link below.
Casa Cantera

New Listing Preview - Condo Glaser

Robert:

We're still gathering all the documentation on this (Condo Glaser) but it will be appearing in both MLS systems sometime this week. Meanwhile, here's a quick peek at the view from the terrace.

This is a 3 bedroom 3 bath luxury condo, in a 3 unit building, in the Zona Dorada, in Bucerias, 2 blocks from the beach.

Beautifully furnished and equipped, and much more solidly built than most other properties. There is no sheet rock (gypsum wallboard) used. Even the interior walls are all solid masonry. The finish work, cabinets, and fixtures are way above average also.

We'll be building the web site with many photos over the next few days, but here's the view. (The terrace, living area, dining area, kitchen, and master bedroom all look out at this view or a slightly different angle on it.)

View From Condo. Photo by Walter Glaser

$379,000 furnished and equipped. Very low maintenance fees. For a showing even before it hits the MLS systems, call me (Robert) at 322 135 5979

Listing Preview, Casa Cantera, Bucerias

Robert:

This exceptionally lovely Bucerias home will be hitting both MLS systems later today. It's a block and a half from the beach, in the heart of the Zona Dorada, and is exceptionally well-constructed and exquisitely maintained. 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, garage, heated pool. Ocean views from rooftop terrace. More than 4,000 sq feet of superior quality construction.

Casa Cantera, Zona Dorada, Bucerias

                                                                $649,000 USD


This is just a preview. Lots more photos to come as soon as we have the web site built. For a showing call Deborah Foster at 322 117 3099

Mexico's New President Takes Office

All of my Mexican friends were glued to the tv or internet yesterday, watching the inauguracion of their new president, Enrique Peña Nieto. I watched it too, as I am proudly a naturalized full citizen of Mexico, completing the arduous process about 4 years ago.

Peña Nieto is a PRI-ista. The PRI ruled Mexico for 71 years, before losing the presidency in 2000 to the PAN.

Now, the repentant and reconstructed PRI is back in the saddle.

The transition of power ceremony went smoothly, without the unseemly inside-the-chamber protests and disruptions that happened 6 years ago (the prior transition). Although outside the building where the ceremony took place, there were protests (naturally). Take that as it should be taken; as a sign of a maturing democracy where open dissent is indeed allowed.

Peña Nieto will serve a six year term. Hope springs eternal, here, as everywhere.

Documentary: The Onion's Deadly Serious History of the Internet

The Onion reveals the real history of the internet. Click the orange link below for this startling documentary:

History of the Internet Revealed

Robert: Kids Singing In Mega

Mega is one of our local super stores. Yesterday, near the main entrance, there was a bunch of cute Mexican school kids (that's redundant) singing Xmas carols to raise money for the Salvation Army. Plus doing a little dance routine.

Click the orange link below.

Kids Singing Rudolfo In Mega

New Photo Casa Ancla

Patty de la Mora has a new photo for her listing Casa Ancla. This is of the studio apartment above the main house. Looks pleasant. Bright, with a big terrace, and high, beamed ceilings. Nice.

Studio Apt. Casa Ancla, Bucerias

To see the main web page for Casa Ancla click the orange link below:
Casa Ancla

Robert: Quote for the Day.

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."

Ernest Hemingway

Robert: A New Cinematic Masterpiece?

Director Ang Lee's new Life of Pi is receiving reviews that are beyond raves. They are almost, I don't know, reverential?

It is described as a rare, transcendently beautiful film. (Or, where I grew up in the sticks, a "purty good pichur show.")

Roger Ebert is dazzled.

James Cameron (Avatar director) is in awe.

A couple of clips; click the orange links below:

Trailer

James Cameron comments on Life of Pi

Below is Roger Ebert's review:

Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is a miraculous achievement of storytelling and a landmark of visual mastery. Inspired by a worldwide best-seller that many readers must have assumed was unfilmable, it is a triumph over its difficulties. It is also a moving spiritual achievement, a movie whose title could have been shortened to "life."
 
