Atención: Interactions. We Walk. They Drive.

By Lisa Babincsak

In San Miguel, people rarely ask what you do. The real question is:

"Do you walk… or do you drive?"

It tells you almost everything you need to know.

Where they live. Who they know. Whether they're in orthopedic shoes or still pretending cobblestones are charming.

People who live in Centro walk. Proudly. Almost religiously. Even uphill, in the rain, carrying produce, a folding chair, and a small dog in a sling. They believe walking is a lifestyle. And honestly? It is. They glide through Centro like they own it.

Because in a way, they do.

They know which café is out of croissants before anyone else. They know which alley smells like tortillas at 7 a.m. They know when the bells are about to ring.

Then there are the drivers. Most live just outside the historic core—in places with names like La Lejona, Los Balcones, or “by the mall.” They still love San Miguel, but they love designated parking spots more.

They always have a reason to drive: groceries, heat, altitude, Pilates. They'll offer you a ride even if you didn't ask. It's generous. And slightly judgmental.

When I first moved here, I befriended a long-time Centro walker.

He knew every barista, every bookstore owner, every street musician by name. He thought he knew the whole town.

And then… he started hanging out with me.

I live outside of Centro. I drive.

And suddenly, he was meeting a whole new crowd he'd never seen before—people who've been here for years but don't hang out on foot. Not tourists. Not part-timers. Just a parallel San Miguel, equally committed but less visible.

Turns out, how you move shapes who you know.

One isn't better than the other. They just see different angles of the same town. Different altars.

Different potholes. Different gossip.

But when the two worlds do mix—usually over mezcal or a dog rescue fundraiser—they realize something:

Everyone thinks their San Miguel is the real one.

But the real magic happens when they overlap.

Some of us walk. Some of us drive.

But we're all still looking for parking.