Page 12 - Eternal San Miguel de Allende

A‘selfie’ in front of a door in San Miguel de Allende is a ‘must do.’ As popular tourist attractions and the subject of artists for decades, these curious doors, and the mysteries that lie behind,
are eternal. Over two thousand doors line the cobble-stone streets of this Spanish Colonial city in central Mexico. Some of these doors are enormous, polished baronial portals. It’s easy to imagine a fine carriage and horses passing through. Other doors are weathered, simple, like a tiny door to a hobbit’s house. But pass by any open door, big or small, and you will certainly be enticed to peer in.
An open door in San Miguel de Allende is an entrance to breathtaking surprises. You may catch a glimpse of a lush tree-filled courtyard with a serene fountain in the middle, or enter a plain metal doorway, follow a dense garden path, and behold a grand colonial casona that rivals any mansion in old Madrid. Another door may lead to a centuries-old family chapel, fully decorated for a saint’s day, with forty dogs to greet you (or to stop the curious in their tracks!).
The discoveries are endless, and the streets in this enchanting city are paved with tales of passion, adventure, joy and pain. Epic events in Mexican history took place here, and are much celebrated, but lesser known to most visitors are the ancient indigenous rituals and traditions that take place throughout the year, a syncretism of Spanish Catholicism with the ancient aboriginal beliefs of the New World.
Don’t forget the supernatural. This is a very haunted city. Every local can relate a story of ghosts, and which house, street or cave they materialize; perhaps guarding chests of silver and gold once hidden, then found, then lost again, somewhere in the secret chambers and forgotten tunnels that snake all through town.
The real treasure is having an opportunity to see the houses behind the doors, or to witness one of the said ancient customs, to soak in the unforgettable moments that comprise the invigorating life this unique town offers. San Miguel de Allende is the cradle of so much that is pure, genteel, historic, and eternal in Mexican culture.
INTRODUCTION
“Let’s take a picture with this beautiful door!”
2 | Eternal San Miguel de Allende