Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Miguel de Allende's “mummies” visit the Jardín, the central plaza, which is some-
times referred to as Jurassic Park. They are the living almost dead. Mariachis gather and
play in the Jardin. But it should be Glen Campbell belting out “Almost Heaven,” or a
church choir singing “Nearer My God to Thee.”
San Miguel's elderly populate art galleries, shops and boutiques. And I was told that,
“They are adding to the foreign section at the cemetery.” Mexico laughs at itself, “So far
from God, so close to the United States.” In San Miguel that quip is reversed, “So far from
Texas, so near to God.”
Million-dollar homes and affordable cooks, maids and gardeners, this is expat Mexico,
Gringolandia. People speak of healing and art, “life paths” and a slower pace. There are
artists and dilettantes, the real and the pretentious. Mexicans are the hosts; Americans and
Canadians are the guests. It's a mix of life and culture. In my mind, it's sculptured in bas-
relief.
I sat under the Allende arches at the restaurant at the corner of the Jardín and ordered
breakfast,
huevos Mexicanos
(scrambled eggs with diced tomato, pepper and onion). It
was just after 7 a.m., and I was their first customer. Pedro, my waiter, brought me a cup of
coffee and said, “The cook hasn't arrived.”
“That's OK,” I said, “her huevos Mexicanos are worth the wait.”
Pedro and I chatted. His English was better than my Spanish. He said, “I worked in the
U.S. for nine years. There are more Americans in San Miguel de Allende than in Arizona.”
Academia Hispano Americano: An Adventure in Education
This Old Gringo thought he should add to his Spanish vocabulary and practice conversa-
tion. He's been getting by in Spanish for forty-three years but thought it was time to go
back to school and get the student experience.
He heard favorable comments about Academia Hispano Americano (AHA), and they had
the best brochure and the most professional course outline. He was sold on “Vamos a hab-
lar español (Let's Speak Spanish).” He even liked the name, Aha! It seemed to add a pinch
of chile to the program. The schedule was intensive:
Monday through Friday
Mornings:
