Up and around SMA

The cathedral is a very well known one due to a large influx of local, semi-local and international photographers and is a big influence on the people visiting the town. Food is always as good as it could be and you can find a very wide variety of cuisines. But best of all is the colonial taste of the city all around. Allende is named after an Independence hero with that name. To SMA is the first point the libertarian horseman went with the warning Doña Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez sent in order not to be stopped on the Insurgent (Independence) movement in Mexico.

Quick Tips:

Try San Miguel with a non hurried schedule. You should at least spend a whole weekend here just to begin to get the idea of tranquility around.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to visit most of the town is by foot. You'll have museums, restaurants, most of the hotels coffee shops, internet coffee shops, bars and more all at a walking distance from wherever you might be. Then if you need to go anywhere else, taxis are your best bet in order to avoid frustration with parking spaces.

First class accomodations with a mediterranean decor. You could not ask for better. 70 guest rooms that include some suites but all of them are equipped with 26" TVs with satellite reception. The main feaature here is the restorative thermal water used in the pool and wading pool plus some special pools for the thermal water itself. Tennis courts are also available and one thing is sure: people here will do their best efforts so you can peacefully relax and soak. If you feel hungry due to the water and resting, food is served from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm and will have continental and Mexican food waiting for you... lip smacking!!

They have a website at www.hotelhdataboada.com.mx.

People say that if you are in San Miguel and don't go to Mama Mia you are missing a very important part of your visit to SMA. Here you will find international food just a few steps from the "Jardín". Music is live usually with a Latin American group, but you might be surprised with other international music too. Carpaccio is one of my best picks here, for they specialize in Italian food.

Located within the Mama Mia restaurant, this is the place in San Miguel to salsa after having a delicious dinner. You could turn this into a very romantic evening and you can be sure you'll have a terrific time!

This bar is my choice for meeting people in San Miguel: it is very close to the Cathedral and garden, you usually can get a parking place somewhat nearby and the drinks are excellent. Try the Margarita Cadillac and you won't need anything else but that. Believe me, I've had the experience, but if you happen to drink a little too much, the barman will gladly give you a cocktail that will make you feel a lot better (even if you are positive you don't want any more liquids in your mouth or if it tastes so bad you barely sip it). It is located within the Mama Mia restaurant and if you come to dinner without a reservation, this is the place to wait for your table.

San Miguel is host to one of the most important chamber music festivals in the world yearly. This year it will take place from July 28th to August 11th. Scholarships and travel packages are available. This year it will include the Tokyo Quartet, Ying Quartet, St. Petersburg Quartet and many others. Check their website for more information: www.unisono.net.mx/fesmusic.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, the seventh international jazz festival is going to be held. David "Fathead" Newman, Art Lande, Bobby Carcassés, the Hot Club band of San Francisco and others are among the performers. Be ready for jams after the concert in clubs around town and for some workshops and master classes, too. There are other festivals in town also, so don't go back saying you were bored in SMA!

It is a gallery with some history in it for Josh Kligerman, founder, assisted Siqueiros on his first major mural in Mexico City in 1939. Josh also directed the Gulf American Museum in Miami 1964-68 and also received an important award for improving or promoting art in Southern Florida. Later he left the gallery to his family, who is to date attending customers from long ago.

About 20 years ago, when we just had arrived to Queretaro, going to San Miguel de Allende was really a family trip. Now I could talk about SMA from a different perspective, but to tell you the truth, family trips are somewhat the same still. That's one particular reason it as town has been so popular a visiting point in the region: it is a traditional town!

What I would do when coming here is take off Friday evening and leave the children with someone to reach us up town on Saturday morning. That way we could enjoy a romantic dinner. Some early evening drinks and probably some dancing around in the different nightlife centers around til the wee hours in the morning.

Hopefully by Saturday we won't be too hungover. At least no more than a few brewskies could heal, for the kid would be coming about 11 then an early meal at the Mama Mia restaurant and some walking around the park with the kids seeing tinker toys. Maybe when they are older we could visit a museum or take them to visit La Loca for a fun spooky prank. After lunch we could go and spend some time in the pool (almost 4 of the 10 hotels here will have one) while the adults in my family, i.e. my wife and parents in law, take a trip around town shopping for antiques or home improvements with a flavorful look at mediterranean or colonial stores. Weather is pleasant most of the time and is warm. If you're skin is delicate, you should wear sun blocker or hat.

For coffee in the late afternoon hours, we could go to the Nigromante museum and find what the exhibits are this weekend. Then for a peaceful evening with a little booze to raise us a little.

Now on Sunday I definitely would rather be in the pool than at Church, and if possible, would send the kids with Mom and grandma and grandpa while I stay at the pool lounge.

(Of course this part is just a shared fantasy). At about 2, it's time for a late lunch and then time to get on the highway to get back to school on Monday at Queretaro.

That's it, a rough plan for a family weekend in San Miguel. Will be back for a more audacious plan later...