Ah-h-h the butterflies – those beautiful masses of migrating Monarchs! What a treat to be surrounded by them! Once you’re a part of this “south of the border” holiday, ALL of your senses will be fed – and you will DINE exquisitely! The Butterfly Sanctuary is amazing, but this trip also features: the copper crafters in Santa Clara de Cobre, the Cathedral of the Divine Savior; the boat ride on Lake Patzcuaro, and the incredible Arcos Aqueducts – this interlude has it all!!
Because I love history, am somewhat of an amateur photographer and adore bargain shopping, I’ve chosen to highlight the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende. The art, the music, the architecture, the crafts are something I find very special.
San Miguel de Allende is located in the Bajio Mountains of central Mexico, about 170 miles northwest of Mexico City. In danger of becoming a ghost town in the early 20th century, the town was declared a national monument in 1926 and building became heavily restricted in the town’s historic centro district, allowing the city to keep the colorful native facades that have become the backdrop of many famous works of art and even modern motion pictures.
San Miguel de Allende is world famous for its mild climate, colonial architecture, and large expatriate population, which estimates number in the 6,000 – 8,000 range – in a total population of about 85,000. Of these, the majority are Americans. Because of the large influx of foreigners, the town has many conveniences that would normally not be available in a town of this size-a plus for travelers!
While visiting San Miguel you will notice that many attractions are within walking distance. Just keep in mind that because San Miguel was built into the side of a mountain, it can turn out to be a little challenging, as some inclines are 15 or 20 degrees! Furthermore, the streets are cobbled and narrow – some were nothing but goat tracks before they were paved – and many have fallen into disrepair. Curbs are often a high step away from the road. Visitors get a certain pleasure from the burros carrying loads of new cobbles for road repair. (A great photo opp). The steep inclines can be useful in backtracking. Rule of thumb: If your calves hurt, you have been walking uphill. If your shins hurt, you have been walking downhill. Then simply reverse course until your legs are uniformly painful. As such, visitors should be prepared with a pair (or two!) of good, comfortable walking shoes. You can pick up a pair of San Miguel shoes as soon as you arrive, so your walk around town will be much more comfortable and nothing will hurt.
- When you’re ready to absorb the city itself, San Miguel has plenty to see. You can spend your day just exploring the buildings, walking randomly (in your new good walking shoes) along its streets and exploring some of the facades and architecture that have made San Miguel famous. Painters and cameramen have captured sites like La Parroquia and El Mirador countless times, and whole books have captured the beauty of the doorways along the street. Even Hollywood has taken notice of San Miguel, filming movies like “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and “And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself” almost entirely here.
- You can also explore inside some of the historic buildings, including the Angela Peralta Theatre and the home of Ignacio Allende, now museums of art and culture.
- San Miguel’s many art institutes are always open to travelers looking to discover the next Frida Kahlo. Painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, you name it and it’s probably there
In addition to its culture and architecture, San Miguel de Allende is known for its amazing shopping. Being near the geographical center of the country, artisans from every part of Mexico have been known to send their artwork to San Miguel to be sold. Whenever possible, we suggest that you buy directly from the artisan. Many amazingly, talented artists are not able to support their families due to the low prices they receive for their art. At times it is very necessary to barter and at other times inappropriate — use your intuition and allow for mistakes. Hopefully, we all can afford to be generous in this developing nation!
One of the best places to get great quality Mexican and international art is at Fabrica La Aurora. This old textile factory has been converted into a unique art and design center that now houses over 30 artists, galleries, restaurants, antique shops, and specialty stores.
The streets around the Jardin are full of specialty shops selling common souvenirs, clothing, art, furniture, and Mexican tile. The open-air Mercado Ignacio Ramirez (Ignacio Ramirez market) a few blocks away is several blocks long where you’ll find reasonably-priced jewelry from beads to silver, tile, mirrors, and other accessories for the home. It winds down the side of a hill, ending on yet another street of stores where you’ll find (among other things) local pewter which can be very attractive and a real bargain. There’s the local food market indoors, and as one goes further downhill there are also clothing and music kiosks. The artsy-craftsy merchandise is found down by the stream-side as one moves through the area. Most kiosk food is safe – but do be careful.
Throughout this wonderfully paced interlude there will be many consistencies. Mexico’s poverty can be shocking to people who have little experience traveling in third world countries. Remember that the minimum wage in Mexico is less than US $50 per week. Using large bills for small purchases, especially from street vendors and small businesses, is viewed as rude and perpetuates the “rich tourist” stereotype. Be aware of the current exchange rate when making your purchases. For simplicity, we suggest dividing the cost of an item by ten (ie. $100 pesos = US $10) to give you a rough idea of what the dollar value is.
Also remember that much of this itinerary takes place at high altitude, so it may take a few days for your body to adjust completely to the thinner air. We suggest that you drink plenty of bottled water and take it easy if you feel dizzy or unusually tired. We hope that our guests limit the amount of sun they receive. The UV exposure is far higher here than it would be at sea level due to the thinner air and reduced cloud-cover so sunscreen is a must – even in March!
I certainly hope you choose to grab your passport and pack your sunscreen and good walking shoes, take your camera and a sense of adventure and head on out to Colonial Mexico to be a part of this wonderful travel experience. Would love to hear about what you discover while there!
Check out the full tour itinerary and start planning your vacation!
Monarch Butterflies Mexico (click here for itinerary)
February 28 – March 8, 2011 (9 days, 8 nights)
- Guaranteed departure (plan in confidence!)
- Escorted vacation (0% fuss, 100% vacation!)
- Tour for active adults (share a great experience!)
- Includes home pickup and return (for clients in Marion and adjacent counties)
Eadie
– Interlude blog team
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Tags: guaranteed departure tour, Mexico, Monarch Butterfly Migration, Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve, San Miguel de Allende, Tour
