Mexico Law - San Miguel de Allende

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San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
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There are several towns named San Miguel in different parts of Mexico, all of which I am sure are nice places to visit. But my favorite town is San Miguel de Allende, the birth place of Mexican independence. It is rich in Mexican and Hispanic culture. It first came into existence in the beginning of the 1500s when the Spanish traveled to the north through Veracruz and Mexico City and up through the San Miguel de Allende area. It was on the main road called the "Camino Real."

It is a cultural, art and historic center as well as a resort which is visited year-round by people from many parts of the world. It has a substantial year-round population of Americans, Canadians and Europeans who enjoy the surroundings, culture and lifestyle. A weekend does not go by without a flood of weekenders from the major surrounding Mexican cities. By early afternoon on Fridays, the streets in the center of town are filled with visitors, hotels are booked and traffic gets heavy.

San Miguel enjoys an abundance of special shops, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, motels, inns, posadas, bed and breakfasts, horseback riding, thermal springs bathing spots and hiking trails.

The City's Origin

The city is considered one of the original centers of Mexican art and culture, and one of the points of origin of the Mexican revolution. Its ambiance is unique.

San Miguel de Allende was founded in 1542 and maintains its colonial features today, with cobblestone streets and old colonial-style buildings, plus a true Latin culture. The city was used in the colonial days as a transportation hub between Mexico City and Monterrey, today's major industrial city center of northern Mexico. The gold, silver, lead and zinc brought from the north was brought through San Miguel de Allende.

Located in the central Plateau of Mexico in the state of Guanajuato (area known as the "Bajio"), San Miguel is rich in history, culture, commerce, ranching and farming. It is 2 to 3 hours north of Mexico City by car. From Mexico City, you travel to San Miguel on the main freeway to Queretaro, a city of over a million inhabitants. You can either go through Queretaro or around it on a toll freeway to the northeast as if you were going to San Luis Potosi. Just past Queretaro about 15 minutes to the northeast, there is a turn off to the north. Here you begin the last leg of 30 minutes on a secondary highway, where you find San Miguel nestled in the beautiful green countryside.

The climate is temperate year-round, with the average daytime temperatures at 75 to 90 degrees during the summer, and 60 to 85 degrees during the winter.

The majority of the center of town is made up of old stone or cantera block buildings (origins from 1700s, 1800s), cobblestone streets, specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, churches, picturesque gardens, and arts and crafts schools-definitely old world. San Miguel de Allende sits partially on a plateau on the south side, nestled into the hillside on the leg down and at the bottom of the plateau on the north side. To the west there is a good-sized lake used for agricultural purposes. The town seems to be growing in all directions.

Recreational and pastime activities include horseback riding, swimming in naturally occurring hot thermal ground springs, shopping, golf, tennis, bull fights, mountain biking, restaurants, boutiques, nightclubbing, hiking, visiting historical monuments (churches, buildings, murals) visiting art galleries and taking classes at fine arts & crafts schools (water and oleo painting, sculpture, music, guitar, modern and classic dance, literature, language, drama, ceramics, weaving, silk screening, tin working, paper making, tie-dye, paper mache works).

San Miguel de Allende's tourist attractions include museums, historical and colonial paintings and murals, artisans' and arts and crafts schools, art galleries, archeological sites, colonial architecture, bull fight arena, sports installations, a golf course, horse races, natural thermal mineral hot spring water baths and pools, water sports, hunting and fishing, horseback riding, regional festivals and fairs, charro (Mexican cowboy) riding sports club, parks, historical churches, two major cultural and arts institutes and several smaller institutes, cultural and theatrical presentations throughout the year (the city is on the circuit of the Fine Arts Institute of Mexico, based in Mexico City), a commercial glass blowing factory, several "mercados" and a multitude of smaller artisans' fabrication shops where you can watch them make what they sell.

Fireworks are quite commonplace in San Miguel de Allende and the outlying communities. Every time a local Catholic church in San Miguel (and there are several of them) has a saint day, it endeavors to have fireworks that evening. Some saints are more important than others, so they don't all get fireworks. There are other reasons for fireworks as well, such as certain city and national holidays.

The city of San Miguel de Allende has its annual anniversary festival days in September, celebrating with fireworks and with the bull run in the streets, known as the "pamplonada." Word of caution: The city becomes overrun with tourists on this holiday and hotel reservations are made almost a year in advance. There is physical danger to those who run with the bulls.

During the month of June there is the "Desfile de los Locos" (the parade of the "Locos") where a long procession of cars, trucks and buses drive through the city slowly, weaving in a cruzigram fashion. They are loaded down with passengers dressed in costumes to look either crazy, outrageous or weird, who throw candy at the people standing on the sidewalks. There are many other national and local holidays celebrated in different ways throughout the year. The saying still holds, "There is a party at a drop of the hat."

