Home in San Miguel

SAN MIGUEL

IT HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

San Miguel is special. It was founded in the 16^th century. Its delightful year-round climate, rich soil, and water made it a favorite of the Spanish. Mexico’s largest silver mines were located 40 miles west in Guanajuato. Guanajuato, situated at the mining site in the mountains, was challenging because of the inclines. The mines made many wealthy, and those wealthy folks chose to live in San Miguel.
The mines played out by the beginning of the 20^th century, and San Miguel declined. The city fathers, no doubt not realizing the impact of their decision, decided in 1927 to declare the city a historic site. Today it looks as it did in 1927 –cobblestone sidewalks, cobblestone streets, and protections which ensure that the 1920s look continues.

The city has roughly 100,000 inhabitants. Of these roughly 15,000 are foreigners, primarily Americans and Canadians. Many folks, like my wife Judy and I, own a home and visit a couple of times a year. Like most everyone with a home there, we plan to retire to San Miguel. Our daughters love San Miguel as much as we do, and being located there, we know that we’ll see a lot of our kids and grandkids! Americans living in San Miguel are either artists, real estate agents, or retirees.

THE HOUSE

The house is in the historical center of San Miguel – the “Centro”. It’s location is ideal. You are only five minutes’ walk from the heart of San Miguel, the Jardin.

The house was designed by Norma Gonzales, the manager, for an American. It is light and cheery. There is a main house and a casita, which together sleep six. The main house has two bedrooms on the second floor. The master bedroom has a bathroom with both a shower and tub. The second bedroom has a bathroom with a shower. Both bedrooms have a king size bed.

The house has patios on the second and third floors. There is a fountain and a garden area. The casita has a queen size bed with a bathroom that has a combination bath and shower.

There is a washer and dryer, and Adela, the maid, will wash your clothes for you. There is air conditioning and heating in each room, fiber optic cable and wireless internet. There are two water purification systems in series so you can drink the water. The gas fireplace is operated by a remote. In addition to the maid, there is a gardener. If while you are there you have any questions or need any help, call the manager, Norma Gonzales at +42 415 151 0212 or email her at arqtorresgn@gmail.com

If you want to stay in our home, contact me at

Bryan Aldridge

In October 2021 Conde Nast’s Traveler’s readers voted it the Best City in the World as well, saying:

Four hours northwest of Mexico City is the jewel of San Miguel de Allende. A hub for expat artists, this highland city is known for its Spanish Colonial architecture and colorful facades. You could spend hours browsing the galleries and pop-up shops at Fábrica La Aurora, a former textile factory that is now home to local artisans. The Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is a hidden oasis in the heart of the city, with grand rooms featuring hand-carved furnishings and 360-degree views of the skyline from the rooftop tapas bar. For dinner, book the chef’s table at Aperi for one of the best dining experiences in the city, full of fresh flavors from the region.

Traveler Magazine calls it “Mexico’s prettiest town”. And it is.

Here are some articles on San Miguel:

– Travel + Leisure “This Charming Mexican City Was Voted the Best in the World for the 2nd Year in a Row”

– Forbes – “San Miguel de Allende, Mexico – Once Again – Chosen ‘Best Small City in The World’ by Condé Nast Traveler

– Travel + Leisure – 2021-08-04 “San Miguel de Allende is Mexico’s Hidden Treasure”

Here are some books on San Miguel:

– Rhonda’s Centro Histórico Guide & Street Map of San Miguel de Allende Rhonda Lerner and Bob Barros

– Explorer’s Guide San Miguel de Allende & Guanajuato: A Great Destination (Explorer’s Great Destinations)

– Greater than a Tourist: San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato, Mexico

Charco Del Ingenio

This is an extensive and well-run botanical garden and preserve. It has many rare plants. If you are adventuresome, take a taxi there and walk back (which is downhill).

La Biblioteca Publica

This is the American library in San Miguel. It has the second largest collection of English books in Mexico. It does all types of good things for the community. It has a theatre presenting plays in English. Its café serves a great cappuccino. Its gift shop has an excellent collection of art books on Mexico. It is just two blocks from the house. It publishes the English/Spanish community newspaper Atencion. You should stop by the library and purchase the paper on the first day of your stay to see what gallery openings and other activities are on. You can also read it online.

