San Miguel de Allende

3-16, 2009

We left our campground while the morning was still crisp and set out on a double-deck bus to tour the city of San Miguel de Allende. The little undersized bus took us up and down impossibly narrow cobblestone streets. The homes in San Miguel are tidy, brick and stone front buildings that look as if they belong on mountains of northern Italy. Mexico's flair is present, however in the brilliant colors of the stucco work.

We wound our way to the top of a hill to see the city from “El Mirador” (the lookout, or overseer – aptly named).

March brings a special moment to San Miguel de Allende. The vibrant, earth-tone palate of Mexican stucco is celebrated by thousands of brilliant lavender-blue clouds of jacarandas.

We savored a city that is not only a dazzling array of colors, but a dazzling array of the modern and antique architecture. Fresh new homes and businesses are snug and comfortable neighbors to sixteenth century baroque churches and government buildings.

An artistic mosaic of square modern buildings is punctuated by rococo spires of magnificent old churches. No view of this town seems complete without a wonderful old church front.