Thursday, June 23, 2016

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - THE place to be in the summer

For all of those of you simmering in the Southwest or drowning in sweat in the South, pay attention to this message.  There IS a better way.

Come to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to escape the summer heat.  Located at 6400 ft. elevation (that's about 1000 ft. above Denver give or take a few), the humidity is low and the temps are moderate.  To be
more specific the humidity hovers in the twenty percentile, even though this is our rainy season.  The temperatures are in the low 80's during the day and mid 50's at night.  How long has it been since you've been able to sleep with windows and doors open at night to feel a cool breeze?  It is possible here.  I know because I do so every night.

How do you get here?  Most fly on the many airlines who fly into Leon (BJX) or Queretaro (QRO).  Those airports are about a 45 minute drive from San Miguel which does not have an airport.    There is a shuttle service that charges about $29USD to be picked up at the airport and delivered to your door in San Miguel.  Bajiogo Shuttle is the name.

Where to stay?  There are many hotels, b&bs, private homes to rent, both short term or long term and now AirBnB places.  A website to see all hotels is www.allmexicohotels.com.  Private homes would be www.vrbo.com.  And whatever Airbnb's site is.  Rentals can also be found on Craigslist under the state of Guanajuato.

What to do?  As much or as little as you want.  There are the pyramids outside of town,  thermal baths,
horseback riding, hiking, but more then any of that, San Miguel is about "being".  About slowing down and taking time to talk with people that you see in a cafe or on the bench in the jardin.  It's about walking the streets and popping in and out of the over three hundred restaurants in town or the many shops.  The mercado which hosts many artisans and is a few  blocks long is a delight to walk through as well.

There is always music, either in the restaurants, in the theaters, or in the jardin on the weekends.  It is easy to get swept up into the casual, relaxing and comfortable lifestyle.

In fact, and I'm not kidding, so many people end up buying a home here the first week they are in town that when we meet a newbie, we ask how long they've been in town and then we ask, "Have you bought a home yet?"  I'm always, always astonished at how many answer in the affirmative.

San Miguel was named the #1 Destination by Conde Nast a few years ago.  In addition, it received UN World Heritage site designation status in 2008.  The architecture both in San Miguel and in the nearby village of Atotonilco are from the 17th and 18th century!

Come on down.  We'd love to welcome you.  If anyone asks how you heard about it, say you read it on Babsblog.   Here are a few photos of this lovely walking village.





Hope to see you on the bench in the jardin or in a coffee shop or on the street.  If so, say hi or just wave.

Viva Mexico!


5 comments:

sylvia said...

I am looking forward to our visit very soon! Is the mercado every day? If I see you I will be sure to say hi!

Peter Kouwenhoven said...

A beautiful place, and we long to go back...

Unknown said...

Funny we resisted buying a house but San Miguel sure has its hooks in us. We are back almost four months now after spending three months there and we must think or mention San Miguel almost daily. Barbara please say hi to the gang and tell them we miss them dearly.
Cheers from a very wet and cold Vancouver BC, according the weather gods we will soon see lots of sunshine!

Retired Teacher said...

Back in the days when I was teaching, my trips to Mexico would, of course, always be during summer vacation. People would ask me, "But isn't it terribly hot down there?" I would tell them, "No, I go down there to escape the summer heat in Ohio."

k; said...

A lovely post!
Thanks so much.
Yolanda