Finally!

Twenty months late - We've finally started construction. One year dealing with fixing the property lines, then nearly 8 months waiting for environmental approval and change of use permit.

Before we received approval, two inspectors, from two different agencies had to scrutinize the property. One inspector from an organization called SEMARNAT did a plant inventory. They somehow determined we had to pay the equivalent of U.S. $2000.00 to "reforest" another area to make up for the damage to the environment that we're doing. I'd just love to see where what area we're paying to reforest!

Our builder was ready to start a long time ago and wasted no time procuring materials. We received final approval on Friday. Everything was ready to go the following Monday!

Eleven tons of cement unloaded and stacked in the garage by hand:

Rebar and Sand. Unfortunately, the local sand is a bit too fine for mixing concrete, so we had to have sand brought in. I believe it comes all the way from La Paz. They mix local and imported sand 50/50.

All these rolls of steel....

Will be cut and bent into these:

In order to make these rebar cages:

Which will become the main structural supports for the building:

Meanwhile, the two helpers continue to dig the footings by hand:

It's hard to believe that after so long we're finally building!