Taking Care of Business

Aloha Everyone,

The first order of business was to get our laundry done. You ask three people and you get four directions. The closest lavandería is located on the next street parallel to our hotel location. It opens at 9:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm. We are happy to be able to drop off our weekly laundry. The cost by weight is US$6.12. 

The next destination for the two of us was the Mercado Central. We again were given directions by helpful people including 3 Americans who seemed to be long time residents. The two of us walked up and down the unfamiliar route only to reach the Mercado which was less than a block from a familiar square. I was pleased to have a chance to get additional walk, but J.J. did not share my sentiment.

We bought 2 pears that were imported from California and a half kilo of grapes imported from Chile :-)

At the flower shop, I asked for the price of a rose. The shop keeper said that it is 5 peso each. I asked for two. By the time she added ferns, put them in a cellophane bag and tied a ribbon, the price tripled to 30 pesos. It was not worth making a fuss so we paid her $1.67!

To vary our diet, for lunch we ate at an Italian Restaurant. Excellent spaghetti marinara for J.J. and a garden salad with tomatoes and feta cheese for me.

For dinner, we splurged and went to Buenos Aires Bistro. A very popular restaurant with foreigners. It is always filled to the capacity. Reservations are must and tonight there were a total of 16 diners occupying all the tables. We started with their complimentary chips, bread with homemade pesto, eggplant and chili dips, followed by an appetizer — 3 types of empanadas. J.J.’s grilled lamb was absolutely fantastic. My selection of salmon baked in ginger sauce was too salty and I ate it, but just a little. Catering to a non-native clientele, the service was impeccable, fast and efficient. It felt different. We have gotten accustomed to less hurried service. Cost for this memorable dinner was US $59.00 inclusive of a generous tip.

Aloha -- Cathi

San Miguel Historical Walking Tour

Aloha Everyone,

There were already a group of about 50 gathered at the Jardin (the main square) in front of the Perroquia Church. J.J. and I paid US$16.67 each for our tickets and promptly received a little sticker on our shirts to indicate that we will be a part of the Historical Walking Tour.

The tour began at Parroquia (Parrish) Church, one of the most recognized and iconic landmark in San Miguel.  

Our tour guide, Cheryl is from Ontario, Canada. She and her husband are part-time residents of San Miguel. Like all tour guides of Historical Walking Tour, they are volunteers. Engaging, personable and well-versed in the subject matter, Cheryl led us through the Jardin, churches, plazas of San Miguel that included 8 highlights with colorful anecdotes. She was an excellent guide. Her ability to bring historical events to life and hold the attention of participants for 2 & 1/2 hours was impressive.

For more information about the historical walking tour and the Patrinato Pro Niños, the non-profit organization being supported by volunteers, please go to: https://historicalwalkingtour.org/

http://patronatoproninos.org/

For lunch, J.J. and I stopped at “The Kitchen”, an ultra-modern food court. Our simple hamburger with side of fries and a bottle of water was US$18. The quality is comparable to “In-N-Out” but  for local consumer, the price is too high. All the diners were visitors and foreign residents.

By the 3rd day, the two of us learned to walk around the Jardin and enjoy people watching as locals and visitors do before looking for a restaurant for dinner. The city is saturated in an orange hue at dusk; marching bands and oversized puppets appear around the Jardin; and a Mariachi band serenades promenaders. We were told that evening entertainment is part of the city budget.

Our dinner at a small restaurant consisted of seafood pasta for JJ and garden salad for me. It was superb. The price for our meal, drink and tip also came out US$18.

Aloha -- Cathi

Getting Familiar with San Miguel

Aloha Everyone,

The locals refer to this friendly city simply as, “San Miguel.”

For breakfast, J.J. and I walked 1/2 block to Starbucks. Starbucks serves pretty much similar type of items you find in any of their coffee shops around the world. The big difference is this coffee shop is housed in an old building, possibly 200 to 300 years old, that blends into its surrounding. The interior has multiple sitting areas plus there is a beautiful, spacious inner courtyard. Prices are 50% of its US counterpart.

The two of us stopped by to check on today’s events at the Biblioteca Público. Our walk was regularly interrupted as I photographed beautiful churches on nearly every block.

Thomas Kitts and his students were engaged in an oil painting workshop at the Jardin, the main square of the Centro Histórico.

Over the years, San Miguel has attracted renowned national and international artists, and there are a number of art classes of different mediums available throughout the year.