The story involves the 227 days that its teenage hero spends drifting across the Pacific in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. They find themselves in the same boat after an amusing and colorful prologue, which in itself could have been enlarged into an exciting family film. Then it expands into a parable of survival, acceptance and adaptation. I imagine even Yann Martel, the novel's French-Canadian author, must be delighted to see how the usual kind of Hollywood manhandling has been sidestepped by Lee's poetic idealism.

The story begins in a small family zoo in Pondichery, India, where the boy christened Piscine is raised. Piscine translates from French to English as "swimming pool," but in an India where many more speak English than French, his playmates of course nickname him "pee." Determined to put an end to this, he adopts the name "Pi," demonstrating an uncanny ability to write down that mathematical constant that begins with 3.14 and never ends. If Pi is a limitless number, that is the perfect name for a boy who seems to accept no limitations.

 The zoo goes broke, and Pi's father puts his family and a few valuable animals on a ship bound for Canada. In a bruising series of falls, a zebra, an orangutan and the lion tumble into the boat with the boy, and are swept away by high seas. His family is never seen again, and the last we see of the ship is its lights disappearing into the deep -- a haunting shot that reminds me of the sinking train in Bill Forsyth's "Housekeeping" (1987).

This is a hazardous situation for the boy (Suraj Sharma), because the film steadfastly refuses to sentimentalize the tiger (fancifully named "Richard Parker"). A crucial early scene at the zoo shows that wild animals are indeed wild and indeed animals, and it serves as a caution for children in the audience, who must not make the mistake of thinking this is a Disney tiger.

The heart of the film focuses on the sea journey, during which the human demonstrates that he can think with great ingenuity and the tiger shows that it can learn. I won't spoil for you how those things happen. The possibilities are surprising.

What astonishes me is how much I love the use of 3-D in "Life of Pi." I've never seen the medium better employed, not even in "Avatar," and although I continue to have doubts about it in general, Lee never uses it for surprises or sensations, but only to deepen the film's sense of places and events.

Let me try to describe one point of view. The camera is placed in the sea, looking up at the lifeboat and beyond it. The surface of the sea is like the enchanted membrane upon which it floats. There is nothing in particular to define it; it is just ... there. This is not a shot of a boat floating in the ocean. It is a shot of ocean, boat and sky as one glorious place.

Still trying not to spoil: Pi and the tiger Richard Parker share the same possible places in and near the boat. Although this point is not specifically made, Pi's ability to expand the use of space in the boat and nearby helps reinforce the tiger's respect for him. The tiger is accustomed to believing it can rule all space near him, and the human requires the animal to rethink that assumption.

Most of the footage of the tiger is of course CGI, although I learn that four real tigers are seen in some shots. The young actor Suraj Sharma contributes a remarkable performance, shot largely in sequence as his skin color deepens, his weight falls and deepness and wisdom grow in his eyes.

The writer W.G. Sebold once wrote, "Men and animals regard each other across a gulf of mutual incomprehension." This is the case here, but during the course of 227 days, they come to a form of recognition. The tiger, in particular, becomes aware that he sees the boy not merely as victim or prey, or even as master, but as another being.

The movie quietly combines various religious traditions to enfold its story in the wonder of life. How remarkable that these two mammals, and the fish beneath them and birds above them, are all here. And when they come to a floating island populated by countless meerkats, what an incredible sequence Lee creates there.
The island raises another question: Is it real? Is this whole story real? I refuse to ask that question. "Life of Pi" is all real, second by second and minute by minute, and what it finally amounts to is left for every viewer to decide. I have decided it is one of the best films of the year.

Robert: The Scale of the Known Universe

Tranquility Break:

Oooohh this is cool. The conventional wisdom is that size doesn't matter, blah blah blah, but, ya gotta see this.

It starts with the tiniest of all known objects (or technically, concepts, i.e a fundamental segment as postulated by String Theory, an irreducible grid of quantum foam as conceived by Quantum Mechanics,  and the supposed Planck Length (the theoretically shortest possible length).
 
These are not particles, they are not "matter," they are elemental concepts postulated to explain the behavior of larger particles and/or waves, such as neutrinos and quarks (the next steps up in the size scale).

These tiniest "precursors" of matter are 10 to -35th power meters. That's like, really small, dude.

