Travelogue by Mercy Maliglig
The municipality is located in the eastern part of the state of Guanajuato in Central Mexio, 274 kilometres from Mexico City. To get to San Miguel, one has to fly to Mexico City International Airport and catch another flight to Queretaro Airport.
Most foreign residents are retirees from the United States and Canada, attracted to the place due to its mild climate, cultural opportunities and low crime rate. Currently there are 110,000 foreign nationals that are settled in San Miguel de Allende. Most of them own homes in Mexico where they come to escape the harsh winter weather.
La Parrochia de San Miguel Archangel is the parish church and the
emblem of the town. It has a most impressive facade classified as Neo
gothic The church was built in the 17th Century with a traditional Mexican
facade, but was improved by Zeferrino Gutierrez in1880. He was an
indigenous bricklayer and a self taught architect. Believed to be inspired
by post cards and lithographs from Europe, the interpretation was his own
and a more work of imagination than a faithful reconstruction.
The interior of the church is not as impressive as the outside, I even
heard from some tourists that it is a disappointment. With tiles falling
apart, from the steps to the altar, the walls and the floors. The church
has been looted several times during Mexico’s history and lots of its
prized paintings and decorations were lost. One significant image inside
the church is the “Senor de la Conquista”, significant because it is made
of cornstalk paste by indigenous people.
In the front of the church complex, across the street, in the Plaza
Allende is the “Jardin Principal” or the main garden. It is designed in French style with wrought iron benches and filled with well trimmed laurel trees. This is where most tourists congregate to pause from walking or shopping. All around the church, the front, the left and the right of the church are small boutiques with extensive collection of Mexican and imported items.
The plaza is a good and cool place to relax for a drink whether it is a cup of coffee from the nearby American coffee shop or just plain bottled water. I summed it up as a happy place, the bright smile and the pleasant looks of well-dressed people walking around is a live testimony. Everyone looks happy and free of stress.
I had to brush up on my Spanish because storekeepers cannot or do not want to speak English which is a reminder of Paris, France where people even waiters in the restaurants do not speak English. You are dependent on the menu and good luck to you if you order the right one.
My designated chaperon who is supposed to be a second year architecture student does not speak English as well. I figure the medium of instruction in school must be Mexican Spanish.
There is only one person I found who speaks very good English, even his accent is close to perfect. it is the limo driver himself. While I struggle with my Spanish trying to communicate with him, I heard him spoke in perfect English to someone I found that to be really funny. When I asked him how he learned to speak English that well, he smiled and all he said was that it pays the bill.
In a foreign place it is a relief when you find someone who you can
communicate with no hindrance. Ninety per cent of the population professes Catholic faith, the rest divided among Protestants and Evangelical groups.
The remaining 10 % are the Otomis and Nahuas. According to census only 355 people speak indigenous language.
The local marketplace is very similar to the Philippines in set up, abundant of wide varieties of fruits, veggies and gorgeous fresh cut flowers. They also sell homemade cooked goodies, tamales and the likes but we were afraid to touch them no matter how delectable they look, not knowing what effect they will have on our digestion.
If you are looking for high end stores, San Miguel de Allende is not the place for you. On the other hand, they provide an array of art galleries and knick knack stores where you can spend hours browsing, you might even be tempted to pick up a few things if weight is not an issue for you. Everything you touch carries weight.
This is San Miguel de Allende in a nut shell, some of the reasons why
Americans and Canadians are convinced to move there.