San Miguel de Allende: Two Days in the Expat Capital of Mexico
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- At various times in recent years, San Miguel de Allende has been named both the top city in the world and the best small city in the world. That probably comes as no surprise to the thousands of expats who now call the place home.
I recently spent two days in the city, in hopes of finding out what all the hype was about. I found a place that was full of beauty and certainly not short on attractions to see and things to do. I also discovered that San Miguel de Allende has been transformed by all the newcomers, into a place that doesn't always feel like it's even in Mexico.
Music provided by Epidemic Sound.
Having retired in 2023, I now travel full-time, seeing places all around the world. My idea for UA-cam is to make the videos more about the places and people along the way, than about me. I hope that the experience for you is both entertaining and educational. Perhaps you will come away from my channel with ideas about places you would like to visit or be inspired to forge your own way.
I travel slowly, spending four or five weeks in each destination. Hopefully, that will allow me to go beyond the surface to find the essence of each location. By the end of 2024, I will have visited 14 countries and five of the seven continents. Come along for the journey!
I survived the good and bad of the USA for 79 years. I am not afraid of anything, and I support myself, and help honest none beggars. Good and evil is everywhere. I moved to Queretaro in 2021 at 79, and God warns me on about evil and dishonest monsters. This is my 82nd year with GOD as my guide.
Happy in cool Queretaro since 2021. Over 62 years traveling Mexico, mainly Acapulco, all 50 USA states and the world on my own dime from working.
But there's no denying that social security check that you get every month goes a lot farther!
Good for you.😊
Ustedes son el tipo de extrajeros que si queremos: respetuosos, interesados por la cultura local, no quieren pasar por encima ni aprovecharse, felicidades y disfruten nuestro pais
¡Me siento tan honrado por tu comentario! Me esfuerzo mucho por respetar las culturas que visito y trato con cuidado los lugares que presento. ¡Reconocer que incluso estuve cerca de lograr ese objetivo me hace sentir fantástico!
Nicely done video! Thanks for creating it.
I’m an immigrant in SMA, 8 years here. It would certainly be debatable how much influence non nationals have had into making this city a wonderful oasis. My observations are the wealthy Mexicans from major cities have much more to do with the city’s transformation and are directly involved with the development. The upperclass of Mexicans are very internationally experienced, and San Miguel is their weekend playground. I would suggest this transformational influence is supported by their vast wealth more so than tourists from elsewhere. The majority of tourists are Mexican and can easily be mistaken for locals. Most locals only visit Centro occasionally. Immigrants make up less than 10% of the population, mostly retirees who have little interests in creating new businesses, although many have and there is a cosmopolitan feel with residents from all over the globe.
Thank you for the kind words! Also, I appreciate your comments about those from Mexico being more responsible for SMA's transformation than the expat population. Being in the city for only a couple of days, it is difficult to get an accurate handle on cause and effect.
@@oldaloneandfarfromhome Eric is completely correct. We are also in the 10% category he names. We very familiar with the city and confirm exactly what he is saying. Almost all of the money in SMA is from Mexican tourists and Mexicans operating local businesses that has contributed to the growth. Sure, expat (non-Mexican) residents and tourists bring economic impact as they do in any popular tourist locale, but all you have to do is walk around the city (not just around the Parroqia) and you may not hear a word that is not in spanish. Great city, we love it.
Just, wow! The architecture, the flowers, the murals and art...such a gorgeous place! Thanks for sharing.
My favorite part was probably the Guadeloupe neighborhood, with all of that art! Thanks so much for all of your support!
Finally!! Thank you for sharing your video, and the background music that captures the true San Miguel when I once lived there a long time ago. Thank you!! side note::: I know a thing or two about the sunset, I used to rent an apartment that had a roof garden, that face east and west, and just about every night I sucked down a beer listening to Mariachis and watching the sunset behind the Sierra Madre!!
Thank you so much for the amazing comment!
SMA is awesome and I am envious that you got to enjoy so many fantastic sunsets there!
@oldaloneandfarfromhome if you can rent the movie Man On Fire with Danzel Washington. There are two Is ariel scenes director Ridley Scott did looking off to the west , It would make me cry. You're most welcome. Memories
No es casualidad que haya muchos extranjeros viviendo en San Miguel de Allende, simplemente hermoso lugar. Gracias por tu video. Bendiciones
Entiendo totalmente por qué tanta gente de otros países vive allí. ¡Es un lugar increíble!
Thanks for sharing !! We are so excited to visit SMA pretty soon, it looks so welcoming !!
You will absolutely enjoy SMA! Have fun!
One more Pristine presentation of yours, this time San Miguel de Allende, with History, and a superb filming, thank you.
I appreciate that! I enjoying my time in SMA!
San Miguel is Mexico's, Florence ! It is truly a magical place. You feel it as you walk about the city. . The Pride of place . The attention to detail, the cleanliness , It's beautiful antiquity , Spanish colonial architecture, all intact just as it was nearly 500 years ago.
I wish I had taken just a little more time in the city! There was plenty more that I could have seen.
Florence, Italy is Florence, Italy. San Miguel de Allende has its own culture, history, gastronomy… I hate it when Americans call places names such as “the Paris of South America” to refer to Buenos Aires, for example. It completely obliterates that place’s rich history in order to give the audience a familiar point of reference.
@@ejohnson3131 Hey Karen ... Nobody cares at all what you " hate " here . Who took a piss in your oatmeal ???? Get a hobby
México is Mexico San Miguel de Allende is San Miguel de Allende
@@Vantemma WOW !!!! That's REALLY REALLY REALLY deep ! My mind is blown !
