Trip
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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page."
–Saint Augustine
Mexico: San Miguel de Allende
Sept 26 - Oct 3, 2010
The jewel of Mexico’s colonial era, San Miguel de Allende, hidden in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, exhibits some of Mexico’s finest colonial architecture.
Since being declared a National Monument
in 1926, all architectural changes in the historical center are banned,
signage is regulated, and neon is forbidden.
The charm of the town is subtle and is
to be absorbed and savored as you walk its cobblestone streets; peer
through large wooden doors to discover gardens of bougainvillea, hibiscus
and calla lilies; and sense its age as the many church bells mark the
time of day, call to mass or announce a Saint’s day.
Our colonial house hotel is conveniently
located only minutes from the jardin (town center). All rooms open
onto a sunny plant filled patio making it so relaxing that only the
delicious meals awaiting in the dining room would make you move from
your chair.
Daily
temperature range is 65-70 degrees
with almost no humidity—a perfect
climate!
Our
September trip is a mix of time to explore on your own (botanical gardens,
shopping, local market) and planned activities—a guided walk
of San Miguel, a day trip to Guanajuato (boyhood home of Diego Rivera),
a half day in Delores Hidalgo and to the shrine of Atotonilco. 
We are
in San Miguel during festival week which means processions,
music, Indian Conchero dancers, and fireworks.
It will delight you!
Download
the Day by Day Itinerary (pdf).
Our Itinerary
Sunday, September 26 – Leon, Mexico
Airport. Meet at Leon, Mexico Airport (BJX) by 2:30pm
and transfer to Casa Carmen, San Miguel de Allende.
Monday, September 27 – Delores Hidalgo. Walking tour
of San Miguel de Allende. Afternoon excursion to Viejo San Miguel
(old San Miguel)—this is the mission church that was the beginning
of San Miguel ; Atotonilco shrine - a sanctuary built in the 1700s;
and Delores Hidalgo—the starting point for the Mexican Revolution
of 1810 and the source of beautiful tile/pottery you see in the US.
Dinner on your own.
Tuesday, September 28 – San Miguel de Allende. Visit
to the local mercado followed by a cooking class at a local home.
The mercado, under one roof, has almost everything a local family
would want to buy: vegetables, fruits, flowers, spices, meat, clothes,
shoes, music, piñatas, etc. Our cooking class, done in a typical
home, will have half of our group in the morning and half in the
afternoon. This is always a favorite experience of the week. We return
here for dinner—the fruit of our labor today.
Wednesday, September 29 - Guanajuato, Mexico. After
breakfast we leave San Miguel for an excursion to Guanajuato, the capital
of the state and once among the richest cities in the world, glutted
with silver. We visit the internationally famous theater of Guanajuato,
the boyhood home of Diego Rivera, and the city center of Guanajuato.
Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Thursday, September 30 - San Miguel de Allende. This is
a free day to do as you would like…excellent shopping in San
Miguel. Optional activities offered for the day: walk to the Botanical
Gardens—beautiful natural cactus garden-- and a visit to a
local home for an exhibition and talk on Mexican masks and crafts.
Here we get the history of the crafts we are seeing sold on the street
and in the mercado. Dinner on your own.
Friday, October 1 - San Miguel de Allende. Today is the
beginning of the Festival of San Miguel—the place to be is
the jardin to enjoy the festival or explore on your own. By today
you have learned your way around and you have seen many interesting
shops you want to investigate Dinner on your own.
Saturday, October 2 -San Miguel de Allende. San Miguel stands
out as a fiesta town. The Festival of San Miguel (St. Michael’s
Day) celebrates the city’s patron saint. There are parades
with conchero dancers, giant paper mache figures, xochiles—huge
frames beautifully decorated with marigold, cactus, maize, plastic
drink bottles and a statue of St. Michael --- and lots of fireworks.
Your camera will be clicking wildly. Farewell dinner together.
Sunday, October 3 - Departure day…mid-morning
transfer from Casa Carmen to Leon Airport
Download
the Day by Day Itinerary (pdf).
Please Note: The above schedule is subject to change due to weather or
other circumstances beyond our control..
© 2009 - 2010 KDavis Travels
Photographs © Karen Davis / Kristen Wittstock
