Nearly a decade ago and not long out of college, I was invited to be an interactive designer for Vistas, Visual Culture in Spanish America. Just last month, the DVD for this project was finally published by the University of Texas Press! Once this collaboration began flooding my inbox with historic, maps, artwork and photographs, I began to daydream about a visit to a well-preserved colonial town in Central or South America. San Miguel de Allende has long been on the top of my list for Mexico. I still haven’t made it south of the border, but the second I received a few of Charlotte’s vacation photos from this warm and colorful region, I knew I had to see more. Another armchair travel post was born:
You may not have been aware of its origin, but this blog is named after our neighborhood in Milford, Connecticut. Over on the opposite end of Morningside, Charlotte Bell also resides within our seaside association. When not practicing anesthesiology, she loves to travel, heading far and wide, armed with a good eye and a Canon point and shoot camera. In 2009, Charlotte made the weeklong trip to the Central Mexico to join a friend taking a month-long Spanish immersion class.
Why visit the Bajío region? In the words of Charlotte, “San Miguel de Allende is a very pretty, but smallish town built in the 16th century by the Spanish near the site of the first San Miguel (Old San Miguel). It is now well known as a retirement destination for US expats, an artist colony, and an area that sponsors immersion language classes (along with cooking schools, art schools, photography schools etc).” Some of Charlotte’s favorite vacation memories include: peeking inside external doors to see opulent courtyards, watching a small church prepare for festival day, eating hot chocolate and hot churros at Chocolate and Churros. For those of you also experiencing frigid January temps, these photos are guaranteed to warm you right up!
Historically, Old San Miguel pre-dates the Spanish-built San Miguel de Allende. Old San Miguel features one small old church and was largely populated by original Mexicans (Indians).
El Santuario de Atotonilco. Atotonilco is another small town about 30 minutes from San Miguel de Allende.
There are 5 big churches in San Miguel de Allende and bunches of little ones. Here are a handful of interiors and exteriors…
A mariachi band hanging out on a corner.
I love this photo! It’s grainy, but the grit feels rather appropriate for these three fellows!
Below is a sunset from a private home located on the hills overlooking San Miguel. “To get to these homes, one must climb a very steep road made of deeply rutted cobblestones. Tourists in sandals do poorly, as do non-native cyclists. Even the taxi rides on these roads are challenging. It’s easier to get around if one stays near the Plaza. However, the sunsets and views are spectacular if one stays in a rental home at the top of the hill.”
A wedding parade on the way to the reception.
View from one of the large church plazas.
The closest international airport for San Miguel de Allende is 66 miles away in Guanajuato. Shuttles (vans) are available at the Guanajuato airport and will drop off at locations in San Miguel. They can be reserved in advance. The trip into San Miguel is only about 30 min. Alternatively, one can fly to Mexico City and take a small shuttle to Guanajuato or drive to San Miguel in a rental car.
Overlooking Guanajuato:
Charlotte recommends hiring a guide for a tour of the neighboring towns (Dolores Hidalgo, Atotonilco, Guanajuato, etc) to learn more about the history, geography, etc of this area.” To read more, you might want to check out last year’s Three Cities on the Mexican Independence Trail from the New York Times.
Note: In October 2010, The U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for Mexico. This is largely due to drug-related violence in border cities with the U.S, not for a colonial city like San Miguel de Allende. If you’re considering a trip to this country, do your homework and be sure you feel safe about your destination and any countryside you may have to traverse to get there.
What’s next for Charlotte? A trip to South America – either Argentina or Galapagos.
Armchair Travel is back with Part 2 of Rick and Carolyn’s Antarctica Adventure. If you missed it, don’t forget to check out 
The wildlife shots are my favorites. Believe me, I exhibited a ton of restraint while editing Rick’s photos. I could go on-and-on sharing more of these amazing up-close shots. Since these animals rarely come in contact with humans, you hardly even need a telephoto lens! With no fear, they wander freely among the visitors. One of Rick’s favorite memories took place at a penguin nesting colony right outside a small and isolated research station. One penguin felt so comfortable with the newcomers, he laid his head across a traveler’s boot and fell sound asleep! Rick’s friend Stew stood motionless for over 1/2 hour until the sleepy bird awoke and wandered off.
One of the things I love about Rick’s photos: The passengers of the Corinthian II look like they are having the time of their lives! Not just day-to-day good times, but throw-up your hands (while grinning ear-to-ear) kind of fun! In my book, this is a trip-of-a-lifetime. I’m not sure I’ll ever make it to this continent, but I feel so lucky to get a glimpse inside such a unique travel experience.
I hope you enjoyed these amazing photos from Rick & Carolyn Gonzalez (above). While these gorgeous vistas surely make a tempting case for a trip to Antarctica, Rick cautions “ it is mandatory to choose an experienced tour operator. Antarctica can be dangerous and the weather unpredictable. Just prior to our first 2007 trip to Antarctica a ship sank after running into ice. The passengers had to abandon ship. During our 2009 trip another ship ran aground and it took several days to free it. An experienced operator is critical for a safe and enjoyable trip.”
Wondering where in the world these two travelers are headed next? In December, Rick and Carolyn will set off for the Galapagos Islands! Stay tuned, if I can get my hands on those photos, we should have another fantastic feature for 
This is actually their second cruise to Antarctica! Why return a mere 2 years later? Their first trip in 2007 was on a much larger boat (1,400 passengers) that did not allow guests to disembark. The Corinthian II is about 400 feet long and carries only 100 passengers. More importantly, this smaller expedition ship allows its guests to go ashore via small rubber zodiac boats.
Any helpful tips for travelers contemplating this destination?
“And finally… the food. Oh, the glorious food. From the full on holiday “buffet” (it’s not really a buffet, they just bring you one of everything) where you’ll have smoked lamb (an Icelandic standard), reindeer, goose, pickled herring, and a bunch of other dishes, to some of the best hotdogs you’ll ever have. You will enjoy every bite. The Iceland lobster is smaller than Maine lobster, but makes up for that in being sweet and delicate, and probably the tastiest lobster I’ve ever had. Prices are very similar to what you would find in New York City (hotels are cheaper), but beware of the wine… it’s insanely expensive in Iceland. Ask for the house wine in a restaurant… you’ll still spend more than you’d expect to, but you won’t go broke that way.”
Can you share one of your favorite memories from the trip?
All photos by Nathan Uschmann. To see more photos from Nathan, follow his 
Unfettered access to penguins!? Sign me up! (photo by rick gonazlez)