San Miguel de Allende Forum: What do you love about San Miguel de Allende?

free salsa lessons at Mama's bar on Tues/Wed nights

The colors in SMA always awe me. And it's large enough to explore, small enough to not get lost (too often).

The food is excellent, with a wide range of prices, you can safely drink the water in most of the restaurants, and put ice in your drink.

SMA is a real city, not a Disneyland - people really live here, and you are always aware of this. You're also aware that there are no neon signs, nor are there national chains, in the old colonial part of town, which includes the Jardin - the plaza of San Miguel.

The shopping is great - from souvenirs and crafts at the Artisans' Mercado to the upscale clothing stores.

We're looking forward to our 4th visit in 4 years - going back in Sept. for the Independence Day celebrations - which will be loud with those explosive Mexican fireworks (often at 3 or 4 in the morning), but filled with excitement.

I love that you can walk everywhere. I always feel safe. I love the food. I love that I can eat anything I want when I am there and I never gain weight because I am walking everywhere.

I love the markets and the elote stands and the garbanza beans with chile and the huge avocados and the fruit like chirimora and fresh squeezed mandarin juice. I like to buy flowers for every room in the house and everyone I know.

I love the beautiful gardens behind big old doors that you would never know are there if you weren't invited. I love to people watch at the Jardin - what an interesting mix.

I like to browse through the big shops in the centro and purchase in the smaller shops by the artisan's market. I like the limonadas (con agua mineral, por favor) and steaks at Ole Ole.

I love the cobblestone streets and the architecture and the complete lack of modern buildings in the central area. I love the very early mornings when no one is around and you can get the very best pictures.

I love to drink out of my beautiful blue bubble glass goblets that I brought home with me from the glass shop for less than $2.50 a piece.

Oh and did I mention the weather . . .

jcs27,

SMdA is one of many special places here in Mexico: no one

would argue that the other places you mentioned and others are not the equal, but I think we market our hometown more than all others.

That's both good and bad, but sure floats the real estate boat if you buy and sell, lol.

Love Qro.; Gto.; Patzcuaro; Costalegre (Barra de Navidad; Careyes, etc.)

We looked world wide for a great retirement pueblo and this is it.

Now looking at good apartments in BsAs for getaways.

Seriously, it's my home; the cost of living is very reasonable; property taxes are low; the weather is great with a few odd swings; food is fresh, healthy and inexpensive.

Lots of culture; restaurants; all the Sat /Cable TV and broadband IN you might need and VoIP for free calling to the US, Canada, PR and S Europe.

We are centrally located and there are many autopistas to get anywhere in a reasonable time frame.

Only insurance is Auto (liability is mandatory).

Help is inexpensive: reliable housekeepers and gardeners are $400. pesos a week (each for MWF).

Walking is free and fun - we walked everywhere in NYC last weekend (despite the cold), and had a great visit.

Quite a few odd groups of gringos - especially on the political left and lower economic end, but that's way fun for all - and they get to throw tomatoes, etc. at me.

My thick skin and thicker head withstands all that and the many dogs and automatic weapons are a backup if/when they get really crazy.

Low 80's F this week.

M

I have lived here 5 years, and I would have to say:

1. the weather

2. the interesting people, esp. expats that are here and open to talking to people they meet on the street

3. the relative cleanliness

4. the variety of things to do, especially if you are here long enough to take advantage, classes, workshops etc on a wide variety of topics

5. (for me this is the only one that really matters) the ability to have a dream here and pursue it...for example starting a business. In SMA, if you can dream it, you can do it!

I think SMA has a lot of appeal for the tourist, esp. one not well versed in Spanish, it is accessible, easy, you don't really need Spanish.

I think it is an entirely different town if you have to work and are not here part time or on vacation, much different, not as rosy.

"I think SMA has a lot of appeal for the tourist, esp. one not well versed in Spanish, it is accessible, easy, you don't really need Spanish."

That is a mistake.

- ranchero

No doubt about it, Ranchero, people who do not speak Spanish miss a lot of the greatness of Mexico. Luckily, I taught college Spanish and my daughter prefers Spanish to English, my husband is Mexican, but you can't deny that there are hoardes of people in SMA who don't bother to learn it, and quite frankly they don't need it. I am not supporting that choice, but I see it seems to work really well for oodles of foreigners here, which simply adds to their comfort level in SMA. That is one of the reasons I am not as starry-eyed enthralled with SMA like so very many people are. Don't get me wrong, I like it, enjoy the opportunities I have here, but I would never list it as a dream place like so many seem to do.

Jinetemx

I also prefer to try to stick as much as I can to my not so great Spanish when I am there. But to my very gringo parents who don't speak any Spanish and were a little hesitant to travel to and around Mexico, San Miguel was an easy way to get their first taste of Mexico. Now they have branched out and been willing to try other places in Mexico as well.

SMA can be either all Spanish, all English or some mix in between. Of course getting involved in the language and full cultural offerings yields a much richer experience. But it is nice that SMA is accessible to all as well.

Nicely put, LL!