BajaNomad - How long does it take to remodel a bathroom?

How long does it take to remodel a bathroom?

dtbushpilot - 3-14-2012 at 09:51 PM

I stopped at the Pemex in El Rosario today and was looking forward to using the newly remodeled bathroom as I had heard quite a while back that they were "under construction" and you had the option of using a porta potty or going to the hotel to use the bathroom.

I was pretty excited because I've been getting gas there for the last 20 years and they have had some of the worse bathrooms that I have experienced in Baja.

Imagine my surprise to find the bathroom still "under re-construction". I had to pee, so did my esposa bonita, there didn't appear to be any porta potties available and I was too disappointed to make a special trip to the hotel after gassing up so we pulled over down the road a ways and went there.

So, my question is actually 3 fold:
First, when did they start the "remodel?
Second, what is the anticipated "grand opening" date?
And third, If any of my fellow Nomads were running a business where your customers would typically need to use the restroom, how much time would you allocate to refurbish 2 one hole bathrooms while your customers peed on the side of the road?....dt

[Edited on 3-15-2012 by dtbushpilot]

RnR - 3-14-2012 at 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
So, my question is actually 3 fold:
First, when did they start the "remodel?

#1 - They were placing the concrete for the new floors during our pass-through during the first week of November 2011.

(Note the year - just in case the project has an anniversary, or two, or three.....)

dtbushpilot - 3-14-2012 at 11:04 PM

I know that the defense of Antonio's pitiful bathrooms (according to DK) was that to get approval for any type of construction project on a Pemex site was a time consuming project bogged down by approvals, paperwork and permits.
Ok, let's assume that that is correct. I applaud the tireless efforts of the station owner to wade through the red tape and political mine field of the approval process. Now the question is how long should it take?
I'll answer question #3 as if it were my station and my customers who have been using bathrooms that were pitiful at best for the last 20 years......5 days.
I've been in the construction business for all of my adult life so I'm not just pulling numbers out of my a$$. Building a couple of bathrooms isn't rocket science no matter what country you live in.....my dos centavos.
I think I'll gas up in San Quentin (help me with my spelling DK) from now on, I've had enough of all that El Rosario has to offer.....dt

DianaT - 3-14-2012 at 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot

I think I'll gas up in San Quentin (help me with my spelling DK) from now on, I've had enough of all that El Rosario has to offer.....dt

Just a heads-up. The last couple of times we stopped at the Los Pinos Pemex the bathroom was clean enough, but there was no toliet paper or running water in the women's bathroom.

dtbushpilot - 3-14-2012 at 11:36 PM

Try the men's bathroom next time Diana, have Jim or the dog stand at the door to give you some privacy. We have found the mens bathroom's to be cleaner and better equipped than the women's in most places in Baja. Don't know if it's a sexist thing or if women are just bigger slobs than men.......anybody care to weigh in on their observations?

mcfez - 3-15-2012 at 07:09 AM

Good Gods...I think you are right...mens restrooms are cleaner! that never occur to me....till you posted this.

BTW.....construction time schedules......took use 18 months to get a pillar built for the electrical utility box .....a 7 day project. The house took more 2 years. I suppose there is no rush in Baja :-)

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Try the men's bathroom next time Diana, have Jim or the dog stand at the door to give you some privacy. We have found the mens bathroom's to be cleaner and better equipped than the women's in most places in Baja. Don't know if it's a sexist thing or if women are just bigger slobs than men.......anybody care to weigh in on their observations?

Mula - 3-15-2012 at 07:34 AM

I don't know when construction of Wal-Mart started in La Paz, but I was there Thanksgiving morning for the grand opening = just in time for the special 3 day shopping week-end of super specials, which Mexico has embraced with enthusiasm.

Pompano - 3-15-2012 at 08:03 AM

Perhaps a suggestion?

Sometimes it's not the bathroom superstructure, but more a matter of the..decor....or ambiance

Put this inspiration to cleanliness on the wall:

What say you, Antonio? A few pictures to brighten up the banos?

