When people ask me to name my favorite place in the world, I always say “it depends on the criteria.” But I am staying in a place right now that meets almost any criteria.
San Miguel de Allende, about 4 hours drive northwest of Mexico City, seems to have magically leveraged ever
y one of its advantages to become a nearly perfect place to live and visit. Its 60,00 residents and many more tourists enjoy a nearly perfect climate, miles of cobblestone streets, historic buildings in warm colors, and music around every corner. Weekends are full of small happy parades, church bells and fire works. Thousands of writers, artists, intellectuals and musicians are on one side or the other of daily author events, concerts, films and art galleries. Cultural diversity is celebrated and the countryside is full of horses.
There is something here that has tuned out the rest of the troubled world. No wonder San Miguel been called the best city in the world by travel experts (and my sister Kathy, who lived here in the 1970s.)
San Miguel’s mask museum tells a thousand stories of Mexican heritage
The city was originally settled by Friar Juan de San Miguel in the 16th century, and prospered with the mining of silver. It was colonized by Spaniards until Mexico gained its independence in 1821. Today it remains authentically Mexican but it’s loaded with aging gringos. Some find that to be San Miguel’s only flaw but, realistically, it is part of what distinguishes this city. Left-leaning retirees help support the local economy and the arts, and they do a lot of volunteer work as well.
There is art and wearable art for every budget in San Miguel. These custom made boots start at about $400. But I bought a pair of San Pedro beauties for $50.
Detail of one of hundreds of indoor and outdoor murals around the city
Hats are a thing here because of the intense sun at 6,000 feet altitude.
Lots of great food, Mexican, updated Mexican and almost everything else
One cafe owner has made a name for himself entertaining the rest of us with his humorous jabs at US politics.
View outside the window of my first apartment.
Thousands of locals and tourists gather every day in El Jardin to enjoy the music and the food and each other. 
And San Miguel seems to be a continuous fiesta of one kind or another. Here are a few shots of today’s parade. 
San Miguel esta en mi corazon tambien!
Camino Milagro 
Looks wonderful I have always wanted to go there.
It is even better than the hype 🙂
Remarkable pictures. Sounds like a wonderful slice of Spaceship Earth!
Yep
Your blogs are becoming so professional Kim! Beautiful photos and so many neat things to do there. I love how rich the colors are.
Abrazos Mikhail
Loved reading this, Kim! Fantastic photos. You captured San Miguel so perfectly, it almost makes me feel like I’m there. 😉
Haha — so glad you are for me part of “el alma de SMA”
Brings back memories!
Gotta love the colors. Who could be blue surrounded by all that brightness!!! Beautiful pix.
Yes, it’s a photographer’s dream. I only have my iphone — next time, real camera!
I remember you mentioned this city before plus I’ve read about it too. Love the photos! Especially love the t-shirt with all the great Trump buttons. 😀
Not many Trump voters here!
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=203298216
Another story about San Miguel de Allende. I experienced a similar assault in 1975 when I was an art student at the Instituto Allende. Beautiful place that also has a dark history.
Sorry to hear about what happened. . There are dangers everywhere for sure. Hey I went to your website — gorgeous!
Thanks Kim! I went back to SMA in 1996 and had a great time. A large textile piece about my experience living there in 1975 came out of that trip. It was very healing to go back. The worst part of my experience was how it kept me from doing my art for about 15 years until I returned to art school in the 90’s and finally received my degree in textiles.
Enjoy!
Radio interview: https://m.mixcloud.com/myndtalkwithdrpamelabrewer/myndtalk-survivor-melanie-hofmann/
Thank you for visiting and following my blog. I loved your photos and I’m anxious to view more of your travels.
Thank you Anne! I love your photos too!
Reblogged this on Craig's Travel Blog and commented:
“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go…”
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
~ Saint Augustine. …
“Not all those who wander are lost”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien. …
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”
~ Helen Keller. …
“Take only memories, leave only footprints”
~ Chief Seattle.
http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com
Thanks for dropping by and the reblog!