Categories
- Argentina
- Chile
- Antarctica
- Easter Island
- Falklands (Malvinas)
- Bolivia
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Paraguay
- Brazil
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Galapagos
- Panama
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Belize
- Mexico
- Latin American Xmas
Pages
- Street Art of Buenos Aires
- A week in Buenos Aires
- The Jesuit Missions in South America
- Contact Us
- Map of Central America
- First week in Latin America – October 2009
- Home Page
- Map of South America
Archives
- October 2011 (3)
- September 2011 (9)
- August 2011 (10)
- July 2011 (7)
- June 2011 (6)
- May 2011 (11)
- April 2011 (10)
- March 2011 (4)
- February 2011 (5)
- January 2011 (6)
- December 2010 (6)
- November 2010 (4)
- October 2010 (8)
- September 2010 (5)
- August 2010 (7)
- July 2010 (5)
- June 2010 (6)
- May 2010 (6)
- April 2010 (7)
- March 2010 (6)
- February 2010 (9)
- January 2010 (4)
- December 2009 (8)
- November 2009 (5)
- October 2009 (2)
San Miguel de Allende
15th September 2011
The Hollywood movie “Once Upon a Time in México” (2003) was filmed in charming San Miguel de Allende [32]. A Franciscan friar, Juan de San Miguel founded the city that bears his name in 1542. It is now World Heritage. With bougainvillea tumbling down the muted multi-coloured houses that crawl up the hill side, cobbled streets, a bull ring and clear blue skies it is the classic Mexican colonial town. No wonder thousands of expatriates, mainly US retirees have settled here.
.
We arrived on a Sunday afternoon to find the central plaza packed, a band playing salsa, folks dancing and food carts doing a roaring trade. The Jardín Botánico, 30 minutes walk from town, has over 1000 species of cactus. Many birds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers growing there. The Santuario de Atotonilco is a World Heritage Site, built in the 18th century. The interior is a real surprise, adorned with rich Mexican Baroque murals. It´s about 20 minutes by taxi from San Miguel and an immensely important pilgrimage site for Mexicans.
.
Colibrí – Hummingbird – in action |