San Miguel is challenging for people who require canes or walkers. Cobblestone and the uneven pavement is difficult especially for people who are unsteady on their feet. The two of us had two poignant encounters this afternoon.  A lady was trying to walk up a sidewalk. It was no more than 5 inches for her to scale.  She moved to the right then to the left trying to determine the best way to “walk up.”  I asked if I could be of a service.  She beamed and said, “Yes dear, if you let me hold your hand, I think I can manage.”  

My Mother’s daily mantra of “if I cannot walk, I will not travel anywhere” echoed in my heart. I bid farewell, sending her as she continued walking, my healing energy.

The second incident was more difficult. A lady who told me that she’s 82 is visiting San Miguel. From our random conversation, it appeared that she is here to see whether this would be a place to live out her life. With no family, she is searching for a community where she can find English speaking support groups. San Miguel seems to promote this place to Americans and Canadians as a safe, livable, inexpensive place south of the border where medical care is affordable. First and foremost, some ability to communicate in Spanish is a must. Then one must be mobile and it would definitely help if there are two of you. More on retirement and medical/dental tourism in an upcoming blog. I gave her a hug and wished her luck in her search. Unfortunately, San Miguel might be a bit challenging in her condition.

Aloha -- Cathi

Safely in San Miguel de Allende

Aloha Everyone,

Our ride on the Primera Plus from Guanajuato to San Miguel de Allende took approximately 90 minutes. I spent the time watching the summer evening concert in the Vrijthof in Maastricht In the Netherlands. As the conductor, violinist, André Rieu says, “Music is universal.” Music is borderless. Music connects everyone’s heart and uplifts your spirit.

My anticipation and expectations were quashed when our bus came to the end of a dusty ride. The characterless terminal showed no promise of “the magical” city of San Miguel de Allende which the two of us heard during our recent meetings with its residents.

I blurted out to J.J., “Are you sure that we’ve arrived at our destination?” After a 10 minutes ride by taxi, the two of us were dropped off in front of our hotel, Aquí Es México.

This property, like the general appearance of the city, is quaint. It is full of character. Adjacent business is an emergency medical clinic! There is an inviting patio for guests’ use. The hallway is adorned with paintings and chairs lined against a wall resembling a home that has been turned into a museum. Our room is bright with a sky light, clean and comfortable — a provincial charm. The big bonus is the our hotel is just 2 minutes walk to the Biblioteca Público (public library) where many activities are available for residents and visitors. It is also a 3 minutes walk to the main plaza in the opposite direction.

Our first day’s main activity in San Miguel Allende was to attend a concert of Folk Harp & Flamenco Guitar by Sergio Basurto. The venue was at one of the small theaters at the Biblioteca de Público. Energetic and accomplished performance by Sergio. He captivated the audience with his music from Spain, Latin, Central America countries to México! To me the evening was more than just an entertainment. It was an education in music, geography, and in the varied Latin American culture. 35-40 people comprised of nearly all English speaking foreigners were absorbed and appreciative audience.

We concluded our evening with a light dinner at a restaurant just a few doors from our hotel. Coming to our aid regarding the safety of drinking water and ice were Scott and Gloria from Vancouver, Canada. Spontaneous meetings are delightful. They are frequent visitors to México and offered their assistance for places to visit. One of the valuable piece of information is to purchase a newspaper, “Atención San Miguel” which goes on sale every Friday.

Aloha -- Cathi

Sunday in Guanajuato

Aloha Everyone,

Tolling of church bells started at 10 minutes to 7 am. It’s for the first Sunday service. The bells ring every hour until 10 minutes to noon.

Sunday is also a big market day. Temporary stalls have sprung up on streets and plazas selling everything from food, articles of clothing to durable goods.

Panadería San Sebastián is our favorite pastry shop located on the route we walk everyday. The store has no curb appeal and unless you are specifically looking for it, one would simply bypass it except for the strong aroma of baking bread. On Monday to Saturday, this small, rather obscure shop is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.  

We first took notice when a man came out of the store hungrily biting into crusty pastry. He was a retired American in Guanajuato to study Spanish. Stopping at the bakery is part of his daily routine.

While the two of us generally stay away from sweets and carbs, we justified by saying, “Well, they are too good to ignore and yes, we are walking a lot.”

Here are some delicious “healthy” pastries we’ve been indulging since Day 2 of our arrival in Guanajuato, followed by some of the dishes J.J. and I’ve enjoyed. We should note that appearance, location and price do not   necessarily equate to the quality of the food or the level of service. Restaurants with English menus were often more expensive and the meals about average.

Aloha -- Cathi