There are grade schools (primary), high schools (secondary), colleges (preparatory) and University (careers). The large Mexico City university, Universidad del Valle de Mexico, has a satellite branch in San Miguel.

The cultural and art institutions provide classes on subjects such as classical guitar, classical piano, modern dance, pantomime, corporal theater, contemporary painting, drawing with model, mixed painting, still drawing, ceramics, batik, loom-weaving, frame weaving, tin work, etching in metal, silk screening, photography, lithography, textile-making, and paper-making, There are also schools on language to learn Spanish and possibly other languages (depending on the availability of teachers).

The city has hospitals, many doctors and nurses, car rental agencies, travel agencies, new car sales businesses, gasoline stations, a post office, a telegraph office, national and international messenger services, tow trucks, a mid-size shopping mall, real estate managers, an Internet provider and a cable TV provider.

Traveling to San Miguel de Allende

If you are unsure as to which documents you need for yourself and travel companions, documentation for the automobile you will be traveling in, or if you have questions regarding what you can take with you, please call the Mexican Consulate closest to you (or the Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C.). Or consult with your travel agent or airlines.

First you travel by air to Mexico City or Leon, Guanajuato; then on to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato by rental car or bus.

Upon arrival (by air) in Mexico City, take a taxi at the airport (a taxi ticket is acquired inside the terminal) to the bus station on the north side of town (Terminal Norte is Northern Station). Here you acquire a bus ticket with either ETN (Enlaces Terrestres Nacionales) or Primera Plus (First Plus) or Herradura de Plata (Silver Horse).

Or you can rent a car in Mexico City and head toward Queretaro. Stay on the toll road and take the San Luis Potosi exit (this exit is 15 or 20 miles short of Queretaro. Taking this route you will be going around Queretaro on the east side and may not see it.)

Your other option is to take a train north, toward Juarez, but is quite time-consuming.
If arriving by air in Leon, rent a car and head south on the freeway, turning east toward Guanajuato, the state capital of the state of Guanajuato. Go south for approximately half an hour and take the easterly exit toward San Miguel de Allende.

Or, take a taxi into Leon, Guanajuato, to the bus station and get a bus to San Miguel de Allende.

A passenger bus can be acquired on the Mexican side at every port of entry from the U.S. to Mexico. You may be able to acquire your ticket directly to San Miguel de Allende, or they may wish to sell you a ticket to the closest big town (Queretaro, Queretaro). Wherever you are, always head toward Mexico City and when close, toward Queretaro.

Trains travel from Tijuana (across from San Diego), Mexicali (across from Calexico), Nogales (across from Nogales), Ciudad Juarez (across from El Paso), Piedras Negras (across from Eagle Pass; don't know if there are trains here) and Nuevo Laredo (across from Laredo). Always head toward Mexico City and when close, toward Queretaro, so you don't get lost.

Trains that come from Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Negras go through San Miguel de Allende while the others don't. On trains originating from other cities, it may be necessary to change trains or take a bus on the last leg of the journey.

Travel from any port of entry on the U.S. border (Guatemala has a border with Mexico as well) toward Mexico City will get you in the right direction. The Federal Mexican government has approved the use of toll freeways, which are being built all over Mexico. Even though they may seem expensive , I recommend them whenever they are going in your direction. Please remember it is not wise to travel during the night. There might be animals on the road, you might get tired and it is just a general precaution.

If you are on the west coast, you will need to get to Hermosillo, Sonora. Then head down the coast through Mazatlan, Guadalajara and on into Queretaro. From Tijuana, going through Los Cabos/La Paz might be an option with the ferry crossing at La Paz to Mazatlan. Remember, always head toward Mexico City and when close, toward Queretaro. The west coast is definitely the longer way to travel to San Miguel de Allende. It can easily take you three days traveling time to get there.

If you are in the area of Agua Prieta (Douglas, Arizona), Palomas (Columbus, New Mexico), Juarez (El Paso, Texas), or Ojinaga (Presidio, Texas)-which are all situated in the middle of the border-you will most likely go through Chihuahua to Torreon, Zacatecas and either Aguas Calientes or San Luis Potosi, then on into San Miguel de Allende.

If you have the time for exploring, try the route through Aguas Calientes. If you are looking for a good straight highway and want to get to San Miguel de Allende on the most direct route, consider San Luis Potosi.

If you are in the area of Ciudad Acuña (Del Rio Texas), Piedras Negras (Eagle Pass, Texas), Nuevo Laredo (Laredo, Texas) or Reynoso/Matamoros (Brownsville, Texas), go down through Monterrey, Saltillo, San Luis Potosi and toward Queretaro.

