Clint and Robb were taking an extended Mexican vacation, and they were open to me tagging along for their three middle destinations. So, without knowing much about it at all, I found myself in charming San Miguel de Allende. This small city has a reputation as a cultural centre. Sanmiguelenses mingle easily with a large expat population from Canada, the US and Europe. It is small scale, has all that is needed for a little getaway, and is easily walkable (though sections of the city are quite hilly, and the cobblestoned streets outside the tourist areas are hard to walk on).
Photo List (Total 247 Photos)
Click bolded headers below to view, or click "just the best" for quick tour
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Central San Miguel (109 photos) - Central San Miguel is dominated by churches, and many streets are pedestrian only, so it has a pleasant and relaxed vibe. The largest church and the one on the central square, the Jardin Allende, is the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and the gallery starts with views of this from different angles, in daylight and at night-time. It continues in the immediate area, including the Jardin, cultural and other religious buildings around the square, continues over to the Plaza Civica, shows a few streets immediately to the south of Jardin Allende, and ends with two markets and views along Avenida Insurgentes.
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South of the Central City (63 photos) - We went south of the main square a few times, to check out the Instituto Allende, we ate at two restaurants in this area, and we went into the hills to the El Mirador Lookout at dusk. I returned on my own to the lookout in daylight hours, in order to wander the narrow little streets climbing the hills.
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North of the Central City (32 photos) - Our hotel was north of downtown, just far enough from the central city to feel a little off the beaten path. I explored the immediately neighbourhood a number of times, it felt less glossy and touristy than the rest of the town, but also had a number of galleries and interesting stores, and lots of buildings featuring murals.
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El Charco del Ingenio (32 photos) - This is a large park or botanical garden, located on the outskirts of the city. On arriving, we were impressed with the modern pavilions at the entrance, and the vast scale of the park, with its pretty views of a reservoir. Much of the park, though, has growth which is natural to the dry regions, so lots of cactii. In a way, I guess, it was better for that, as you could see what the local countryside looked like. It was a fantastic outing.
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Volkswagens (11 photos) - On my initial walk around the city, especially in the area near our hotel, there seemed an awful lot of Volkswagen Beetles. It became a thing for me, to snap them when I saw them.