Google Plus Code: W784+MG San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Parque Benito Juárez

This is a large and manicured park with many beautiful birds. Come early and you can join Mexicans and Americans doing their daily Zumba dancing.

Google Plus Code: W754+FR San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel

The Parroquia, and the Jardin in front of it, are the epicenter of San Miguel. After you put your bags in your room, exit the house and go immediately to the Jardin – five minutes away. You’ll see San Miguel at its best. I understand the interior is pretty. It certainly is used for American and Mexican weddings. The churched was designed and built by a Mexican with no training.

Google Plus Code: W774+8F San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Saint Paul’s Church

This Anglican church was built in the 1960s to serve the American and Canadian community. It has services in English and Spanish.

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Casa No Name

This new boutique hotel is just 100 yards down the street. It is beautiful. The rooftop bar is a nice place to stop after you’ve been to the Jardin but just aren’t ready to call it a night.

Google Plus Code: W783+GW San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar

This is the bar on top of the beautiful Rosewood Hotel. The view is breathtaking. Time your visit so that you come while it is still light and stay until the city is dark and you see the city and Parroquia lit.

Google Plus Code: W754+R2 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Quince

This is right across from the Parroquia. Beautiful view, and excellent food.

Google Plus Code: W774+6C San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Trazo 1810

Near the Jardin. Wonderful view of the Jardin and Parroquia. It has excellent food and drinks

Google Plus Code: W784+26 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Café Monet

One of our favorite haunts. Excellent coffee and breakfast. The Americans and Canadians congregate here each morning.

Google Plus Code: W763+CC San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Companio

Another of our favorite places. We always go there for breakfast and lunch shortly after our arrival. The restaurant has a bakery next door that does wonderful pastries and baguettes. Very good waiters.

Google Plus Code: W775+H4 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Lavanda Café

The is the most popular breakfast spot in San Miguel. There’s a line in front most every morning.

Google Plus Code: W773+CV San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Life Aqua Resort

This is the breakfast and lunch area of a new resort. The architecture is stunning, as is the service. There’s another beautiful bar near the back overlooking the hillside and swimming pool.

Google Plus Code: W796+X7 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

The Restaurant

Hands down this is our favorite restaurant. The elegant Mexico City crowd frequents The Restaurant, and people watching is great.

Google Plus Code: W774+6V San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Tio Lucas

This is just in the next block. Max, the owner, redecorates every year. He is a collector of Michoacán ceramics, of which the restaurant has an ever-changing selection. On Thursday he has a jazz group. The food and service are excellent.

Google Plus Code: W783+7W San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Casa Michoacana Gallery

The Mexican state of Michoacán produces some of the most beautiful ceramic items. There are two stores on the way from the house to the Fabrica la Aurora. The first is Casa Michoacán is larger. It is at Calz de La Aurora 28. The second is Casa Michoacana Gallery, shown here. It is a bit further down on the right.

Google Plus Code: W7C5+C2 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Fábrica la Aurora

This is the center of the art scene. Two brothers from Mexico City converted an old and large thread factory into an art palace. There are restaurants, antique stores, and art galleries galore. On the walk from the house down Aurora you pass many art shops.

Google Plus Code: W7F5+8V San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Ignacio Ramirez Market

This is just a eight-minute walk away. You go here to get your fresh vegetables. When you order avocados, the vender will ask “for today or for tomorrow”. Not like Safeway!

Google Plus Code: W785+JF San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

La Finca Vintage and Modern

This is an outstanding consignment store owned by two Americans siblings. The selection can be truly unusual. What happens is that Americans travel the world collecting. Then they settle in San Miguel with all their exotic items. Then they return to the states to be with their grandchildren, selling their home with all their goods. The new owners, also having all the items they have collected, send everything in the home to La Finca.

Google Plus Code: W7J3+MH San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Mercado de Artesanias

Google Plus Code: W785+X7 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Sindashi

This is just down the street. It features hand painted Mexican dresses. My wife and daughters are fashionistas, and love this place.

Google Plus Code: W773+FR San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Here are the monthly temperature ranges:

Since San Miguel was discovered in the 1970s by Americans and wealthy Mexicans, it has prospered. “Prospered” means that land prices are extraordinarily high, and on the hillside beautiful, expensive homes have been built. It also means that there are a goodly number of fine restaurants. As every home in the centro – all built by folks who were wealthy – had an open courtyard, most all restaurants offer al fresco dining.

