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jennifer rose

Mar 8, 2007, 9:22 PM

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San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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What are your essential must-sees in San Miguel?

esperanza

Mar 8, 2007, 9:35 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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The salida sign.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

sfmacaws

Mar 9, 2007, 12:04 AM

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Re: [esperanza] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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and if you miss it, just say REFOC.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

bournemouth

Mar 9, 2007, 6:28 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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Gente - I'm subscribe to the belief that these putdowns of places that many people have chosen to live are petty and counter productive. Different strokes for different folks - where is your tolerance? I'm fairly sure that you, Esperanza and you, Jonna expect tolerance from other people and in turn give it to people.

Now - back to Jennifer's original question please.

Gringal

Mar 9, 2007, 9:02 AM

Post #5 of 13 (5090 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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I'm going to put on my "resident of San Miguel" hat and ignore the smart remarks.

Your reaction to San Miguel depends on what you're looking for and what you happen to run into when you're there.
If you hit Harry's bar and find yourself seated next to some loudmouths bragging about house flipping profits after too many twofer martinis, you'll be ready to leave before you've looked around. So, don't go there, or to any of the other tourist hot spots.

Take a walking tour, starting at the famous Jardin in the middle of Centro. Start very early before the square fills up. Visit the famous church across the street. It has a good feeling inside. At lucky times, the bells will ring. Wander over a block to the Parrochia restaurant on Jesus and have breakfast. Yum. Then, just walk around the eight blocks of Centro and appreciate the architecture.
Go down Aldama street to Juarez park and watch the kids in the playground. Admire the greenery and rest on a shady bench. When you get hungry, walk down to Ancha San Antonio to the Institute Allende. Go into the patio and find the little L'Invito restaurant for some organic Italian Slow Food. The quiet in the patio is a sharp contrast to the busy streets outside.

If you'd like to see the Mexican aspect of town, go to the San Juan de Dios market on Guadalupe. You won't run into many gringos in those shops. In fact, that whole section is missing the McMansions that are springing up in other areas. There are a few retired NOB folks. Definitely not the ostentatious type. That's my personal part of San Miguel where I perch in the upstairs mirador and enjoy the setting sun sriking gold against the downtown walls. San Miguel is all about the light. Enjoy it.

It's a beautiful place with a magic found in few others. Sadly, it is rapidly losing the charm Tony Cohan described so well in "On Mexican Time" about San Miguel back in the eighties. Now it has become a victim of its own success.

I'm leaving San Miguel soon. There are things that I will miss. I've desribed them above so you won't miss them, too. They're my favorites.

sfmacaws

Mar 9, 2007, 11:27 AM

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Re: [Gringal] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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Sorry for the private joke. So, I will add to Gringal's excellent response that you should not miss going out to Atotonilco. The chapel and compound there is beyond description, incredible.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

esperanza

Mar 9, 2007, 11:53 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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Yes, I too apologize for being flip. San Miguel de Allende is a colonial gem and all of us should visit there.

However, it's not a city I want to visit frequently or live in, hence the flip remark.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Gringal

Mar 9, 2007, 12:27 PM

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Re: [sfmacaws] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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....and while in Atontonilco, don't miss out on buying one of those cute flagellation whips in case some unpleasant guests drop in.

Amazing place. A must see.

jerezano

Mar 10, 2007, 8:19 AM

Post #9 of 13 (5017 views)

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Re: [Gringal] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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Hello,

And while you visit the Paroquía there in SMA as Gringal suggested, be sure and visit the tomb of the 3rd President of Mexico located in the basement. Not because it's spectacular, it isn't, but just because it's there.

So many people are not aware of its location.

Adiós. jerezano

donnameyer

Apr 29, 2007, 9:00 PM

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Re: [jerezano] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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I echo Gringal's suggestions and will add a few more.

My personal "must see" is the botanical Garden -- "El Charco del Ingenio" on the edge of town. There is a guided walking tour every Tuesday, but it's wonderful at any time, alone or with others. On most full moon nights, there is a ceremony at the Plaza of the Four Winds there.

Be sure and visit one or more of the hot springs just out of town, on the road to Dolores. I personally like La Gruta.

Ditto on the idea of breakfast/brunch at Cafe La Parroquia, especially on a Sunday. Also, ditto on the visit to the market at San Juan de Dios.

The Tuesday Market is another "must see." Take a big shopping bag and some cash and nothing else. Rifle through the second-hand clothes (I once picked up a Donna Karan sweater for two pesos!), listen to the Mexican music blaring, eat a taco, and just soak it all in. This is where you are really in Mexico.

Try to arrange to be there for one of the major fiestas with fireworks in the Jardin, too.

Then have comida or dinner at El Ten Ten Pie -- and say hi to Juan, the owner.

Donna
www.experience-san-miguel-de-allende.com

Anonimo

Apr 30, 2007, 1:33 AM

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Re: [donnameyer] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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I was majorly underwhelmed by the Tuesday Market. (There last week)
True, it's big, but I found the fresh foods offerings to be the same old stuff you see anywhere. The dust around the place, and other aspects of the prepared food stalls made me generally leery of trying anything. I did buy some nuts and seeds and a roasted camote.
It does look like a good place for shoppers of inexpensive clothing.
Here http://picasaweb.google.com/...#5059134244061557410 is a photo of the biggest trompe of tacos al pastor meat I've ever seen; in the Tuesday market. Any mass of meat that large, neither cooked nor refrigerated, should be avoided to protect your health.

Among the many things I do like about SMA are the restaurants, (we ate ate "Hecho en México"), the balnearios (out on the Dolores Hidalgo highway http://picasaweb.google.com/...#5059134166752146066, where we spent a very enjoyable afternoon.

Saludos,
Anonimo

Gringal

Apr 30, 2007, 9:08 AM

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Re: [Anonimo] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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You have to have a certain personality type to enjoy the Tuesday market. If you like the ambiance of crowded bin-diving in a major dept. store sale, it's great. A friend scored fine bargains on clothing there. Not for me, thanks. Too hot, too crowded, too much of it. I also agree about the food situation. Uh-uh. Insect heaven.

Ten-ten pie has vegetarian burritos that are very tasty. I used to order mine without the beans; extra mushrooms and cheese. Double yum award. Soup's good, too.

The Charco del Ingenio is a not-to-be missed. I can't report first hand, but my husband and visiting son went at the first light on their own and brought home wonderful pictures.

MazDee

Apr 30, 2007, 10:10 PM

Post #13 of 13 (4794 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende Must-sees?

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I agree that El Charco del Ingenio is wonderful. If one were there at the right time of year, a visit to Sterling Dickinson's (is that the right name?) home would be great, to see the orchids. Whenever I visit SMA I like to include at least one Sunday so I can do one of the Library's house tours. Living over here on the frontier (Mazatlán), I also think it is fun to try some restaurants.