It's a small Paso World

[Pasogirlz]

If you didn't happen to catch it on one of the other threads, I recently started a new job. I work for a construction company that builds homes and condos in Bimini, Bahamas. They are sold preconstruction with the buyers making stage payments until the unit is complete. At that time, I coordinate the closings with the clients, fly them to Bimini on our company plane, and do the final walk thru of the home, get some paper work signed, and collect the final checks.

This job is a little more intense than it sounds, but still fun. However, it has me on the road and in the air a lot more. And if you add that to my normal time on the road and in the air for the magazine and shows....it has me running crazy.
In fact I have already missed a few shows due to work, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. ;)

Anyway, I had a closing recently with some clients, and they turned out to be Paso people from Miami. The wife asked me...."Don't you ride Paso Finos?" I didn't recognize them, but they knew who I was. They don't show themselves, but are regulars at the shows and own a few Pasos for the family. Of course we hit it off from there. :biggrin:

I keep suggesting the only thing the island resort is missing is Pasos to ride on the beach as an amenity. Maybe if I can get enough owners to suggest it as well.....mwahahahaha:p

[PASOFAN]

Wow sounds amazing! Wouldnt it be fantastic to run a PasoFino resort in the Bahamas! If you get it running I AM THERE!lol Ok , Carol would KILL me if I left TX, but man who ever gets that job would be a lucky lucky duck!lol

So you gonna post pics of the Bahamas?

[Pasogirlz]

I'm headed over tomorrow, so maybe I will try to take you guys with me. ;)

The water is bluer than I have ever seen before. Makes Miami water pale in comparison which is hard to do.

Oh...and if you guys thought Latin Standard Time was rough....you should try Bahamian Standard Time. :p The world comes to a complete hault when you land over there.

[SandyMM]

Hmmmm - an all paso stable... Yeah, that would definitely take somebody who had the horsekeeping skills and also understood LST and BST well... Hmmm - I _need_ to head south soon... LOL!;)

On the other hand - we're just getting our place here in order after a year and a half of work.... Oh, well.... it was fun thinking about it... ;)

[Pasogirlz]

Hmmmm - an all paso stable... Yeah, that would definitely take somebody who had the horsekeeping skills and also understood LST and BST well... Hmmm - I _need_ to head south soon... LOL!;)


LOL...well...you certainly ARE on LST and BST. hahaha:p

There are currently NO horses on the island. But hey...Ponce de Leon explored that island on one of Columbus's first voyages....I'm sure it had to be on a Paso ancestor. ;)

[motorgypsy]

Now THAT would be my dream vacation! Riding a paso fino on the beach in the Bahamas. WOW!

We've not done an ocean front ride yet at all but are really anxious to do one. I'm sure in all your spare time you can get this going!;) We'll put it on our calendar for next winter.

[Pasogirlz]

Ok, I was able to snap a few pix on my last trip.

I start my day bright and early by driving an hour across town from the beach to the Tamiami airport on the far west side of town. I meet my customers there and any other employees that are flying over for various reasons. Our company plane seats 10 plus the pilot.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini021.jpg

Once we land, go thru the Bahamian customs, we catch a cab to the water taxi.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini008.jpg

We pass several small uninhabited islands along the way.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini019.jpg

[Pasogirlz]

We arrive at the resort's Marina.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini007.jpg

...speaking of yahcts...
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini009.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini017.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini016.jpg

How about some sail boats?
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini010.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini006.jpg

Ok, enough boats. ;)

I take the client to the their unit and conduct the walk thru.
This is my island transportation. In fact, most ppl get around by golf cart on the island.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini005.jpg

[Pasogirlz]

Here are some shots of the Ocean. You can see we are still building the seawall.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini004.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini002.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini003.jpg

Then I get some paper work signed, collect the checks and we have some lunch by the pool. Sorry, I failed to take pix there. Next time. :p

We take the water taxi back to the place where we catch a cab to the airport.

Check out the cool fish hanging out by where we board the water taxi.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini011.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini013.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini012.jpg

Some local homes along the water

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini015.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini018.jpg

Don't strain your eyes...this pic is just of the blue blue water.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini020.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini014.jpg

[Pasogirlz]

Then we leave Bimini headed back to Miami.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini022.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini023.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini024.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini025.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini026.jpg

That little white dot is a boat.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini027.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini028.jpg


Land!
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini029.jpg


Key Biscayne
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini031.jpg

Miami
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini032.jpg

Birds eye view of Miami
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/pasogirlz2/Bimini033.jpg

The flight takes about 30-40 minutes. Then we have to go thru US customs.
Then I get to drive an hour back home in traffic. :p

[Bonnie M]

Great pics!

Nice job, although there is noo way I could ever get in that plane! Way too claustrophobic for that.

Lori, do you have people buying units everyday? Are they mostly foreigners since the us dollar has gone down?

[CarolU]

Poor Lori. My heart just bleeds for you. :mecry::mad2: ;)

Those striped fish are Sergeant Majors (if you feed them you'll soon train them to come for food) and the spiny things are sea urchins.

What a great job. When I had a job that combined flying and looking nice I got a wardrobe of gauchos and riding skirts. Worked well, you could get in/out of planes gracefully and still look nice.

Have fun!

[Pasogirlz]

Bonnie, I have closings about once or twice a week depending. Most of the units I am closing on were sold about two years ago, and just finished construction now. So for the houses, they must close on the lot first, then construction on the house begins. For the condos, it's all done at one time. We also sell Marina slips.

The harder part of the job is organizing and coordinating it all. Calling everyone and getting them ready to bring in the final money is not as easy as it sounds. Especially since the economy has changed so drastically over the past two years since the buyers first signed the contract.

I'd say about 10% of our customers are financing, while the rest are paying cash. So that is a good thing. And we do have some international buyers at this time, including Ireland.

[Carol Nelson]

Yeah, gee, Lori....life is tough!

(imagine a job where you have to worry about looking nice getting in and out of airplanes...sigh) ;)

[Pasogirlz]

Yeah, gee, Lori....life is tough!

(imagine a job where you have to worry about looking nice getting in and out of airplanes...sigh) ;)

For me, it's harder to find comfy shoes to wear around all day that go w/my outfits. Every morning I think...now which torture device shall I force my foot into today? lol

And you would be surprised how tiring making that trip is. By the time I get home I feel like I ran a marathon that day.

[Soltera]

Lori, you are absolutely the BEST provider of great screen saver shots! Thank you!!! My eyes need that shade of blue....

[Pasogirlz]

Lori, you are absolutely the BEST provider of great screen saver shots! Thank you!!! My eyes need that shade of blue....

Next trip if I have the time, I want to take some pix of the beach that runs along side the road into town. Now that is really something. White sand, Blue water, and conch shells washed up everywhere. :v: I tell ya...all it needs is a horse on the beach to be complete.

[motorgypsy]

Thanks so much for sharing. We enjoyed the trip:)

[Jane Hurl]

So ... what do those condos sell for anyway?

[motorgypsy]

Jane I suggest you buy one so we can all come visit you and bring some paso finos so we can remedy the island deficiency. Don't you think that's a great idea??;)

[Jane Hurl]

I think that's a FANTASTIC idea! *grin*

(Now which bank should I rob?)

[CarolU]

I think that's a FANTASTIC idea! *grin*

(Now which bank should I rob?)

Don't rob an American bank, they're all broke. Better go for a Canadian one.

[Minouri]

Don't rob an American bank, they're all broke. Better go for a Canadian one.

At least you know that no matter how zaney your idea is -- someone on this board will have advice on how to do it right.....lol

That one really cracked me up.