FM3 is not to be...just yet

On the second day of my visit I had an appointment with Adriana at Yucatan Expatriate Services. Their website offers an amazing list of services to assist foreigners in relocating to Mexico.  The plan was to begin my application for an FM3 visa which allows one to stay in Mexico beyond the period of the simple tourist visa and can be renewed annually.  What I did not know is that you must remain in the country for the entire process, which is three weeks give or take a day or two. Since I would be here for only a week this visit, the FM3 would have to wait.  I am still working part-time, so arranging a three week vacation during the summer months will be a little dicey.  Adrianna told me that many of the Mexican Consulates in the United States no longer process visas ( visae?), but the Consulate in Washington still lists this service on their website, so I just sent an e-mail to see if that is a possibility. Other people have told me that they were able to obtain their FM3 in the states. D.C. is a 3 & 1/2 hour drive from Norfolk - inconvenient but not out of the question.  The website states that I will need a valid passport, two front-facing passport photos, a police report (how do I get that?), and proof that I have a monthly income of $1000.00 US.

Adriana is quite knowledgeable about all things expat and gave me lots of good (free) advice.  I'm certain we will utilize their services (very reasonably priced) in the future. If anyone is considering a move to Merida or anywhere in Mexico, check out their website.

Las lechuzas

I went outside last night to take a few photos of the pool.  When the camera flashed I heard a screech, but did not think much about it. Then when I took the next photo, the same screech and movement above. Then another flash, a screech and when I looked up, there they were. Two owls that appeared almost white in the dark blue sky and moonlight flew from out of the tree high above the back wall for an instant and then landed on top of the 100 year old water tower.  They were warning me to stop with the bright flashes, so I obeyed and set the camera to manual.

We've been told that this is one of only a few tall water towers remaining in Merida. Steve and Yuri placed a spotlight on top of the 16-foot wall to accentuate the texture. It stands right in the center of a large spreading tree and is quite striking at night.
                        

A work in progress...

We are fortunate that the previous owners passed on their album of renovation photos. It is nice to be able to see the amazing transformation that occurred over the course of the restoration.  We found the construction of the kitchen island especially interesting. 

The beginnings of the kitchen island

Rough finish

This is all done by hand with no forms- how do they get it so perfect?

Is he taking a siesta or reading something?

Almost there          

Thanks to Stephen & Yuri for sharing their photos

We did it!!

We bought a house!  Well, we are only a few days away from the actual closing, but I'm sure that anyone who is following this blog would like for us to stop this silly "but there's more to the story" line and just spit it out. OK, we are buying Casa de Las Lechuzas. It's just that the way this all happened seemed to be worthy of a good "story." I have to tell you that we were about to make an offer on another of the homes we viewed, one that came with some very desirable advantages, but at the last minute decided that there was so much right about Las Lechuzas that it had to be the one. With only one day remaining before our flight back to Norfolk we made an offer that was accepted and here we are. There was much we liked about all of the homes we saw, but Las Lechuzas met and exceeded most of the criteria we had placed on our 'want list.' The size is just right for us, but should we ever want to add a master suite upstairs, the roof is prepared to accept an addition.  The home was designed and constructed by Victor Cruz, a young and most talented architect. The more I see his work, the more I appreciate his creativity and his penchant for using curves in places where a straight line is the norm (see kitchen counters, island, and cabinets). He even carries this theme outside with the pool that allows for laps. The owners of the home ( a Louisianan and a Russian) worked closely with Victor to ensure that the needs of two foreigners were met, like built-in closets, storage areas, and laundry room. There is even a studio with half-bath, and an outside shower just steps away, not to mention a small bodega for garden tools, etc. To top it off, a huge garage with built-in concrete storage shelves and a sky light. Perfect for two guys who have parked on the street, sometimes a block or more from our home, for the past twenty-something years.

We are thrilled and extremely grateful that we are in a position to catch this dream and live it.