I like this video. Nice introduction, picture, music, and setting. This remind me of once upon a time Ricks travels.
That is high praise indeed! Thank you so much!
SMA is a beautiful place.
Keep the videos coming,your doing a great job.love'em.👍🏻😎
So awesome of you to say that!
I don't plan on stopping. There will be a new one every Sunday.
We just got back and really enjoyed your video!
Thank you! I hope you had a great time in SMA!
Mole eggs … drooooool …. I miss my Mexico 🇲🇽. Ohhh, and chilaquiles 😋😋😋😋
Aren't they fantastic?
Nice video and I love the name of your channel!
Thank you! I am proud of that name!
Amazing vid and very informative
That is so nice of you to say! I really enjoyed my visit to SMA!
Wonderful video!👏👏👏👏👏! I love mexico! I was extremely impressed 😊😊😊😊😊
Thank you so much!
I was fortunate enough to visit some wonderful places in Mexico.
I appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment!
Beautiful video
That is so nice of you to say!
Lovely well done,
I appreciate that!
SMDA is beautiful!!
I totally agree!
Thank you for watching.
Thanks for sharing your experience in San Miguel de Allende. I enjoyed the great shots, especially the cobblestone roadway. However, I'm not too sure about those eggs you loved so much. Pretty saucy.😋
You had to taste them! The mole sauce was the perfect combination of earthy and sort of sweet!
Always appreciate you taking a look at my videos!
I was surprised by the Narrator's clarity, and honesty about San Miguel de Allende. He surmised at the end that not all is Shangrila, and that the Gringo Ex-pat influence renders the place a bit of a Disneyland. At first, I said to myself - "OMG! Yet another Silver-Fox Gringo gushing over SMA, but he actually had a more seasoned and refined assessment of the place. Good on him!
Thank you!
I try not to be too critical of any place, but I do feel an obligation to give my opinion, when warranted.
I appreciate you watching and taking the time to leave a comment!
🙏🙏🙏❤️
I visited here twice in the mid 60's and lived here in 1970-1971. San Miguel was a town, then, not a city. The people who are gushing about it now have no clue what has been lost, how commercialized it's become and how much sprawl, traffic and crime have increased. As is so often the case, its popularity has been the cause of its demise.
I am sure that much has been lost from what the town was long ago. I made reference to it in the video, but it's not my position to criticize a place that so many people love.
Thank you for watching!
For any Americans thinking this is going to be the next place they're going to live, you might want to think again. This town is extremely expensive because of the number of American and Canadian expats that have moved here over the years. As can be seen with the narrator of this video, you don't have to speak Spanish at all, let alone need to pronounce any of the names properly.
The Expats are destroying the culture and vibe
@@mysticheart4685AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS
On the contrary: I was surprised by the Narrator's clarity, and honesty about San Miguel de Allende. He surmised at the end that not all is Shangrila, and that the Gringo Ex-pat influence renders the place a bit of a Disneyland. At first, I said to myself - "OMG! Yet another Silver-Fox Gringo gushing over SMA, but he actually had a more seasoned and refined assessment of the place. Good on him!
I am visiting SMA the last week of October of this year. I was debating if staying 2 days or 3 days. Is 2 days enough time to visit and see everything there? I go to Querétaro after SMA but my original plan was to be in QUE for only one day because my plane leave from there but I can add one day there and one day less in SMA. Any suggestions of what I should do.
You could see everything in the heart of SMA in two days. I think it would be a good plan, too, so that you could spend more time in Querétaro.
I loved both places!
Thank you for watching and for reaching out in the comments!
We been there it's very expensive. Very.
It is definitely more expensive than many other cities in Mexico.
I’m glad they turned you away. There are too many “content creators” trashing so many nice places.
There is nothing American about San Miguel… depends on what you’re focusing on.
Expat places in Mexico by the sea or lakes are much better
Given time, I hope to get to many more of those places!
Great video! just to add ExPat = IMMIGRANT!
Thank you and there's no doubt that those terms are synonymous. I don't look at either term in a negative way either.
Ex-pat is just another word for immigrant.
I enjoyed your video, until you tried to take away from what the Mexican people themselves have created for all to enjoy.
It was not my intention to take anything away from the Mexican people. I do think the presence of so many expats has changed SMA. As I mentioned in the video, however, that is up to each individual, as to whether that is good or bad. I attempted to stay away from inserting my opinion. I acknowledge that sometimes I fall short of my objective.
Anyway, thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment.
Chapala is the expat capital of Mexico, and much nice because it's by the water
I will have to check it out someday.
Thank you for watching!
Promo>SM
Newsflahsh buddy. 90% of Mexico looks like this.
No, it doesn't.
I wasnt impressed.
Great! One less so called "expat" there 🙏
😂 go to the american midwest, oh you will be impressed, hopefully not too much😏
@pav
Neither are you Mr Bully...
We just returned from this place two weeks ago,it was beautiful just like i was told it was,but there's another town not far from there is call BERNAL,and the same thing is happening here too,meaning people are buying land here beacause of its beauty,San Miguel De Allende is getting so expensive because of outsider coming here and buying property for almost same price as in the States,but is you go to the town of Bernal is almost as peaceful as it is in Allende and lots of beautiful places and restaurants and the cost is less than Allende's because it has.nt been found yet.
I agree with your assessment. SMA is much more expensive than surrounding cities. I did visit Bernal and actually put together a video on the experience!
ua-cam.com/video/41AbFfFm5do/v-deo.htmlsi=USxBlOdalbwfU83W
I thoroughly enjoyed that experience!