San Miguel de Allende Mx ... some call it Heaven, others just call it Home
Rich Man, Poor Man...we can help you enjoy San Miguel in style!
Bring together your favourite travel companions, family or colleagues . . . we tailor and personalize your trip for a more eye-opening immersion of this magical colonial town.Call us directly 203-769-6958 or click Enticing Options above to help give you ideas about what things you are interested in doing and seeing while in San Miguel de Allende Mx. It offers you great things to do, the kinds of walks and day-trips we can book for you, things for your children to do, and a few luxury packages already put together to give you ideas. You will not pay more than if you took the time to find and book everything yourself.
Concierge's Note: Coming to San Miguel? Contact Us Or call these local, reliable individuals to rent your villa, small apartment with a view, or family home in place of a tourist laden Hotel
Enjoy your privacy and feel like you live here…
Robert Latta: Starting at:Sleeps 2: $700US/week–$4000/month. leeps 6: $1,500US/week–$2,500/month www.casaselegantes.com
For the best service and experience in Renting a Villa or Real Estate inquiries or a Tour of interesting properties for sale : contact Alexis Edelen directly www.boutiquerealtysanmiguel.com
Call Alexis at 415-738-0779 U.S
See more links to related interesting projects, activities, and info:
San Miguel Secrets
Special Words to Share from a Famous Expat who helped lay the strong Foundation of San Miguel's Art and Music Scene
In1542, the missionary Fray Juan de San Miguel established a tiny settlement known as San Miguel Viejo. It was a frontier outpost constantly threatened by hostile Indians. Spanish soldiers and families of Spanish settlers came and the new hamlet was moved to the slope of Moctezuma Hill where fresh springs provided water. Soon, a royal charter was created for the town known as San Miguel El Grande.For more than two and one half centuries, San Miguel thrived under the repressive but orderly rule of Spain, as it was a link on the silver route to Mexico City. In 1810 revolution flared, led by Captain Ignacio Allende of San Miguel and Father Miguel Hidalgo of the nearby town of Dolores. For eleven years the revolution was fought. Finally, after a Mexican victory over the Spanish, the town was renamed San Miguel de Allende, honoring Don Ignacio Allende, its greatest son and martyr to freedom.
Travel writers have often called San Miguel "the prettiest town inMexico".
That remark has become a cliche. Yet, like all cliches, it has basis in fact. San Miguel is the most charming of all Mexican towns. Today, its chief fame is as an art center and home to hundreds of foreign residents, not artistic themselves, but attracted by the atmosphere the arts create. Most of these residents are fiercely partisan about their community, quickly pointing out that although many tourists visit, its real life goes on quietly but busily behind the unrevealing walls of its homes and gardens. A stranger who harps on the defects of living here is likely to be met with a cold stare and a classic retort. "Of course, San Miguel is not perfect -- it is merely heaven."
Written by Stirling Dickinson, Brandeburgh Press, November 1969.
The Church of San Francisco
CHRISTMAS is celebrated with the values of yesteryear in San Miguel.
From the 16th to the 24th of December, various neighbourhoods as well as the main churches offer magical candlelit posadas, a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's looking for room at the inn. When finally the doors are opened, you are welcomed in with piñatas, tamales and rich atole––a tasty, traditional drink made from corn. Nativity scenes play a much larger role than the near-non-existant Santa Claus. Bells toll, families gather for church and traditional foods, music wafts around the town, all within a gentle, stress-free atmosphere.
CANDELARIA (February)
In San Miguel de Allende, the Feast of Candlemas is celebrated in the churches.
Candelaria is the Christianized name for the holiday, celebrated as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lighting and blessing of candles takes place but sometime ago in San Miguel history it became the day of plants and new growth. Flowers and plants are the symbol of light and hope. The fields are tilled for the upcoming growing season and the harsh days of winter are coming to a close. It therefore has become the unofficial day of spring––February 2.
It appeared first in the market with a hometown display of plants brought from the country and gardens near San Miguel. Then it became so large it was moved to the Jardín. Now San Miguel celebrates one whole week or longer with a dazzling display of all varieties of plants, flowers and shrubs brought from markets from all over Mexico. Added to the day are the selling of pots, dirt, fertilizer and everyone meets early each day to purchase their new plants for new and old gardens. The Parque Juárez s a glorious pallet of color and a complete joy to behold. At the same time appear paper maché dolls and flowers and the famous cascarones...eggshells brightly decorated filled with confetti...used for playful pranks!
SEMANA SANTA (Easter)
The final days of Jesus' life on earth are honoured and remembered with their live re-enactment in the streets of San Miguel, acted out by its citizens from all walks of life, from the arrest of Jesus by Pontius Pilat and his judgement, the "Seven Stages of the Cross", to the streets of San Miguel being lined with hundreds of hand-held lanterns at his funeral. This is a very grand experience.
DÍA DE LOS LOCOS (3rd Sunday in June)
All those who have had prayers answered by Saint Antonio have given their solemn promise to dance all day in costume to honour him and acknowledge his gift. This unusual and colourful parade lasts all day and is either attended or danced by all Sanmiguelenses. This is a great photo opportunity!
Espresion En Corto- International Short Film Festival
The call for entries for the twelfth edition of Expresión en Corto closed on May 1st, 2009.
All greatly appreciate the participation which again exceeded all expectations, receiving more than 2,000 films from 84 countries as well as 29 states within Mexico.
The judges are currently reviewing all the submissions. A complete list of selected films will be published in the "program" section of the website www.espresionencorto.com by early July. In the meantime, please check the website for other calls and news.
Chamber Music Festival
Plan a trip to coincied with the 31st San Miguel Chamber Music Festival. This years dates are Wednesday, August 5th to Sunday the 16th.
September 15-16th-Mexican Independence Celebration
Thousands gather in the main square on the evening of the 15th of September under fireworks and firecrackers to reenact the call to arms (el Grito) of the War of Independence with Spain in 1810. The following day, the 16th that independence is celebrated as a national holiday with a parade and more fireworks.
Now Cancelled due to risk of losing UNESCO designation...SANMIGUELADA (the third week of September).
Young men and women and the not-so-young, come from all over Mexico and other nearby countries to test their nimbleness and courage in the streets with the running of the bulls. The streets around the centre garden are blocked off and 6 full size fighting bulls are turned loose for an hour in the midday sun...a Mexican version of the running of the bulls to the bullring in Pamplona, Spain...but these Mexican bulls can and do change direction at will. It is possible to have them coming at you from both directions at the same time...
The celebration of the City's patron Saint San Miguel, called "La Alborada"
The actual date is the 29th of September but it is always pushed to the closest weekend as it begins with the loudest fireworks of all the celelbrations at exactly 4:00am. It is a fabulous fiesta as it is trully local and everyone from San Miguel goes. This is one time that the real folk of SanMiguel fill the Jardin at 4am and scream with joy at the top of their lungs, "Viva San Miguel". This incredible love for their town and their country fills your heart in a way that only being there can possibly describe. Come and be part of it...his celebration continues until the 2nd or 3rd of October with the Alborada, a festival of fireworks in the early hours of the morning where the church fires at the Presidencia (town hall) and the town hall fires back at the church over the centre square. Dancing and celebrating lasts all night that night in the streets of San Miguel.
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CERVANTINO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (October)
The Cervantino Festival each year brings the world's best performing and plastic artists to exhibit/perform in nearby Guanajuato City. Don't miss the chance to see world-class art if you plan to visit during October....let San Miguel Concierge make the arrangements for you. See more about the Cervantino Festival at www.cnca.gob.mx/cnca/buena/cervantino/html/
DAY OF THE DEAD (November 1st and 2nd)
This unique Mexican celebration is officially November 1 & 2 in San Miguel de Allende.
Any local will tell you "we do not fear death...we celebrate it and look death directly in the face." The celebration history is a mixture of Roman Catholic Holy Days: All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day with a mixture of Indian culture that is so deeply rooted in all of Mexico. In San Miguel it is a day of family celebration and reunion. The children are honoured on All Saints' Day as it is the Day of the Angels. On the Day of the Dead it is a family reunion with altars, flowers, music, grave cleaning and family gatherings at the cemetery. The Jardín is covered with altars to the Dead and one special person is honored each year with the largest of the Altars erected by the city government. Many other altars are displayed around the entire Jardín and the streets are paved with flowers and designs of sand and colour. A trip to the cemeteries is a must as mass is celebrated every 30 minutes and the families of the dead gather with food and drink to celebrate the life of their dearly departed. It is a colourful, happy occasion and teaches us the dignity of the dead as the Mexican people show how they are gone but never forgotten. Bring a photo of a loved one and learn how to make your altar along with the rest of San Miguel!
Festival of Dance
Flamenco Tango Salsa
Several times during the year, but primarily in the fall, dance troops visit San Miguel that are of world class quality. You may also want private classes for your group and then join the freebees in town that are well-attended. Combine that with enjoying top live music in town every night!
In 1810 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla initiated the bid for Mexican independence with his Grito de Dolores, yelling words to the effect of "Death to the Spaniards and long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!" When Hidalgo's mestizo-indigenous army attacked Guanajuato and Valladolid, they placed "the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which was the insignia of their enterprise, on sticks or on reeds painted different colors" and "they all wore a print of the Virgin on their hats." Royalists responded by putting Guadalupe's image on the soles of their shoes.
When Hidalgo died, leadership of the revolution fell to a mestizo priest named Jose Maria Morelos who led insurgent troops in the Mexican south. Morelos was also a Guadalupan partisan: he made the Virgin the seal of his Congress of Chilpancingo, stating "New Spain puts less faith in its own efforts than in the power of God and the intercession of its Blessed Mother, who appeared within the precincts of Tepeyac as the miraculous image of Guadalupe that had come to comfort us, defend us, visibly be our protection."
He inscribed the Virgin's feast day, December 12, into the Chilpancingo constitution, and declared that Guadalupe was the power behind his military victories.
Dec 12th is one of the most special days of the year in Mexico, and in San Miguel.
Every
day in San Miguel there is something extraordinary to eat
One should
know that real Mexican cuisine is not what is known in
the United States or abroad.Here in San Miguel the exquisite culture
of Mexican cuisine is still taken seriously...in the homes, in the restaurants
and in the streets...breakfast, desayuno, begins to unfold
early in the morning with fresh sweet breads and coffee, develops into almuerzo by 10 or 11. Everyone
takes a break around 10-11am for the real breakfast, even the schools.
\Eggs appear in more extraordinary ways than you could imagine: stone mason's
eggs, eggs Motuleños, Malageñas, between sheets of cheese,
scrambled with fresh veggies and chiles, and, of course, Mexico's answer
to French Toast – chilaquiles (yesterdays tortillas crisply fried
and drizzled generously with salsa, cream and cheese). Many
say that this hour is the best time to go out as the breakfast menu is
so varied and so delicious and must be enjoyed in sun dappled windows
or colonial patios. Comida is always a feast of
several courses... soups or creams, rice, tender morsels of meat or chicken
cooked to perfection in any of a variety of fresh salsas, salads, soft,
musky beans and always a sweet at the end. Food takes a long time to enjoy
here in San Miguel...several hours (2 to 4 usually)...shops close, everyone
goes home to enjoy the main meal of the day...sometimes even the taxi
drivers. And savouring the culinary doesn't stop here...there is still cena (supper) and merienda (a snack)...
Let us tell you where to eat the best food of your life...
Almost every day is a wonderful day to visit San Miguel...almost every day there is something breathtakingly beautiful, something quirky, something amazing...even joyous and often moving.
Come prepared to enrich your view of life!
See the special fiesta dates and San MIguel de Allende Activities on the SanMiguel de Allende Calendar and check our blog for the status how each year's event will unfold. Be sure to book your trip at just the time of the events you want to be part of!
The dates will be fixed but this is Mexico, everything is last minuteand can change last minute.
Call us directly or check our blog for updates and special extras, we blog as they appear...
Click Here or on the Knocker for Reservations
San Miguel de Allende, Gto Mexico is magical, historical, timeless… a haven for artists, intellectuals, musicians and a different life style…time beats to a different drummer. Make sure you see behind those beautiful doors…absorb the culture.
The road less-traveled can be so rewarding…often the best things to do are the biggest secrets. We send you in the right direction and make sure you have access to those first world comforts for the moments you may need them.