Next, and much, much larger (relatively) are neutrinos, at 10 to the -24th power meters. Or, 0.000000000000000000000001 meters. Mas o menos. :)

From there you scroll up through quarks, electrons, molecules, viruses, and on and on until ultimately you are scrolling/rising through a receding field of planets, suns, nebulae, and galaxies.

This puts everything in an almost (but certainly not entirely, not for us lowly humanoids) comprehensible scale of relative sizes.

It's fun, I promise. Try it, click the orange link, then scroll on the bar below the graphics. Be sure to start with the scroll button all the way to the left.

Scale of the Known Universe

Lily's Visitors, Baked Goodies.

Robert:

Secretary extraordinaire Lily's mom and sister Nancy are here visiting from Tepic. Lily's mom is a legendary cook, mmmm, and yesterday sent a bag of homemade empanadas (turnovers) to the office!

Two flavors of filling; caramel and pineapple....uuuiii Dios Mio..!

What's remarkable to me is that Lily stays so slender with a mom that cooks like that!

Tranquility Break

Robert:

Remember Neil Sedaka? His most well-remembered hit is Breakin' Up Is Hard To Do.

I like the slow version he released in the '80s. Gorgeous.

My favorite tune ever of his is less well known. It's called The Immigrant. It charted number 1 on Billboard's AC list in 1975.

The lyric is lovely and evocative, and in this live version of it, he is in his finest voice. And that's sayin' something. Click the orange link below.

The Immigrant

Patty de la Mora's New Listing In Bucerias

Patty de la Mora just listed this 2 bedroom (plus studio apt) traditional home, right here in the Zona Dorada, 3 blocks from the beach.

 Big pool and nice gardens.

Living room to terrace.

 

To go to the main web page for more data and photos click the orange link.

Casa Ancla, Bucerias, Zona Dorada 

Some new photos of Vela Vista Penthouse.

These new photos showcase this property a lot better.

For the complete web page with all the data and many other new photos click the orange link below.

Vela Vista Penthouse

Parades Today! Revolution Day Celebrations!

Robert:

Lily, our secretary extraordinaire, just took some clients to Telmex to get their phone and internet service set up.

They had to navigate through the parades and resulting crowds and traffic.

Every year there are parades celebrating Revolution Day. This is a big deal for all the school kids. The little boys are all dressed up like charros (Mexican cowboys) and/or Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata (heroes of the revolution, with cartridge belts slung rakishly around their necks). The little girls are in gorgeous, long, traditional dresses. Very colorful! Very Mexican! Although they also now have the standard drill teams and baton twirlers.

All the local riding clubs turn out too of course. The Charro Clubs ride along on their dressed up horses, and they themselves are really gussied up, with their big sombreros and suits with braid and sparkles, etc. Suits that would have been the  envy of Liberace.

The Revolution was long. From 1910 to 1920. But, it ended the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, ultimately produced Mexico's present constitutional republic, and there has been no serious civil unrest since.

Real Photos From the Revolution 1910 -1920

Robert:

View straight off terrace.

It's that time of year and new listings are coming on the market daily. The owners of this condo are a Russian couple that grew up in the Ukraine, but moved to the USA many years ago, and reside near Los Angeles. We have become good friends since I sold them this unit in preconstruction a few years ago.

Almost all of our clients are truly nice people and a genuine pleasure to know and work with. There have only been a couple of real stinkers in all these years and hundreds of deals. We don't talk about those.


This condo is in gorgeous DelCanto, a high end beach front development, on Flamingos beach, between Bucerias and Paradise Village.

 The floor plan is superb; both bedrooms and the living area walk out onto the front terrace and have sweeping ocean views.

Even from the kitchen you look out over the terrace and the bay.

This unit, 506 B, is a two bedroom, two bath condo that has just been beautifully designer-furnished and decorated. It looks fabulous.
 

Living/dining to kitchen

Master bedroom.

Master bath.

 
Feels like a 5 star resort. Great rentability or livability. Beautiful lobby, gardens, beach front, and gym.  Click the orange link below to go to the web page for this condo, with more pictures and data.

Web Page DelCanto 506B