Carnival, Markets, and Art Galleries
Enjoying San Miguel de Allende
Above: Roberto Fuentevilla, “De Baja data” - Acrillico sobre tela, $77,000 pesos.
This weekend is the last Sunday before Lent, the last chance to eat meat and party for many Mexicans before 40 days of penitence and fasting. And it is a real party! The square is full of Mariachi bands, dancers, and kids throwing eggs at each other.
But don’t worry, the colorful eggs are full of sparkles that end up in everyone’s hair, no yolk~! You can see the sparkles in the kid’s hair in the video above.
There is a wonderful market as well as a street of artisan’s shops here bigger than any I’ve ever seen, stretching for almost a mile.
An Art Gallery in an old textile mill, Fabricá La Aurora, hosts 42 art galleries, 5 jewelry shops, 10 workshops offering art classes, 15 home decor shops, and 4 restaurants. The pictures above are all for sale in the gallery.
We spent several hours wandering through. It’s about a 20 minute walk from our wonderful hotel, partially along a stream that originally powered the mill.
We’ve met a number of wonderful folks from the US and Canada, most of whom have been coming here for many years. They all remark about the warmth of the Mexican people, and how safe they feel here. Spanish is not necessary, which is a big selling point for some.
We have two more days here in this sun-drenched city, watered by mountain springs, but we’re not going to try to see everything. We’re in Mexico, where nothing is urgent and everyone is important.
Thanks so much for traveling along!
A postscript on the roles of Allende and Hidalgo in the opening years of the Mexican War for Independence, from a contemporary document that surfaced relatively recently, The History of New Spain, described in detail in the museum I mentioned yesterday (translated from Spanish of course).
Allende was the first to disturb America’s calm and the True Instigator of Mexican Independence.
Here’s to Ignacio Allende!
Salude!
Post #1 in SMA Series: Welcome to San Miguel de Allende
Post #2 in SMA Series: Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Post #3 in SMA Series: Carnival, Markets and Art Galleries
Post #4 in SMA Series: Beauty is in the Simple Things
Post #5 in SMA Series: What can the History of Mexico tell us?
Post #6 in SMA Series: If you go: Hotels, Restaurants and connections.
I know that cash availability and distance can be an inhibiting factor but I think you should NEVER hare around some place and try to see everything in one go on the assumption that you'll never go there ever again. Because that might not be true,abd even if it is it's better to just see and absorb one or two things.
I would have to handcuff my wife because she would want to buy things. The craft fairs around here are fine examples. I ask her if she can put the item in the palm of her hand we will get it. I say that but everyone who knows my wife knows I am not telling the truth.