http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , Mexico , Guanajuato , San Miguel de Allende en-us Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:20:16 +0000 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:20:16 +0000 For anyone going to San Miguel de Allende and needing transportation to and from the Airports in Queretaro Leon or Mexico City or to other towns and sights to see in the area we highly recommend Reyes Ortiz.He is not only a very pleasant person but a good businessman. He speaks very good English is very knowledgeable and informative of San Miguel de Allende and the other cities towns and attr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-441111.html Contrary to the assurances given to us by most people we met north of the border in the USA we have survived a week in Mexico and have neithera Been struck down by a vicious mutant form of the swine flu virus.Norb Been riddled with machine gun crossfire after being caught up in a savage battle between the military and the narcoterrorists.Furthermore I have been trying out my Spanish on the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-434121.html San Miguel de Allende is a well known city for foreigners. There have been many Americans living here for a long time. It is a smaller city than Guanajuato and filled with galleries run by local artists. We took the bus and headed downtown. Immediately it is noticeable that everything downtown is a bit more upscale than in Guanajuato and geared more for tourists with prices to match. We st http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-423174.html Itrsquos been a while since I last wrote but Irsquove been really busy and recently sick with lsquothe revengersquo and time has just flown. Busy may seem like an oxymoron here in Mexico since our perception in America is of a more laid back existence which is still true to some extent except for us crazy gringos and some hardworking Mexicans.To start with I volunteered to help the San http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-415426.html This has been a very exciting week for us and especially me Last weekend we were invited out with our friends Maggie and Gene to a gallery in the country about 45 minutes from San Miguel. The gallery is called Galeria Atotonilco and is owned by a ceramic artist named Mayer Shacter. He and his author wife Susan Page Why Talking Is Not Enough How One of You Can Bring the Two of You Together http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-408911.html Its 630 Sunday morning and therersquos a cacophony of fireworks in the distance a common sound in Mexico in the otherwise quiet predawn hours. Last night in a small cement ring not far from our condo there was a bullfight. Dignitaries had been flown in on helicopters that came and went throughout the afternoon. On our way out of town we saw tables being set up with stark white tablecloth http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-401753.html We've been officially living in San Miguel now for one week. My husband Doug and I arrived last Sat. after a long and hot drive from Cave Creek Az across boring Texas and one tire blowout down to Laredo which seemed like the safest border crossing at the moment and then across the vast hot unchanging desert that is part of Mexico until finally we stopped at a little 1930's style hotel call http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-399675.html What is there to say about our last moments in San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato So many kinds of emotions are rushing all around us that it is pretty hard to even see straight. We have left our usual and fairly predictable lives in San Francisco to move to this gem of Mexico and never really know what the next minute holds for us. We could be walking home from lunch and run into a long funera http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-392575.html Alright so it's been a week or so since I last updated and I need to finish my Semana Santa excursions. I have had a couple of tests and homeworks that have been taking up my time because remember I have classes here too it's not just play. Now this entry is about my 4th day of my break 2nd day in the state of Guanajuato.So we started Thursday off early. We got ready and started to head o http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-392239.html On Sunday morning we overslept. The time jumped an hour ahead in the middle of the night and I had misread an article about what time processions start for Palm Sunday. We rushed to get ready and head out the door. We jumped in the first taxi we saw and were let out a couple blocks away from San Francisco church but we noticed the streets were almost completely empty. We were really confused http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-388334.html March has been a very busy month for us here in San Miguel. It seems like our adventures rarely slow down for very long and that is something I am grateful for everyday.One of our most amazing adventures was the invitation from our maid Maria Luz to come out to her familyrsquos rancho for an afternoon of carnitas. Our friends from the east coast Aaron and Beth were visiting at the time bu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-388042.html I love Valentine's Day. To me it is more than just for lovers but also for friends. I remember in school sending Candy Grams to all of my friends and hoping that I would get one from a secret admirer. The excitement in my heart lasted the whole day. Here in San Miguel I can see the school children are going through the same thing.As Ronnie and I walk down the streets we see many giggling http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-373348.html Today was Constitution Day observed so the university was closed. Rosita and I took a bus to San Miguel de Allende. Even though we spent last weekend right nearby on a ranch we didn't make it to the city proper so it was a good day to explore. We took a city bus downtown and headed straight for the mercado to try the food. We went to one food stand and shared a beer then to another wher http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-371409.html Even though it is still chilly here in the mornings and at night...Spring is here in Mexico. Every year at this time San Miguel celebrates with the Feria de Candelaria. It means Candle Mass or the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and is also for the Virgin of Candelaria. The main park in the city Parque Juarez becomes filled with plant and flower vendors from all over Mex http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-370657.html Our first week here in town came and went like a good tequila. Aside from shopping here and there for various apartment items we ended up walking to a lot of events we would have otherwise shrugged off.First off I joined up doing belly dancing again. I did Tribal belly dancing for a short time in college. I saw that there was a dance studio only one block from our place. When I checked out t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-368573.html It has been a long time since I last published on this blog and I am sorry about that. BUT With this long break we have some exciting news we have a new casita.Letrsquos back track a little bit. Last week our great friend Dianne invited us to stay in Casa Luna. One night turned into three turned to one week. Our week in Centro was fantastic. We went to our studio to work during the day http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-366351.html As always the whirlwind of holidays have come and gone. The Jardin has been decorated and the flickering Christmas lights are still around the little houses in our colonia. I always dread having to take down the Christmas tree...but it is that time.I think the most amazing thing we saw this holiday was at our little gordita restaurant down the street. We went for breakfast one morning and enjo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-360859.html It's my second year of having Thanksgiving away from my family. Last year I was in New Jersey with Ronnie's folks. This year I am in the middle of Mexico. But to say that I was away from family doesn't feel right either. Last year I was with Ronnie's wonderful family who always treat me like one of their own. This year I was with my new international family. The magic of the holiday and th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-349475.html It has been really cold lately here in SMA. Everyone is wearing puffy jackets and scarves but cold weather never stoped a great Mexican Celebration nor a Parade...I think in fact nothing can stop them. Yesterday was the aniversario of the start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. The conflict lasted until around 1920 and many legendary Mexican heroes were involved Pancho Villa Emiliano Zapa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-347259.html Halloween is always tied for me with Christmas for favorite holiday of the yearhellip.well I really love Thanksgiving toohellipanyways Halloween is only kind of celebrated in Mexico. The holiday here is called Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead. We bought all the items to make our alter to our loved ones Marigolds candles pan de muerto sugar skulls and sheep a cup of water a pl http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Guanajuato/San-Miguel-de-Allende/blog-341331.html