The Cicus Vines and bright yellow Mandevilla vines are starting to take over the entry walls. By next season it should be a carpet of green with yellow flowers.

After the summer rains we added several new concrete drainage ways (cunetas). This new system carries away the heaviest rainwater safely from the site without causing erosion.

Additional drainage ways were also added at several locations across the paver-covered roads in Buena Vista to give rainwater a quicker exit path.

4,000 square meters of new adoquin concrete pavers are being installed. This photo shows the completed portion of the new road going up to the top of Buena Vista. The area behind the fountain will be completed as soon as the retaining wall work is finished.

A view of the beautiful hand carved Cantera fountain that greets visitors and residents as they enter the gates.

Looking up Privada Campanario you'll notice new concrete cunetas have been added to the roads (inside left side of road against hill).

We contracted with Tierra Armada, a Mexican firm that uses new, state-of-the-art technology from Spain to construct retaining walls. This photo shows a stack of the pre-cast panels awaiting installation.

The interlocking concrete panels are held in place using a patented composite material band system that is laid horizontally across the roadbed.

The roadbed on Buena Vistas lower road, Privada Sanctuario is placed in lifts, each compacted by machines to 95% compactation. This photo shows the road base at about 70% of its height.

Workers level another lift of base soil behind the new retaining wall and get it ready for compactation.

Another view of the roller and workers as they place backfill behind the new retaining wall.

The road back fill material all in place, the next step is to finish compactation then add the crushed rock road base followed by a layer of liquid asphalt emulsion, 4" of sand then the new adoquin concrete interlocking pavers.

A view of another new rain water drainage cuneta at the end of a cul-de-sac in Buena Vista.

A side view showing how the drainage system works to direct rainwater to prevent erosion.

The orange Cantera tiles have been delivered. They will soon go on the lower 1/3 of the bell tower at the top of Buena Vista. The Cantera is the same color as the entry fountain.

This photo shows the completed retaining wall along lots 3 & 4. Soon the extra soil on the outside of the wall will be removed and replaced by Multi-Mat 100 erosion control fabric, top soil, sod and decorative plantings.

The last of the erosion control work is the installation of a stone retaining wall along the edge of lot 5 on Privada Sanctuario. This photo shows the excavation and footing for the wall which will only extend above grade about a foot.

Amid all the construction activity a pair of Lilac Crested Amazon Parrots can be seen circling Buena Vista's bell tower.

Another photo of the parrots. These amazing creatures find life long mates and in March and April will start laying eggs and hatching chicks. It's a wonderful reminder of our beautiful, tropical location.

The gates to Buena Vista. The landscaping has settled in.

Landscaping between Buena Vista and the parking lot at Vida del Mar is maturing and the Ficus trees and decorative plantings have screened our entry and fountain area beautifully.

A view across the front of the entrance showing the bell tower in the distance and a small nursery area where flowering plants await their final destinations.

A view from the fountain looking up toward lot 15. The wood boards are for establishing level and plumb lines for the construction of house 15, which is now underway.

The job superintendent and a worker check the footing trenches for house #15. This home will have an incredible Pacific Ocean view.

Story boards, used for establishing level lines and foundation corners can be seen for house #15.

You can get an idea of the ocean views from house #15. This is the only single story home in Buena Vista so the footprint is huge.

Sand and gravel and steel have been delivered for house #9. The trees where the house will sit have been removed and you can see the view this home will have.

The view across the Lagoon de Juluapan and Santiago Bay as will be seen from house #9.

The foundation construction for house #7 is in its fifth week. Workers are digging footing trenches. The foundation portion seen in the background is where a stack of three bedrooms will be built.

The retaining wall that will support the infinity swimming pool for house #7 continues to rise

Underground electrical, fresh water, sewer and telephone conduits are installed in Calle' Sanctuario.

Workers begin installation of a storm water drainage system that will be placed on the outside of the new retaining wall and will handle the rainwater run off from the road above.

The new rainwater catch basin on the lot lines between Lots #3 and #4 starts to go in.

The footings are poured and the masons start laying brick to bring the foundation up to slab level.

