Dinner with friends

A dinner date with Denise turned into a dinner with Sibyl English and new friend Sylvia Hoolihan at Hecho en Mexico, one of the more popular lunch/dinner spots in town -- I like it a lot because, in addition to great food, it's a 10-minute walk from my place.

 I love it when I can introduce friends to each other.  Denise lives in San Francisco, has a home here and comes to visit several times a year.  We met several years ago at a Playreaders event. I met Sibyl at a luncheon given by a mutual friend several weeks ago and have since been invited to a party at her home.

 Sibyl is a jazz singer, apparently a very good one, though I have never heard her sing.  All that will change tonight because I am going to her closing show at Carcassonne Restaurant.  Will post on that tomorrow!

I'm wearing one of those 'wet' ties that keep you cool on a hot day - and it was a VERY HOT DAY yesterday.  More tomorrow!

How I Spent My Afternoon

I play bridge two or three times a week and sometimes a group of bridge players will walk across the street to the Longhorn BBQ for cocktails and snacks or dinner.  Here are some photos of the group last night...

and Keith, the owner, a really sweet guy from jolly old England, who knows more about BBQ than most Texans.  I used to enjoy his ribs!  I've been a vegetarian for over a year now.

Leslie and I actually won the Club Championship a few weeks ago in our flight (division)...

Ladies Wine Night at the Rosewood

Joined some friends last evening for Ladies Night at the 1826 Tequila Bar, where they also have an amazing wine list at half-price for ladies on Thursday evenings.  It's such a beautiful room.  Pictured above are the bartender, the sommelier (Raymundo) and the Director of Restaurant and Bar Operations (Christian) waiting for us (I had stopped in earlier to set this up).  Later, we popped up to the rooftop Luna Bar at sunset to enjoy the amazing view over the city as the lights start coming on.  Very magical!

Life in San Miguel de Allende

Inspired by several blogs I've been following recently (my cousin Joel traveling in SE Asia; a local visitor blogging about food in San Miguel), I suddenly thought, "WHY NOT?"  I've been living permanently in Mexico for 10 years now and, while I send lots of emails to friends and family, maybe it would be fun and useful to have a running 'diary' of my life here, maybe just for my own purposes, maybe because it would be interesting to others.  So here goes!

Let's start with where I live - in the beautiful, magical town of San Miguel de Allende, set on a hillside in the very center of Mexico, NE of Mexico City, E of Guadalajara, 8 hours south of the Texas border. 

Life is different here.  The pace is slower.  The light is brighter.  The people are from everywhere.  They say that there are people living here from over 50 different countries.  I personally know people from Italy, Canada, Germany, Spain, England, Ireland and South Africa.  I also know quite a few Mexicans!  The two below are locals!  

 

Did I mention that the pace is slower?  The Jardin (central plaza) is called 'San Miguel's living room'.  In the center of town (or Centro as we say), you pass through it on your way to daily errands and are always sure to meet someone you know.  You can stop for a quick chat, or you can settle onto a bench and spend a pleasant hour or so visiting with friends  -- and strangers, too!

These people all live here and typically spend an hour or so here in the morning, then go somewhere for lunch, then probably for a siesta.  Most everyone is involved in charitible organizations and good works, helping the local orphans, widows, stray animals, or teaching English, or building homes in the campo for people who would otherwise be living in dirt shacks.  There's plenty of need and plenty of volunteers, to help raise money, to donate their time and talents to the never-ending needs of those less fortunate.

I myself have been known to spend an hour or two hanging out in the Jardin.  This was taken several years ago, but very little has changed.  Other things you can do in the Jardin are have a coffee or a meal at a sidewalk cafe.....

...pet a lovely local dog (and there are many!)......

 ...and on Sundays there is Danzon for anyone who wants to dance in the sun in the middle of the day!

Not too bad for a first posting.  More tomorrow.  Stay tuned - and thanks for reading my blog.