Each month San Miguel garners more accolades. Most recently, in September of 2011, Travel + Leisure named it the “Best City in the World”. If I am counting correctly, this is the third time its readers have made that designation.

Come to San Miguel and see for yourself!

Nearby – Atotonilco

Just seven miles north of the house is the small town of Atotonilco. The town contains one of Mexico’s finest Baroque churches. Nearby is a gallery which merits a visit for its architecture as well as its artisan crafts. The American couple who own the gallery collect works from around Mexico, which are for sale. A couple of miles away is a beautiful spa, offering a delicious lunch overlooking the area. This is a hot springs area, and two delightful spas are available.

A nice day’s outing is to have our driver Rey Ortiz take you to see the church in Atotonilco, have lunch at the restaurant, Nirvana, visit the art gallery, and then finish the day by bathing in the warm waters of one of the spas.

The street vendors sell all that a visitor might need. I always pick up a travel size whip. One never knows when self-flagellation might be necessary to atone for the vacation sin of gluttony!

Santuario de Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco

This is a breathtaking church – sometimes called the “Sistine Chapel of Mexico. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This country church was built in the 1740s by a wealthy priest who commissioned a local artist, Martinez de Pocasangre, to cover the interior with paintings of Bible stories, since the local indigenous people he was working to save were illiterate. This church was also the site of the first gathering of insurgents, led by Father Hidalgo, in their historic march that set in motion Mexico’s revolution of 1810. It was here that they gathered up the banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe who became the much beloved symbol of a free Mexico. Since the 1700s, the church has been and continues to be the site of pilgrimages by large numbers of the faithful, who come for spiritual retreats. American Express spent several million dollars to its recent restoration.

Galería Atotonilco

This is an extraordinary gallery showing selling some of the finest work of Mexican artisans. Two Americans, Mayer Shacter, and his wife, a write, Susan Page, have gathered an extraordinary group of art. You really want to see this, and the beautiful house which displays it.

Nirvana

This is a hotel and spa with a truly excellent restaurant which earlier was in San Miguel. If you travel to Atotonilco, you want to have lunch here as it is only five minutes away.

Calle Antigua Vía del FF.CC. No 21 Col. El Cortijo, Atotonilco, Guanajuato, México CP 37750
20.9941941,-100.7970178
18 minutes from the house / 12.2 km
01 (415) 185 21 94
ventas@hotelnirvana.mx

Hot Springs

Atotonilco sports two spas, La Gruta and Escondido. Both are delightful. Each has a series of pools, each pool warmer than the previous. The last, and warmest, is in a rock enclosure, and is full of steam. Both are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both have restaurants. You can take a taxi, but the easiest way to go is to have Rey Ortiz take you.

One is La Gruta, the other spa is Escondido Place

Escondido Place

Carretera San Miguel de Allende – Dolores Hidalgo km 10 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
29.9930515,-100.7918589
+52 415 185 2022
11.9 km from house / 18 minutes
info@escondidoplace.com

Guanajuato

If you have a week to spend, you should have our driver, Rey Ortiz, take you on a day trip to Guanajuato.

There are two routes from San Miguel to Guanajuato.

One is the shorter route which is 77 km and takes 1 hour and 36 minutes. The other is 99 km and takes 1 hour and 47 minutes. It goes through Atotonilco, and Delores Hidalgo, a ceramic capital. It continues climbing to 8,500’ through a national park and comes into through the little town of Santa Rosa de Lima. You will want to have Rey take you over the higher, slightly longer route. Seven miles north of the house you pass through Atotonilco. This area merits a day trip itself and I have written it up separately. You next pass through the colonial town of Delores Hidalgo. Delores Hidalgo is one of the towns of Mexico which the government has designated as a Magical Town. The town itself is beautiful.

Continuing to Guanajuato, after passing over the crest of a beautiful high-altitude national park, you pass through the little town of Santa Rose de Lima. It has a store Mayólica Santa Rosa which has beautiful Talavera-like pottery.

More importantly, there is a Mezcal shop. It is home brewed (no tax stamps on the flask the barmaid uses!) and guaranteed to cure any ailment. The store itself is about six feet wide with four stools. The same girl tends the convenience store next door, which is larger – some 8 feet wide. Definitely recommended!

You then descend to the town of Guanajuato. The town was one of UNESCO World Heritage site designations. It is beautiful.