Workers continue on the footings. The level of the dirt is the approximate level of the finished floor of the home. This is Buena Vista's only one story home.

A view of the workers filling the footing forms and trenches with concrete as it is pumped from below.

A view of the Cemex Redi-Mix truck and the concrete pumper as it delivers concrete for the footings from the road below.

A close up view of the artisanship in cutting the ceramic tile face of the monument sign away for the Buena Vista logo. Later, the white paper template that was glued to the surface of the ceramic tile will be washed away and the areas cut out will be painted. The palm tree and oval will be gold and the script lettering will be a bronze color.

Jamie, our tile artisan steps back to admire his work. This is a slow, exact, painstaking job. Jamie has been known to spend a week in one bathroom when tiling houses. He drives the contractor crazy, but his work is true art.

The rock retaining wall that runs along lot 6 is coming up to the road level.

The top of the rock retaining wall along lot 6 in the part that is finished.

The Orange Cantera stone has started going onto the surfaces of the lower part of the bell tower.

Another view of the Cantera tile application on the bell tower from a different view.

On the observation level (middle level) of the bell tower, the ceramic tile floor has been started. This tile will run down the stairs and a steel handrail will be installed for safety.

Even in the driest of our winter season months there is always something beautiful in flower. Here, one of the native cactus decide it's time to put on a late winter show. The honey bees love these huge white blossoms.

Another view. These cactus were saved during all the site work and relocated to what will become a succulent garden just above the entry area on the way up to the top of the hill.

A major new rain water drainage system has been installed outside the new retaining wall that runs along lots 3 and 3.

Looking down from the lower road in Buena Vista to the street below and another view of the new drain.

Some of the homes in Buena Vista also have Lagoon views. In this photo you can see the colorful beach umbrellas that dot the edge of the lagoon. It is a favorite place for younger children to swim and play in the water where it is much more calm than in the bay.

This photo shows some of the very rare ground fog that we experienced this winter. The photo was captured in the morning off the terrace of Lou & Bill's home.

The tile artist, Jamie has finished his work and the Buena Vista logo has been cut freehand into the tile face of our monument sign just outside the gates.

A closer view of the sign face. The next step it to paint the palm tree and oval gold and the script lettering a bronze color.

The walls of Villa Estancia, house #15 start to rise. This is the only single story, one level home in Buena Vista.

The two Polynesian style tall palapa towers of L'Recif, the gourmet restaurant on the waterfront can be seen. These will be part of the view for Villa Estancia.

The retaining wall for Villa Bahia Vista, house #9 reaches the height of the lower bedroom level.

Structural steel and concrete beams poured on site form the foundation for the home.

This photo shows the start of steel formation for the infinity pool at Villa Buena Suerte, house #7.

Workers can be seen inside the wood forms surrounding the swimming pool working on tying steel rebar together into the grid specified by the structural engineer.

The curved formwork showing is a large, curved fountain that is inside the courtyard as visitors enter the home. The area not yet poured is the garage.

Structural rebar columns can be seen that will form the corners of the main living level walls.

The future spa site has been cleaned up and looks great. This is the temporary construction entrance and is also serving as a nursery area for plants that our gardener has started from cuttings.

Engineer Luis Cervantes walks the lower road with the construction superintendent to discuss work progress.

This is a view of the lower road in front of lot #5. The surface is very close to being ready for waterproofing and concrete pavers.

This is a view of the lower road along lots 3 and 4. The trench along the inside of the new concrete retaining wall has been opened to expose all water pipes so they can be pressure checked for leaks before the road surface in installed.

A worker stands on the wide concrete footing of the stone retaining wall that runs along lot #6.

Almost half of the road bed has been removed to the footing level and a system of steel rebar reinforced concrete supports the stone retaining wall.

This is a closer view of the retaining wall work being completed by Engineer Cervantes along lot #6.

This is a view toward the entrance to house #7, Vila Buena Suerte. There is another bedroom going up on the left side and on the right side, the garage room and the high clerestory roof over the living and dining rooms will start to rise in the week ahead. This home has wonderful Santiago Bay and beach views.