San Miguel de Allende

This morning, we took a trolley tour of San Miguel de Allende and stopped at this overlook of the whole city, which has a population of about 60,000 in the central town and about 130,000 in the whole area, with about 25,000 being expats––mostly Americans, Canadians, and Europeans. I think that many of my tour group took this Colonial Mexico Tour as it was visiting San Miguel de Allende which has the reputation of being the best colonial town in Mexico.

Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel

Prominent in the close–up photo is the 19th–century Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel.

San Miguel de Allende

The Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel can be seen near the end of the street. The Spanish laid out the streets in a straight grid pattern but with many of the streets very steep.

Cobblestoned Streets

The streets and sidewalks in San Miguel Allende are cobblestoned and can be hard to walk on. However, our tour director, Lilianna, told us there was a store that sold San Miguel shoes especially made for walking on cobblestones. I don’t know if any of my tour group bought any. Some of my group were wearing hiking shoes which they thought were safer to walk in.

Villas

Many of the villas in San Miguel de Allende date back to the time of the Spanish conquest and were in ruins in the 1940s and 1950s, but they have been bought and restored. Behind their walls are secluded gardens.

Colonial Building

Many of the colonial buildings have old doors, decorative windows, and balconies.

Colonial Church

There are so many colonial churches in San Miguel de Allende that you could easily spend several days going from one to another.

Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel

The most impressive church in San Miguel de Allende is the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel at the Plaza Allenda, the main plaza. In 1880, Zeferino Gutierrez, an indigenous master stone mason and bricklayer and also an self–taught architect, copied the style of the Gothic churches in Europe from postcards and lithographs to design this church.

Iglesia San Rafael

In the same complex as the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel is the Iglesia San Rafael, 1742.

Templo del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri

Another of the many colonial churches in San Miguel de Allende is the Templo del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri.

Shopping

San Miguel de Allende is also known as a shopper’s paradise. You could spend a few days here just going into all the stores. One of the city’s specialities is tinware.

Handicraft Market

I went to the Handicraft Market with two of my tourmates but concentrating so hard on not falling down on the cobblestones of the market that I didn’t take any photos of it. The market is a narrow sloping cobblestoned line of individual vendors selling souvenirs and some higher–quality items. Photo: I bought this artwork as I hadn’t seen its type beforehand but did see later on the trip.

I have put my photos of San Miguel de Allende on two slideshows. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/san–miguel–de–allende–1/ and http://www.peggysphotos.com/san–miguel–de–allende–2/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Colonial Mexico Tour, “San Miguel de Allende–1 and –2”).

Leaving San Miguel de Allende

Some of us left only for part of the afternoon to go on an optional tour of Dolores Hidalgo, a close–by village.

Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo, a small colonial town, is known as the “Cradle of National Independence.” It was here that Father Hidalgo made the “Cry for Independence” of Mexico from Spain––the “Grito de Dolores.” Statue of Father Hidalgo in Dolores Hidalgo.

Santuario de Atotonilco

Our first stop in Dolores Hidalgo was at the 18th–century Santuario de Atotonilco built by Father Luis Felipe Neri de Alfaro.

Santuario de Atotonilco

Inside the Santuario de Atotonilco, called the “Sistine Chapel of Mexico” because of all the murals on its ceiling.

First Mexican Flag

The first flag of Mexico had Our Lady of Guadalupe on it as shown in the photo.

Santuario de Atotonilco

A spectacular hallway was in the church.

Pre-Wedding Shoot

In front of the church, a pre–wedding shoot was being set up. The paper mache figures had people inside them.

Dolores Hidalgo

A colonial Spanish straight–grid sloping street in Dolores Hidalgo.

La Casona de Don Miguel

Our next stop was at the La Casona de Don Miguel restaurant for lunch.

Ice Cream Desert

Our desert was ice cream here––choose a flavor: from the usual, strawberry, chocolate, etc., to the unusual, shrimp, mole, avocado, chicharron (fried pork rinds), tequila, beer, etc.

Dolores Parish Church

Across the street was Father Hidalgo’s 18th–century Dolores Parish Church. It was on the steps of the church that Father Hidalgo uttered his Cry for Independence at 5 a.m. on September 16, 1810.

Dolores Parish Church

Inside the Dolores Parish Church.

I have put my photos of Dolores Hidalgo on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/dolores–hidalgo/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Colonial Mexico Tour, “Dolores Hidalgo”).

Talavera Factory, Dolores Hidalgo

We next visited a talavera factory in Dolores Hidalgo. Talavera is a type of ceramics that was brought to Mexico by Spain. It was being made in Talavera de la Reina, Spain; hence, the name talavera. The Spanish adopted the techniques to make ceramics from the Moors in the 12th century. By 1580, the city of Puebla became the center of talavera in Mexico. Father Hidalgo brought talavera to Dolores Hidalgo.

Talavera Planters

Talavera pottery comes in all shapes and sizes as planters and decorative items. Plates, cups, and tiles also make up the various items made. The factories send the talavera to mainly Latin America and United States markets. They are especially popular in Southern California to go with Spanish–style houses, among others. I live in one of the Spanish–style houses and have many telavera planters, vases, and decorative items, etc., plus many telavera tiles both inside and outside my house.

Talavera Decorative Items

Photo of Mexican Sleeping Sombreros, a popular talavera item. At the factory store, I bought some small items––they were about 1/2 the price that I would pay for them in Los Angeles. I brought along bubble wrap, tape, and a hard shell to put them in. None of them broke in my suitcase. I didn’t ask whether the factory would ship items as items such as planters would not fit into suitcases.

Factory Floor

The women workers were painting the various parts of the patterns after the pattern were stenciled on the planters. No two items, even tiles, are exactly alike as all are hand painted.

Painting Talavera

The paints that are used before an item is fired are pastels.

Talavera Colors

However, after items are fired, the colors are very bright.

I have put my photos of the talavera factory visit on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/talavera–factory–dolores–hidalgo/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Colonial Mexico Tour, “Talavera Factory, Dolores Hidalgo”).