[Edited on 3-15-2012 by Pompano]

wilderone - 3-15-2012 at 09:02 AM

"...the bathroom was clean enough, but there was no toliet paper or running water in the women's bathroom."
Had to make a stop at a station in Ensenada just to use their bathroom - ditto - but fair enough. I was glad to find one when I needed one. I always have soap with me, and water and a roll of paper towels in the car.

desertcpl - 3-15-2012 at 09:09 AM

guess I will way in on this one

about women's versus men's bathrooms

having been in business for many years, and 1 being that we did have separate bathrooms for the sexes

women's was always a mess, more so than men's

I know this will start a fight,, but I am bored this morning and some body P..sed in my Cheerios

[Edited on 3-15-2012 by desertcpl]

DianaT - 3-15-2012 at 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
"...the bathroom was clean enough, but there was no toliet paper or running water in the women's bathroom."
Had to make a stop at a station in Ensenada just to use their bathroom - ditto - but fair enough. I was glad to find one when I needed one. I always have soap with me, and water and a roll of paper towels in the car.

Yes, it is good to find one when needed and I never go in without paper and we carry hand sanitizer with us.

Now about this bathroom debate, it is something we have wondered about--- in our observations, the men's room does always seem to be cleaner! And of course, when there is a crowd, the men's room may be empty while there is a line for the women's room. And we find this in the US, Mexico and in other countries we have visited!

But dtbushpilot, I will have to find someone named Jim to watch that door. :biggrin:

[Edited on 3-15-2012 by DianaT]

mulegemichael - 3-15-2012 at 10:20 AM

i know whatcha mean, david...all talk and no action at antonios place....for years and years now.......and yeah, womens side is ALWAYS more screwed up then the mens side...20 years in the park business showed me that!

dtbushpilot - 3-15-2012 at 10:41 AM

"But dtbushpilot, I will have to find someone named Jim to watch that door".

Sorry Diana, I meant John....but if someone named Jim would suit your fancy good luck with your search :lol:

DianaT - 3-15-2012 at 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
"But dtbushpilot, I will have to find someone named Jim to watch that door".

Sorry Diana, I meant John....but if someone named Jim would suit your fancy good luck with your search :lol:

One never knows. :lol:

El Camote - 3-15-2012 at 12:11 PM

Womens' bathrooms may be generally messier but what's the deal with the puddle of pee on the floor below a urinal? Do a lot of dudes go hands-free in public restrooms? And what's with people who can't flush a toilet when they're done? :barf:

Those are number 1 and 2 of my pet peeves. :biggrin:

motoged - 3-15-2012 at 12:43 PM

DT,
Sounds like you finally got a grasp on the problem ... :biggrin:

dtbushpilot - 3-15-2012 at 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
DT,
Sounds like you finally got a grasp on the problem ... :biggrin:

Yes, only problem is that it was on the side of the road instead of the new bathroom at El Rosario

....dt

Fernweh - 3-15-2012 at 09:08 PM

It has been Los Peenos for me now - for the last few trips.....

An added plus, you can use your American credit card with no problems there.

Karl

Marc - 3-17-2012 at 08:21 AM

Speaking of bathrooms. If they can bring this off AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF COPPER CANYON; WHY NOT A GAS STOP??
Batopilas 2010

Pompano - 3-17-2012 at 08:31 AM

The standard still 'stands' for Hwy 1 rest rooms.

dtbushpilot - 3-17-2012 at 08:36 AM

That's the same bathroom mi esposa and I used after our stop in El Rosario, not a problem for me but mi esposa is still a bit self conscious about going on the side of the road....but she's getting better at it. Maybe that El Rosario bathroom is a blessing in disguise....

BajaBlanca - 3-17-2012 at 08:53 AM

that bathroom in Batopilas ...where was that ??? we had anice one but it sure didn't look anything like that one !!

FYI at Antonio's pemex, the alternate bathroom is at the hotel and it is to the left of the counter in the reception area. easy as pie to get to it.

[Edited on 3-17-2012 by BajaBlanca]

grizzlyfsh95 - 3-17-2012 at 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
That's the same bathroom mi esposa and I used after our stop in El Rosario, not a problem for me but mi esposa is still a bit self conscious about going on the side of the road....but she's getting better at it. Maybe that El Rosario bathroom is a blessing in disguise....

You know DT if you just got that prostate looked at you could skip El Rosario all together.

rts551 - 3-17-2012 at 11:42 AM

some of you men need to quit checking out the woman's bathroom.

DianaT - 3-17-2012 at 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
some of you men need to quit checking out the woman's bathroom.

Cypress - 3-17-2012 at 12:20 PM

My wife made a pit/pee stop in eastern Oregon once, somewhere between Baker City and John Day on Hwy 26. A rattle snake changed her mind. :biggrin:

J.P. - 3-17-2012 at 01:34 PM

DAVID K. is noticable silent on this issue. I thought he is the head of the Baja Catcus Cheering Squad. :lol:

Marc - 3-17-2012 at 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
that bathroom in Batopilas ...where was that ??? we had anice one but it sure didn't look anything like that one !!

