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Casa Crayola sitting area

Guanajuato

Ice Cream in the Jardin

Meal at El Tomate

HISTORY and DESCRIPTION OF SAN MIGUEL:

Located 170 miles north of Mexico City, the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, population 80,000, lies on the slopes of a hill facing the Laja River and the distant Guanajauto Mountains. San Miguel was declared a national monument in 1956, and thus retains much of its old-world flavor. It is often referred to as the most beautiful city of all of Mexico. It abounds with Spanish colonial architecture, flower-filled patios, and winding, terraced cobblestone streets. Burros deliver wood; women sell handmade dolls, men hawk straw baskets. It is Mexico's most celebrated artists' community, and has been luring artistically-inclined Mexicans and foreigners for decades. There are many schools focusing on arts, literature, and language. Despite the Anglo invasion, San Miguel retains much of an authentic Mexican village. On the other hand, the influx of tourists has resulted in charming cafes, pastry shops, boutiques, art galleries, gyms, yoga studios, etc...

The town is perched at an altitude of 6,400 feet which keeps the climate warm and sunny during the day and cool at night. It is eternal spring in San Miguel. Average high temperatures during June and July are around 78 F with lows at night around 58 F. The humidity is extremely low-- the weather is perfect!

For shopping, the city boasts some of Mexico's best shops and fine art boutiques. Also, its dining scene is top notch. Nouvelle Mexican cuisine, plus a diverse assortment of international dining options have given San Miguel a reputation for having the best "small town" dining in Mexico. The city boasts a thriving cultural and entertainment scene. Many events are in English. San Miguel’s night life is quite festive with jazz bands, concerts, coffee houses, and performing troupes.

Most of San Miguel's sightseeing highlights are clustered around the compact downtown area. This is a wonderful city for aimless wandering along its narrow cobbled lanes. El Jardin, the city's main plaza, is where people, locals and foreigners, sit and talk It is truly used as a place to meet people, chat, and relax..

History: San Miguel is situated in the heart of Mexico’s central plateau. The city has been the scene for important events at various key times which have helped to influence modern Mexico.

The majority of archaeological remains maintained as monuments were constructed between 900 and 1100 A.D. The ancient settlers of the region were forced to abandon them for a number of reasons. From 1200 A.D. onwards, the region was occupied by indigenous groups. In 1542 the Franciscan friar Juan de San Miguel set out to begin his evangelical work among the local inhabitants of the region. On September 29, 1542, he founded the first settlement, which was called, San Miguel de los Chichimecas (the indigenous people of that time).

In 1555, the settlement was officially founded as Villa de San Miguel, gaining great importance thanks to its location as well as its thriving textile and livestock industries. It became one of the richest and most prosperous towns in the New Spain. From the 17^th century onwards, magnificent houses and mansions were built and in the 18^th century many of the imposing religious edifices were erected. At the beginning of the last century, the seeds of Mexican Independence were sown in San Miguel. In 1810 the first insurgent army was formed there under the command of Allende, Aldama, Lanzagorta, and others. Now San Miguel is home to numerous nationally and internationally renowned artists who have chosen to settle in this paradisiacal location, full of galleries and prestigious art schools. At night the town provides a more Bohemian atmosphere with live music to suit all tastes and restaurants where patrons can enjoy any cuisine. San Miguel is rich in traditions with its colorful popular fiestas and important cultural festivals which take place throughout the year.

Dolores Hidalgo: The town was founded in 1568, but in the 1800’s after several name changes, it became known as Dolores Hidalgo and in 1948 the town was officially given the title of “Cradle of Independence”. This is where the Mexican independence movement began in earnest in 1810 when Father Miguel Hidalgo sounded the cry for independence on September 16 of that year

Dolores is more than just a historical town, it has acquired an international reputation for its ceramics and pottery. It is also the birthplace of the famed singer/composer of Mariachi music, Jose Alfredo Jimenez. In the plaza, also known as the jardin, is a large bronze statue of Hidalgo. On the weekends the plaza is especially crowded with locals and vendors. Homemade ice cream, which comes in a variety of unusual flavors, is a special treat.

