Walking and talking

Yesterday and today we have mostly done a great deal of walking and talking. Walking is such a challenge because the streets are cobbled and the sidewalks are uneven. You just have to watch your feet or you will get tripped up! The problem is that there is such a wealth of fascinating things to look at. Not only are the streets so picturesque, there are interesting tiendas (stores), galleries, churches, courtyards and restaurants everywhere. Now and then you turn a corner and get a sweeping vista of the mountains or countryside.




I noticed today as we were walking around that there are no stop signs or traffic lights. Not sure how they keep from crashing into each other but it seems to work. They have a traffic cop at some of the really congested intersections, but mostly you are on your own!

Below you see the courtyard of an old convent which is being renovated as the Institute of Belles Arts. It is going to be really wonderful when they finish. It is near the theater where we have tickets to see a flamenco performance tomorrow night. This town is all about the arts.


Oh and it is also about the restaurants because it appears to me that everybody goes out to eat all the time. The food here is so great! Nothing is fried and there is an emphasis on fresh healthy ingredients cooked in very tasty ways. We actually ate in the library cafe today. The special today was chicken fajitas with beans and salad plus cream of broccoli soup, fresh limeade and chocolate cake all for about $9.






Last night I had big shrimp stuffed with a little queso fresca , wrapped in bacon and then grilled. Yummy. We met a bunch of other Americans there and they told us of another nearby place. We went there tonight and met the folks at the next table . He has published 6 books about San Miguel and invited us to a lecture he is giving on Monday. His wife is an artist who crafts silver jewelry. She showed us the lovely turquoise bracelet she had made. They also told us about an archeological sight nearby which features ancient pyramids on a private ranch. The young woman sitting at another nearby table gave us the phone number of an archeologist who is an expert on these particular ruins. We contacted him and he is going to take us on a tour on Tuesday ! Cool! That's just how it is here. Everybody talks to everybody everywhere. There are so many interesting folks here.
Lastly, here is a pretty bad picture of the splendidly decorated bus we rode downtown this morning. It is so fuzzy because the bus ride was really bumpy but so fun and interesting. Tomorrow we are off to a folk festival in the main square with lots of dancing and music. Can't wait!

Location:San Miguel de allende

Down Mexico way

Here I am soaking up some sun in central Mexico. The weather is beautiful and the birds are singing. We are staying in a house with a couple of cats. It is nice having a whole house to ourselves.

Our patio










Today we went out to explore the neighborhood. I ate tacos cochinita pibil with a frosty Victoria beer for lunch at a lovely sidewalk cafe on the plaza. Here are a few pics. Very laid back here, tons of expats everywhere and the local folks are all so friendly.

The monks who live here in the church pictured below make and sell Rompope (a creamy alcoholic drink kind of like eggnog),cakes and cookies etc. can't wait to try it out. We went to a bakery today and had a blast buying one of every kind of pan dulces, Mexican sweet breads. So good! They had lots of kinds I had never seen before.



There were venders selling fresh flowers around the plaza today.


I have been told by a couple of snow birds from Vermont that I met that these taco stands are super but haven't tried them yet.



Many of the inner courtyards are just beautiful.


I am having fun speaking Spanish. The folks here are so patient and used to speaking to people with limited Spanish. It's great! I feel so competent! It is all an illusion though, as I still struggle to understand the natives speaking to one another at normal speed.
Hasta luego folks!

Location:San Miguel de allende, sunny Mexico