San Miguel de Allende. Mexico

San Miguel de Allende is a special place that takes you back in time. It wreaks of colonial architecture, cobble stone streets, and festivals. The town was founded in the 1500's as stop along the silver route connecting mining towns in the north of Mexico to Queretaro and Mexco City to the south. It's a beautiful setting for a town and the colonial architecture is practically unspoiled. The town has plenty of charm to say the least; it is no wonder why so many foreigners have decided to visit or call the place home. For better or worse my first experience in the town was going on a home and garden tour with around 150 retired folks and visitors, and every last word of the tour was in English.

At the moment the town seems to have a good balance of authenticity and services for visitors and ex-pats. The place still feels like Mexico and the architecture is like no other place that I have seen, while it is also an easy place to travel. Here you can get a good taste of the life in Mexico, finding warm people, plenty of life in the streets, great architecture, a comfortable climate year round, great places to stay, and delicious food.












View of San Miguel de Allende












View from one of the many rooftop terraces












The streets of San Miguel de Allende












View down main street in front of the "Jardin" (central Park)












"Jardin" (Central Park) and the "Parroquia" (Church)












People passing the day at the "Jardin"












Flowers for sale in the street
















Parroquia (Church) at sunset












Shops along the "Jardine"












Dried Flowers for sale along the park












Roaming Mariachis playing in the evening












The "Parroquia" lit up at night












Looking up at bells












Bull fighting stadium












Bug on the street












One of the many unique and ornate doors of the town












Chimney and bird of paradise on roof top terrace












Houses and gardens seen from above












Roof top garden












Lush interior garden

Beyond the great architecture, parks, and street life San Miguel de Allende has more than a 100 festivals to keep things hopping the whole year. On top of the festivals there are also some great places to go out to eat and enjoy the night life.












Band playing to honor one of the many saints and festivals of the town












Colored parade banners lining the street












Going out at night to "Mama Mia" with new found friends












Live band playing at Mama Mias












Rooster and sky












Bread oven and paddle at one of the many great restaurants

All around the town you could see signs of people moving to San Miguel de Allende. There were a number new homes under construction as well as a 5-star resort and surrounding residential community. Although there seems to be a remarkable respect and acceptance between locals and foreigners, gentrification and the rising prices of homes and services are becoming an issue. As an example the most extravagant 5-bedroom townhome designed around the 5-star resort soon to come are expected to sell for more than 3 million US dollars. Of course there are much cheaper options, and the local construction industry has benefited from those who have decided to build their own house.












One of the many 4-wheeler cruising the town; used to deal with tight parking and steep hills












New home being constructed, all of brick and concrete












Workers hauling buckets of stone through narrow alleyways

San Miguel de Allende had a surprising amount of scenic beauty beyond its architecture and cobble stone streets. Within the courtyard of my favorite hotel (la Mansion del Bosque) you could see around 30 Egrets perched in an adjacent park. I didn't stay at the hotel but I had breakfast there most mornings enjoying the lush courtyards and rooftop views. On another outing I went hiking around the extensive botanical gardens. They weren't fancy but the landscape was beautiful and their was plenty to appreciate.












Egrets perched in nearby park












Barrel cactus and agaves at the botanical gardens












Nopal cactus and sky












Looking up at shrine in the botanical gardens












Canyon running through the botanical gardens












Old water pipe to town












Patched water pipe












Horse hanging out along the trail of the botanical gardens












Close up of horse












Close up of fence post cactus in a line

On my last day in San Miguel de Allende I was doing some work at an internet cafe when out of the blue a raucous parade went marching by. I dropped what was doing and ran ahead of the parade to check out the craziness. I didn't ask what it was all about, so your guess is as good as mine. Whatever they were celebrating their were definitely some characters in the crowd.












Parade marching through town












Girls dressed up to portray Jesus and angles













Girl dressed up as Jesus with makeup beard












Ghoulishly masked crowd following Jesus and the angles












Masks












Gorilla?












The odd couple












Parade ribbons hanging above the street












New tires and old buildings