1 Week in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Supports: Stowe Charities, Inc. (Stowe, VT)
Item Number: 142
- Time Remaining:
- CLOSED
- Online Close:
- Jun 21, 2012 10:00 PM EDT
- Bid History:
- 9 Bids
Description:
Vacation for a week in a townhouse in the beautifully preserved colonial town of San Miguel de Allende. Located in central Mexico on a mountain plateau, the town is known for its vibrant artist community. The Diego Rivera Museum is close by. The home is very comfortable for 2 couples (2 bedrooms/2 baths), with open space, patio, roof terrace, and the modern conveniences of wi-fi and satellite transmission.
Here's more from the owner of the house:
i don't have a pool, but my house is just a few blocks away from a brand new luxury hotel which offers day passes for the pools, spa, and fitness facilities. there are lovely indoor and outdoor bars and restaurants there. there are also several serene resorts and hotels out in the countryside where one can spend the day swimming, relaxing, walking, dining. there is another hotel nearby that has tennis courts that the public can book, and golf courses a little way out of town. several surrounding ranches offer horseback riding trips. i have seen ads for mountain bike tours, 4 wheeler tours, and guided hiking excursions. there is an amazing, exhaustive folk art gallery, also about 20 - 30 minutes away, and an incredibly detailed mask museum in town of indigenous, historic masks, complete with early film footage. a pyramid site was recently discovered near san miguel and is now open for touring with guides.
although people can certainly rent a car, i recommend taking the very efficient, affordable shuttle service from either leon (1 1/2 hrs.) or mexico city (3 1/2 hrs). it drops people at their doorstep. the streets in town are very narrow, hilly, and rough with rugged cobblestones. one can either take buses or knowledgable drivers with car to out of town locations. the center of town is mainly a walking city, with people of all ages negotiating the "adventurous" sidewalks and streets. bright green taxis cruise the streets and cost between 2 - 3 usd. my house is about a 10 - 15 minute fairly level walk from the central square (jardin), although a little more uphill on the way home. to get to centro one either passes through a lovely park (parque juarez) or strolls down lovely colonial streets lined with interesting row houses. i would recommend taking a taxi home at night, especially for the uninitiated.
september is lovely - sunny during the day, cool early mornings and evenings. same for october, just a little cooler in the evenings. the first time i went down was the last week of oct. thru the first week of nov., and it was a very interesting time as there were festivities and altars everywhere building up to halloween and, more importantly, the day of the dead on 11/2, when the cemeteries are all opened and people have celebrations and feasts at the graves of their loved ones.
actually, there are feasts in the main square and everywhere most weeks of the year. semana santa, (the week preceding easter) is also a most magical time to be in SMA, with many colorful, religious processions, pageants and displays . the town is an old, preserved colonial city, not a beach resort, with many art exhibits, performances, literary events, etc. there are old churches and cathedrals, including an early painted example (called the mexican sistine chapel) about 20 minutes away. in the same direction are several lovely hot springs. the appeal of the town is subtle, offering visitors the opportunity to feel and experience both the rhythms of mexican and indigenous life, art, and fiestas, and the creative energy of expats who sought out a more liberating way of life.
other things - opportunity to study spanish, art, or photography classes, especially if one were to take both of the 2 weeks. there are great spanish schools in town as well as private teachers whose names i can get. also, many massage therapists, in home and out, as well as yoga, pilates, etc. classes.
oh, yes - other destinations: mexico city is well worth a stay on the way to or from. the oldest, largest, most elaborate colonial city in the area is guanaguato (means frog, think), capital of the the state of the same name where SMA is located. it also has many old winding streets, churches, art galleries, museums, and a large university built up hillsides. diego rivera's original house is a museum, including his art. the lower parts of the city are built on top of an ingenious network of tunnels and bridges to keep it safe from floods. the city was an important part of the ancient silver route from south america to north of the border, as was SMA. on the outskirts of town is an old silver hacienda in great condition; with a knowledgable guide, this place brings to life what is for us an unimaginable lifestyle fashioned from unimaginable wealth.
i will be happy to fill folks in before they leave for their stay, which is what someone did for me when i won my first 2 weeks at a benefit auction.