CULTURAL NORMS:

What is a "gringo" and do you want to be one? In Mexico, a gringo refers to a foreigner, usually from North America. Sometimes it is a derogatory comment, but it is widely used and can replace the word for "foreigner" in many cases, without its derogatory implications. However, it's still a goal of many travelers to blend into the surroundings. This means dressing, acting, and talking in ways that adapt to the local environment.

Here are some preliminary ways for participants to blend in:

Clothing/Style: The style in San Miguel is very casual and comfortable. Too much skin, particularly white skin, will attract gawkers. For nights out on the town, attire is a bit dressier (no sneakers), and most night spots don't start going until 11-12pm.

Body Language / Tone of Voice: These can be a dead give-away. **Americans tend to use louder voices, especially in restaurants and public places. These louder voices accentuate the English (probably) being spoken. Mexicans tend to use a quieter volume and tone. And you may notice that it is extremely rare to hear a baby or child cry, although there are children everywhere. **Women are assumed "forward" if they initiate or engage in eye contact. This is often misleading as women may be looking at someone in an observant fashion or with curiosity, but the 'boldness' of this action may be interpreted differently. **While walking on the sidewalks, the general rule is that women, elderly or children get the 'inside track', the side closest to the wall. Staying to the right does not always work here.

Language: For in depth discussion about language, refer to Joseph Keenan's book. **do not over use Yo; **Instead of saying '..ummm' while you're thinking, use the Spanish equivalent...'este......' **use the formal title and conjugations when addressing individuals.

SAFETY, MEDICAL CONCERNS, WATER

San Miguel is an extremely safe small town. When crime does occur, it's usually in the nature of petty theft. As a precaution, participants should not bring valuable items.

If sickness or injury occurs, MexArt has an arrangement with a local doctor who is on-call for MexArt participants. This doctor is capable of handling most medical situations. However, the hospital in San Miguel is capable of handling medical emergencies. Medical treatment in Mexico is much less expensive than in the United States. However, since participants are responsible for the cost of any medical attention that may be needed, students should have their own medical insurance coverage that covers them while traveling in Mexico. Participants should check with their insurance carrier prior to travel.

The water in Mexico is not potable. Participants will be educated upon arrival about drinking only bottled water and in what cases fruits and vegetables may be eaten. However, visitors to Mexico do run the risk of being sick and suffering from 'turista' (stomach ailments), at some point during their stay. Visitors should avoid eating vegetables right from the market, street food, food from unreliable restaurants, etc. As travelers are exposed to different 'bugs' in Mexico, they develop resistance and tolerance. Pepto and tylenol are the best defenses when illness strikes. When turista does occur, a normal bout may last 1-3 days.

The dry climate in San Miguel with the addition of the elevation of over 6500 feet dehydrates many visitors. Travelers ought to drink plenty of water or gatorade, and we strongly recommend that visitors absolutely avoid alcoholic beverages during the first 48 hours as they exacerbate the effects of altitude sickness and dehydration.

CASA CRAYOLA

Students live in a small, centrally located casa de husepedes (Casa Crayola). There are 2 to 3 participants in a room (3-5 per suite) depending on the size of the casita. The hotel is the site of a summer teen camp for 30 students between June and August. During the rest of the year, the casitas are rented out to individual visitors to San Miguel or to group programs. Drinking water is provided. Location is in a safe neighborhood with many conveniences nearby: general store, internet cafes, 3 bakeries, etc.... The jardin is a flat 5-7 minute walk. For more information and photos: http://www.gomexart.com/aurora48.htm

LINKS:

Internet San Miguel: http://www.internetsanmiguel.com
Info San Miguel:   http://www.infosma.com
Portal San Miguel:   http://www.portalsanmiguel.com/
Mexico OnLine:   http://www.mexonline.com/sma.htm

BOOKS:

1.     Breaking Out of Beginner’s Spanish, by Joseph Keenan
2.     The Art of Crossing Cultures, by Craig Storti
3.     Nothing to Declare, Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone, by Mary Morris
4.     On Mexican Time, by Tony Cohan