Oaxaca Bound!

Against a cool background in the artisan market

I’m writing from the Mexico City airport, where I have a two-hour layover before heading to Oaxaca. I should arrive at my new house there around 4:00 this afternoon. I will admit I feel ready to move on from San Miguel de Allende, but as tends to be the case with most places, it did start to grow on me the longer I stayed.

This was a pet duck in an awesome restaurant Susie took me to

Also, I made friends with Susie my last week there, and we hung out almost every evening. It was such a different (and better!) experience to have a friend there, and she is just a really likable person. She’s outgoing and approachable, similar to how Mike is. She talks to everyone, loves kids, and might be even crazier for dogs than me. I sometimes wish I were a warmer, more social person like Susie, but I’m probably stuck with my lone-wolf tendencies at this point. Luckily, that type of person is not put off at all by wolves.

It was certainly a fun little setup staying there in the apartments of Quinta Sol, smack dab in the middle of the artisan market.  I don’t think words (or even pictures) can adequately describe how cool the location was! We’d walk out of our door and there would be vendor after vendor in either direction selling colorful glassware, silver or beaded jewelry, wood carvings, traditional clothes, wall hangings, and so much more. The artisan market covered three blocks, and Quinta Sol was tucked inside the middle block. Luckily I couldn’t buy too much stuff at the market since I have to fit my life in one suitcase and a backpack. I’m already stuffed to the gills with my own day-to-day possessions.        

Toward the end of my stay, the other guests went home and Susie and I basically had the whole apartment complex to ourselves, which was cool. She lived on the third floor and I was on the second, but I could call up to her on her balcony and make plans for after work.

My view of Susie's on the 3rd floor

Susie's view of my place

Our host at Quinta Sol, Jose Juan, was also a big part of why the stay was so nice. He was just friendly enough without being overbearing, and also really helped me practice my Spanish since he spoke very little English. Sometimes I’d even help him translate for other guests. Jose Juan’s little boy Tadeo, who was 7, was always around, too (the kids were on Easter break), He was an outgoing little guy who would come and say hi to me with his adorable gap-toothed smile. I liked that kid! Too bad, yet again, I don’t have a photo. I’ve got to get better about that.

Anyway, the plane is boarding soon so I better run. I'm looking forward to arriving at my mountain retreat and enjoying a quiet little escape from the city (except for the barking dogs and roosters, I’m sure). It looks like Melody and Chris will only be a five-minute drive away, and that’s the best part. Should be an interesting month!

To sign off on San Miguel de Allende, here's a parting photo/video that sums up the undeniable charm and spontaneous magic the town had. The guy in this photo must have been passing through the plaza grande on a horseback ride with the family when he started randomly singing along with a street guitarist (behind him), with beer in hand. 

Play the video below. He's got a great voice! 

Adios, San Miguel!