WHY WE LOVE SAN MIGUEL

San Miguel de Allende is a very interesting city. The architecture is colonial; it has cobblestone streets and sidewalks that are very narrow; and the landscape is of beautiful mountains. The city is over 450 years old.


We can walk the streets and be among the local people. We live in Colonia San Antonio. It is a relatively large neighborhood compared to others in San Miguel. As we walk, we take time to talk with the neighbors and shop owners. Last night on our way home from dinner at 10:30 p.m. we stopped and chatted with Graciela. Graciela runs an Internet cafe. We were in the cafe earlier in the day to have some copies made from our computer memory stick. Tonight, she didn’t have any customers, so we talked with her for about twenty minutes…all in Spanish. We can’t have too many Mexican friends in the neighborhood.

The bounty of fruits and vegetables is wonderful and the price inexpensive. The other day, we were at Mercado Ramirez and bought a small container of fruit. When we got home, Sam cut it up and put it in a bowl. All of this fruit for 10 Pesos or $.81.

We have our favorite tiendas for meat, produce, bread, cheese and lunch meats. It pays to be a loyal customer because the owners get to know you. The other day, we went to La Cava. La Cava sells cheeses, lunch meats, dairy products, frozen seafood, salmon, leg of lamb, etc. We were interested in getting some salmon. The owner had a large frozen fillet of salmon. We asked him if he would cut us two fillets from the center. He said, “Claro que si”, “Yes of course”. The staff is always very friendly. Try that at Costco!

Many days when we are out walking around, Bob tends to head in a certain direction around lunch time. There is a small torta or sandwich shop on Calle Umaran. Bob loves their fresh pork torta. It is heated and has tons of fresh baked pork leg on it. It also comes with cheese, tomato, avocado, onions, and lettuce. This torta is so big that we can split it and feel very satisfied. All this for only 30 Pesos or $2.43. Bob also purchased a small bag of chips from the tienda next door. He opened the bag and it had a prize inside…a brand new two peso coin ($.16).

Sam on the other hand, likes to gravitate to Mercado Ramirez for lunch. We can get a shrimp cocktail for 19 Pesos or $1.54 each. The place is called Los Delfines (the dolphins). Every time we have been there, the counter is full of local people. Experts always say, “Eat where the locals do”, and we do.

Yesterday, there was snow on the mountain top and today it is 72 degrees.  We understand that this is the first time it has snowed in over 30 years.  We saw a pickup truck go by with a small snowman on the top of the cab with happy children laughing and cheering.  Other locals told us that people were stopping their cars and letting their children have snowball fights.

We have a lot of friends. We can take a walk and see several people we know. And guess what, they have time to stop and chat. Unlike at home where everyone is always in a hurry and they say, “We must get together soon”. But you never do. Right?