San Miguel De Allende

Travel and Leisure Magazine just rated this beautiful town 3 hours north of Mexico City (driving fast) as the #1 destination spot in 2014.  I wonder what took me so long to experience such authenticity.  Recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and almost 500 years old with its narrow cobblestone streets (leave your high heels behind), leafy courtyards and fine Colonial and Spanish architectural details, San Miquel has become an enclave full of ex-pats, artists, and entrepreneurs seeking the “good life”.  The most famous building in town is the Parroquia de San Miquel, a muiltispired pink limestone towering over the center square. It is a picture postcard.  We crashed both a funeral and a wedding within a day of each other at this gorgeous church.  And being that the town is in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains and the weather is often described as “eternal spring” at 6100 feet above sea level, the sunrises and sunsets are quite dramatic…especially at the new Rosewood (where we stayed) rooftop bar “Luna” where you can see forever.  Rich in Mexican culture, there are many weekend festivals and outdoor markets but don’t miss the local market which sells everything from food, textiles, jewelry, masks, clothing, tablecloths… you name it they sell it and everything is VERY colorful. The vibrant art (think Frida Khalo) and music scene (guitar players everywhere), keeps the town humming.  We were there just in time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fabrica La Aurora which is an art and design center housed in a former textile factory.  San Miguel’s most buzzed about food scene is the farm to table concept with inventive dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.  Dishes like spicy papaya and octopus salad and quail eggs on mustard butter with arugula puree!  I was looking for chips with salsa and guacamole!  Hiking and biking the 24 blocks of narrow streets, alleys and paths without any traffic lights can be perilous so we headed for the hills not too far out-of-town with a guide of course to feel the pulse of the trails.  Looking forward to bringing my STAT girls back for a visit.