FYI at Antonio's pemex, the alternate bathroom is at the hotel and it is to the left of the counter in the reception area. easy as pie to get to it.

[Edited on 3-17-2012 by BajaBlanca]

Blanca, Remember this place about a kilometer before the bridge into town? It is somehow connected to the Margarita Hotel in Creel. It was empty.

[Edited on 3-17-2012 by Marc]

rts551 - 3-17-2012 at 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
DAVID K. is noticable silent on this issue. I thought he is the head of the Baja Catcus Cheering Squad. :lol:

Maybe he is working at his new job? or carefully crafting his response.

DianaT - 3-19-2012 at 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
DAVID K. is noticable silent on this issue. I thought he is the head of the Baja Catcus Cheering Squad. :lol:

Maybe he is working at his new job? or carefully crafting his response.

Must be since he never came forth with a defense. :biggrin:

rts551 - 3-19-2012 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
DAVID K. is noticable silent on this issue. I thought he is the head of the Baja Catcus Cheering Squad. :lol:

Maybe he is working at his new job? or carefully crafting his response.

Must be since he never came forth with a defense. :biggrin:

He will be a while. He is still trying to figure out what agriculture inspection points are.

David K - 3-19-2012 at 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
DAVID K. is noticable silent on this issue. I thought he is the head of the Baja Catcus Cheering Squad. :lol:

Here I am... first time reading this thread (8pm+ Mon.), as I had no interest in reading about somebody remodeling 'their' bathroom... Note to the original post in this thread, put 'El Rosario Pemex' in the title of your thread and more folks might be interested in reading it.

I have no answer other than it's Mexico.. and if any of you think things happen fast down there, well.. I have some land I don't own to sell you!

The last time I was in El Rosario was July 4th weekend, 2011... and we had a room at the Baja Cactus Motel (do you want to see the photos again?)... which still has to be about the nicest places to stay for under $40 (even over $40) along the Baja highway... so we didn't go at the station before driving home.

As for doing what Baja Blanca said... by all means...,. that is what it is there for. The Pemex toilet gets used by bus loads of people, and no way can it be the same as the bathroom in the motel lobby.

Just fyi, I have been unable to talk with Antonio for several months... emails are unanswered and he didn't return a call I placed for him at the front desk a few weeks ago... You Nomads are on your own... :yes:

You all have been invited by Antonio to use the motel lobby bathroom, so do it. :cool:

BajaBlanca - 3-19-2012 at 08:45 PM

Marc - now I remember seeing that place .... but we did not stay there ...what is the name of it ? That is one gorgeously decorated bathroom .... for the bottom of a huge canyon .....

Antoniooooooooooooo, time to finish the bano. :biggrin:

rts551 - 3-20-2012 at 08:15 PM

Come to think of it. Antonio has been silent for a very long time. WOnder what happened to him.

psychedelic rock at baja cactus

mtgoat666 - 3-20-2012 at 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

the Baja Cactus Motel (do you want to see the photos again?)... which still has to be about the nicest places to stay for under $40 (even over $40) along the Baja highway... so we didn't go at the station before driving home.

the nicest place OVER $40????

????

let's get back on topic: really, the bathrooms at baja cactus are ABOMINABLE, but so are many bathrooms in mexican gas stations,... but there is no excuse for any owner to present such bathrooms to the public, other than the owner thinks bathrooms don't matter in the customer EXPERIENCE.

So, are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have

Let me prove you...

Trumpets and violins I can hear in distance
I think they're calling our names
Maybe now you can't hear them, but you will
If you just take hold of my hand

Oh, but are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful...

:lol:

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by mtgoat666]

Marc - 3-22-2012 at 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Marc - now I remember seeing that place .... but we did not stay there ...what is the name of it ? That is one gorgeously decorated bathroom .... for the bottom of a huge canyon .....

Antoniooooooooooooo, time to finish the bano. :biggrin:

I may post soon a short report on my stay at this hotel and "only in Mexico" comments on how I ended up there, on Non Baja Trips

durrelllrobert - 3-22-2012 at 09:27 AM

If it's anything like the new ones along the TJ/Ensenada toll road it will be worth the wait. These are gorgeous and feature all the latest high tech fixtures, etc.