It was built on the site of Mexico’s greatest silver mines. Except for a small area in the downtown, every house is built on the side of a hill. The city was rich, and the houses and churches and public buildings reflect it.

You may wish to stay in Guanajuato for the night. If so, stay at the1850 Hotel on the square.

If you have an early return flight from Leon (BJX) airport or it you are getting your Covid test at the Leon airport, you may want to have Rey take you to Guanajuato the day before and stay at the 1850 Hotel. You would have the hotel’s driver take you to BJX, which is 36 minutes and 31 km away.

Flights

You can get to San Miguel by flying into Leon (BJX), Queretaro (QRO), or Mexico City (MEX).

Leon is 55 miles and one hour and 35 minutes away.

Flights are from:

Chicago	IL
Dallas Fort Worth	TX
Detroit	MI
Fresno	CA
Houston	TX
Los Angeles	CA
Oakland	CA
Sacramento	CA
San Jose	CA

If you fly into Mexico City from Europe, I would suggest that you have a driver from the Camino Real Polanco in Mexico City collect you and stay one or two nights in Mexico City. The Polanco area is delightful as is Mexico City. Leisure + Travel named Mexico City the 8th best city in the world for 2021. You would have Rey Ortiz pick you up to take you to San Miguel. If you stay more than one night in Mexico City, you would want Rey to be your guide in Mexico City.

Flights

Queretaro (QRO) 50 miles and one hour and 18 minutes away.

Flights are from:

Chicago	IL
Dallas Fort Worth	TX
Detroit	MI
Houston	TX
Los Angeles	CA

Transfers

This is simple. You have our driver, Rey Ortiz, collect you from the airport and take you to our house. You will find that Rey greatly increases your enjoyment of your San Miguel stay. Any question or problem you have, you call Rey.

Around San Miguel

For virtually all your activities in San Miguel, you will walk. A year after Americans have relocated to San Miguel they weigh 20 pounds less than they did in the U.S. It’s the walking.

If something is too far or you will carry something, take a taxi. Any taxi. It’s a fixed price – about $5 USD (except for the Botanical Garden, which is more).

If you want to go to something outside of San Miguel, use Rey.

Flights

Mexico City (MEX) is 167 miles and 3 hours and 44 minutes away.

Flights from the U.S. are from:

Chicago	IL
Atlanta	GA
Charlotte	NC
Dallas Fort Worth	TX
Denver	CO
Detroit	MI
Houston	TX
Las Vegas	NV
Los Angeles	CA
Miami	FL
New York	NY
Newark	NJ
Oakland	CA
Orlando	FL
Phoenix	AZ
Sacramento	CA
Salt Lake City	UT
San Antonio	TX
San Francisco	CA
San Jose	CA
Seattle	WA
Washington	DC

Covid Testing

Mexico does not require Americans to be tested. But the U.S. does require Americans to have a negative Covid test before returning. The U.S. will accept a PCR test or an antigen test. The test must be taken within three days before commending travel. If you check in on a Friday, your test may be done on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

In the parking lot outside of the Leon (BJX) terminal you can get a rapid antigen test for $450 MXN ($22.50 USD).

Outside the terminal at Queretaro (QRO) you can get a rapid antigen test for $1290 MXN ($65.00 USD).

At two locations in Terminal 1 – Entrance 5 and the Volaris office at Annex 1 – in Mexico City Airport (MEX), you can get a rapid antigen test for $550 MXN ($27.50 USD).

You can get a test in San Miguel through the Mexican Red Cross.

The webpage is in English

It costs $499 MXN ($25 USD), and results are available in 20 minutes.

Tips

When you arrive at your airport, use the ATM to get $300 or $400 of cash. Then use the ATMs on the Jardin.
You can drink the water and eat the food at any San Miguel restaurant.

Contact

We hope you will come to San Miguel and stay in our home and enjoy this fair city. As you can tell from the superlatives I use in describing places to go, we really enjoy this town!

Judy and I do not rent our home. But we do use the home to raise money for charities. We ask that a guest make a donation to a charity equal or great than the rental value of the house, which we feel is $3,000 a week.

If you wish to stay, just contact me!

Bryan Aldridge

One Shields Court, Trophy Club, TX 76262
+1 817-430-3897
+1 817-307-6678
bryan@bryanaldridge.com