By Aundria McMillan Humphrey Maru Vázquez , with seven international awards, doesn’t just paint; she radiates art and lives it. It’s who she is, and she shares it generously, like it’s second nature. With over five decades of painting behind her, Maru’s recent 50 th  anniversary exhibition at the Querétaro Art Museum was more than a milestone—it was a celebration of a life steeped in emotion, adventure, and relentless creativity. Asked how her voice/art has changed over the y

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 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 Pascual Hijuelos Graphic design is probably one of the most grueling and competitive career fields an artist can pursue. Essentially you are expected to generate a profitable income for your client through your art work. There is little time for good will and humanitarian pursuits. Marvin Berk  is  an artist who was able to achieve  commercial success and support humanitarian causes throughout his artistic career. For over forty years Marvin worked as a graphic designer—be

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 Carlos Ramírez Zago Manuel Tejeda  was born in 1945 in the state of Jalisco. At the age of five, he began riding his father's horses, and by the age of eight, he was already racing horses. At age 12, he moved with his family to San Miguel de Allende, as his father had purchased a ranch where Manuel could continue doing what he loved most: riding horses. In the 1970s, Manuel was presented with an opportunity that undoubtedly changed his life. A woman invited him to Colorado

By Judith Jenya From the time they were three years old, both Dan and Nisha Ferguson knew they would be artists. Neither strayed from that path. Each was the eldest of three siblings, leading younger brothers or sisters into endless childhood adventures. They met at the Art Centre of the Technical School of Ontario in Toronto. After graduation, their friendship grew into a partnership in life and art. By 1991 they were collaborating, had a business and launched a creative jou

By Catherine Marenghi Sometimes confused with its most famous program – the  San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival  – the San Miguel Literary Sala  is the nonprofit umbrella organization that has been the focal point for San Miguel literary activity for more than 20 years. The organization was founded in 2004 by Susan Page , who moved to San Miguel in 2002. “I immediately noticed there seemed to be no local literary events – no readings, no writer gatherings,”  P

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

by John Dodge Meyer and Meryl Truett If you’re visiting Fabrica La Aurora on one of our bright, promising San Miguel afternoons, you just...

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 Carolina de la Cajiga In 2015, Bonnie Lee Black  attended the San Miguel Writers’ Conference. "It was my first time, and I was...

By Judith Jenya Peter Prip , a fifth-generation silversmith from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Leslie Block, a successful jewelry designer and...

By Natalie Taylor Javier Arriega Gómez  has been at his post in the doorway for the past fifteen years, selling door stoppers he makes...

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

By Natalie Taylor. Photo by Lander Rodríguez They say that it’s good to have a plan, but don’t be surprised if you are taken somewhere...

By Bill Wilson “I cannot live without books.” ― Thomas Jefferson Catherine Marenghi seems like one of those persons born to write and...