By Doreen Cumberford A few Fridays ago, we went to Don Lupe's for an event. As I sat down Monica said “Your Usual"? She was on her way to place the order before I could answer. It somehow stopped me in my tracks. When did I suddenly become someone with a usual at a country grill in San Miguel? Belonging is peculiar when you've chosen to live far from where you were born. We don't often talk about it directly, it feels too vulnerable, or too complex. But for those of us who've

By Bill Wilson Comrades mine and I in the midst, and their memory ever to keep for the dead I loved so well.”— Walt Whitman It’s that time of the year when here in México there is a cultural collision of celebrations. It also marks the anniversary of our arrival in San Miguel de Allende as full-time residents. And Halloween-an imported holiday often celebrated by expats and some Mexicans- and the solemn and festive celebration- greeted us as we took a stroll around the jardin

By Sanderella Roy San Miguel de Allende hums with an energy that seems to awaken the creative spirit in all who arrive. For many, creativity is not simply an activity but an expression of the soul, an intuitive process that brings both release and growth. We see it in individuals who come here and bloom, discovering new facets of themselves through painting, writing, music, or craft. We see it in the murals and street art splashed with bold colors, and in the lovingly decorat

By Jonathan Lockwood Oskar Vásquez, 42, is a deeply spiritual man. So spiritual that I found myself getting mesmerized by his explanations of tonas and nahuales . This was by far the longest interview I’ve conducted in this Mezcal Spotlight series. But when you’re sitting with someone who speaks of mezcal as a living spirit, intertwined with the same unseen forces that shape our lives, you don’t interrupt. Before you know it, hours slip by unnoticed. Oskar, along with his fa

By Sara Tylosky Young riders from eight countries, including the United States, will gather for the Concours de Dressage International (CDI) World Cup Qualifier at Rancho San Vicente, near Santa Fe, México. This historic competition - the first multi-nation youth CDI in México in 20 years - is bringing a new kind of excitement to the equestrian world through a unique borrowed-horse program, inspired by the Dressage4Kids concept. The initiative allows qualified youth to tr

By Sharon Doherty Most of us can remember a teacher who made a real difference in our lives, someone whose warmth, patience, and sense of humor helped us discover a love of learning. But imagine how much more powerful that connection can be when you are a Deaf child meeting a teacher who is also Deaf, who understands your world and your language completely. Laura is one such teacher. Her story begins when her parents enrolled her at EEESMA School for the Deaf in 2013, at th

By Natalie Taylor María Luisa, Pakina , Langenscheidt was born in México City to a Mexican-German heritage. Her great-grandfather, came to México from Germany in the late 1800s and married into a family connected to the Obregons, a distinguished Mexican family. She grew up in México City but at the age of eight the family moved to San Miguel de Allende, where she did her primary schooling. Right after high school she married Jaime Fernandez, and as young housewife and mother

By Doreen Cumberford We know that San Miguel is a fantastic place to live, but do we ever stop to consider what a remarkable place it is to die? For expats, this enchanting colonial city offers profound cultural discoveries about death and dying that differ dramatically from often sterile Northern approaches. Here, death is embraced as natural, celebrated with joy, processions and celebrations rather than hidden away. When expats die overseas, complexity multiplies instantly.

By Carolina de la Cajiga A holiday disaster, a dare, and a woman with vision… In the sun-drenched heart of San Miguel de Allende, Barbara Edell Poole —known as Barbe or her playful alias, Madam Turca —found her calling in an unexpected place: a famous former bordello, first known as Casa de La Turca . Her story is a charming testament to serendipity, resilience, and saying ‘yes’ to adventure. Barbe recounts, “It began in 1994, with a family holiday and a plumbing disaster tha

By Tiffany Paige Every so often in San Miguel, you meet someone whose story feels like it could only have unfolded here, where daring choices, cultural mash-ups, and creativity swirl together into something magnetic. For me, one of those people is my friend and artist, Kato Rempel . Kato’s journey began in Vancouver, BC, where she worked in digital graphic design during its groundbreaking years. After more than a decade, she did what few would dare: she left behind stability

By Bill Wilson “A smile can be your umbrella on a rainy day" — Old proverb. You don’t need to be a weatherman to know that this has been...

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey In San Miguel de Allende, not every keeper of tradition stands in the spotlight. One such guardian is Bill...

On a vibrant Friday afternoon, October 3rd, The Tearoom Upstairs in San Miguel de Allende transformed into a hub of elegance and cultural...

As entities committed to protecting animals, we are grateful to have the opportunity to express our position with regards to the recent...

By Sara Tylosky This October, our town will host two remarkable equestrian events that highlight the beauty, diversity, and cultural...

By Danita Brisson San Miguel is blessed with several animal welfare charities, offering rescue, foster and adoption, spay and neuter...

By Natalie Taylor In a rural setting, only twenty minutes from San Miguel de Allende’s Centro, is a small compound surrounded by trees...

By Danita Brisson Volunteering abroad is a local concern with global consequences. Fortunately, fellow Atención News columnist and...

By Bill Wilson “The major advances in civilization are processes that all but wreck the societies in which they occur” —A.N. Whitehead,...

By Danita Brisson What began with one man’s concern about the health and welfare of children in the campo has evolved into one of San...