RVing in Mexico with Raymondo y Marsia -2012

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Lunes (Monday), 27 Febrero, we left our hilltop home above Guanajuato and headed east to the city that is considered by many to be the crown jewel of colonial Mexican villages - San Miguel de Allende (pronounced ah-YEHN-day). San Miguel is second only in popularity with former American and Canadian residents to the Guadalajara/Lake Chapala area. The population of San Miguel is about 80,000. Expatriate norteamericanos make up about ten percent of the population.

We are settled into the small San Miguel RV Park, otherwise known as Weber’s. Our landlord Han’s German grandfather settled here years ago. Han’s dad was an American – born in Nebraska - his mother is Mexican. Dad passed away a few years ago. Mom helps around the park.

Hans speaks excellent English. His tiled bathrooms are immaculate, the water is hot with excellent pressure and he recognizes the need for clothes hooks and somewhere to place shampoo and soap. Curiously, these amenities are generally overlooked in campgrounds on both sides of the border. (We’ve always wondered if our campground hosts have ever actually used their restrooms.) Internet reaches all RVs, the neighbors are friendly and we are within easy walking distance of the city. No wonder, this is the most popular RV park in colonial Mexico for norteamericanos and Europeans.

We caught up with Bill and Jane whom we traveled with last year. Jane is the ultra liberal, lady labor attorney from Lake Oswego, Oregon who created the web site www.gringodogs.com to promote pet-friendly travel in the U.S. and Mexico. Their pictures and blogs are still available but they sold the site and it is now www.gringodog.com (singular). Anyway, Bill and Jane are spending the entire winter here in San Miguel, studying Spanish and teaching English to locals.

Our second night here, George, a park neighbor, organized a pizza party along the park’s main drag. It was fun visiting with everybody.

George is involved with a group called Patronato Pro Ninos which raises money to provide health and dental care for poor Mexican children. One of the ways they raise money is by conducting walking tours of the city. Most of the workers, like George, are volunteers but they do have a few paid positions for Mexican employees. Doctors and dentists work for reduced fees. Fluent Spanish volunteers go out into neighboring villages to talk to school officials and parents about these programs. They have medical and dental vans which they take out into the communities. On site preventive care is free or costs whatever the parents can afford to pay.

We joined George’s walking tour yesterday morning. It was very educational. San Miguel de Allende is named in part for Ignacio Allende, a local boy who is considered to be Mexico’s George Washington. The fight for Mexican independence began in nearby Doloras Hildago, spread to Guanajuato (where we just came from) and then here to San Miguel. Mexican history is beginning to make sense to us.

Many people criticize San Miguel de Allende for being “too gringo” but George told our group that there are about fifty non-profit organizations operating within this city and unlike other cities, here, if one wants to get involved with helping Mexicans, the infrastructure is already in place.

Interestingly, a family in our walking tour group is in the process of moving here from Kailua, Hawaii.

Viernes (Friday) was a day we’ll never forget. Indigenous dancers came down out of the mountains to showcase their costumes and compete in dance contests here in San Miguel de Allende. Michelle had read about this event and we all scheduled our plans to be settled in here to attend this event which none of us will never forget.

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Photos

Called La Parroquia, the parish church, was built in the late 1600s in a plain Franciscan style.
Officially named Parroquia de San Miguel Arciangel.

There was a quinceaneria just beginning when we stopped by to take pictures. You may be able to see the honoree in the red dress in front of the altar.
We returned to downtown on Sunday to get pictures of all the churches. Mass was in session everywhere.

Comments

[Candy Dooper]

Beautiful costumes!
Wow...those costumes are so impressive. I'm always so impressed with the Native American dancers' costumes but these are so much more elaborate. Just beautiful. That's so cool that you were able to arrange your travels to be in San Miguel during their festival. I tried to access your most recent post but it was deleted. Are you aware of that?

[LunaSea]

Thanks for telling me. I'll check into it. We have had a lot of trouble posting blogs this year. It has taken up so much time.

[umesh]

great
yes its very inspirational

[sergio]

Where can I buy these?

[LunaSea]

You asked where beads worn by native dancers could be purchased. I have no idea. Sorry

[LunaSea]

you asked where painted planters mad from tires could be purchased. They were very popular in Panama. We bought our in the village of El Valle.