Approximately 40 minutes prior to arrival to Queretaro, there will be a turn off to the north that will take you to San Miguel de Allende. There is also a second turn off to San Miguel de Allende after another 15 to 20 minutes toward Queretaro that will also take you to town.
You can normally get to San Miguel de Allende in nine or 10 hours traveling time from the U.S. border on this easterly route. The east route is definitely the shorter way to travel to San Miguel de Allende from the U.S.

Visitors to San Miguel de Allende can pretty much walk to most parts of the city. Still if you are in a hurry or on the opposite side of town, you can drive your own car or take a taxi.
Taxis are fairly inexpensive (the average trip around town is between $1.00 to $5.00 dollars). You can reach a taxi by phone or just flag one down in the street. The radio taxis, which are the ones you can telephone, are the more expensive of the two.

As you get closer to the middle of the city, parking spaces generally become more difficult to find, especially on weekends.

The working public normally take either the "Pesero" buses (coined for the word Peso), which are small 15-passenger buses that have routes in town and into the outskirts of town. Or they take the full size 40-passenger buses that also have routes in town and the outskirts of town, but are a little less expensive.

Most stores and businesses will open by 9 a.m. and close down by 2 p.m. for siesta and lunch time. They will open back up around 4:30 p.m. and then close for the day about 8:30 p.m. Some stores do not close during the day.

Restaurants mostly open by 7 a.m. and stay open until about 10:30 to 11 p.m. without closing. The nightclubs get going about 11 p.m. to 12 p.m. and will run to 3 or 4 a.m.

Keeping in Touch

The majority of the English and Spanish languages newspapers (published in Mexico City) can be found on any given morning at the main plaza (jardin principal).

The "Juarde" telephone directory can be acquired in certain stores in the center of town (in English). "Juarde" is the telephone directory published locally, listing a majority of the foreign population who resides in San Miguel.

The national telephone company (Telmex), with offices in San Miguel de Allende, has white pages and yellow pages, constructed basically as in the USA (white pages in alphabetical order of names of persons, yellows pages of businesses in alphabetical order under titled types of activities, in Spanish)

The "Medical Directory" can be acquired by calling Bett Adams at 2-40-96 and leaving a message (in English). "Medical Directory" is the telephone directory published locally, listing a majority of the medical services providers, some basic CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) instructions and some basic medical related statements for English speakers (example: I don't feel well = no me siento bien).

There are two local English language newspapers. The "Atención" (Attention) is published once a week and "El Independiente" is published twice per month. They can be acquired in many places around town, (the best location is the main plaza), or by calling 2-40-96 (in English) for "Atención" and by calling 2-45-15 (in English) for "El Independiente". You may also contact the editor of "El Independiente" by e-mail at sareda@mpsnet.com.mx

In the event you decide to travel to Mexico City please note there are designated non- automobile use days (not applicable in San Miguel de Allende).

Here is the schedule by weekday
license plate terminating in:
Monday 5 or 6
Tuesday 7 or 8
Wednesday 3 or 4
Thursday 1 or 2
Friday 9 or 0

Now that you are well acquainted with San Miguel de Allende and its unique features, you may find this directory of San Miguel businesses and services quite useful as a visitor, vacationer or property owner in the area.

Inside Mexico: Each city has its own area code (which can be from two to three digits) and dialing long distance inside of Mexico is started by dialing 01 + (area code) + telephone number. (Example: To call Mexico City from inside the country: 051 + 5 + 8digits.)

Outside Mexico: To call abroad from within Mexico, dial the country code, area code and number. (Example: To call Los Angeles, Calif., in the U.S. from Mexico: 001 + 213 + 7 digits.)
For telephone dialing purposes, the Mexico country code is 52 and the San Miguel area code is 415. In the U.S., to reach someone in San Miguel, dial 011 + 52 + 415 + tel. no.(7 digits)

Operator-assisted long distance in Mexico is reached by dialing "02" for calls to places inside Mexico and "09" for calls to places outside Mexico.

Most of the following establishments have their own restaurant and bar. It is normal to expect to find a bath with a shower and/or tub in the rooms. Some rooms have a TV with or without cable and some also have a telephone. (The cable channels include U.S. stations.) Note, these are all partial listings.

Antigua Villa Santa Monica 152-0427, 152-0451, Fax 152-0518
Beatriz Bed & Breakfast 152-3877
Casa Sierra Nevada 152-7040,152-7155, Fax152-2337
National 01-800-46630, International 1-888-341-5995
Guadiana Bed & Breakfast 152-4948, 152-5171
Hacienda de las Flores 152-1808, Fax: 152-1859
Hacienda Taboada 152-0850, 152-0888, 152-2799, Fax: 152-1798 (Direct 1-800-447-7462) (10 km outside of the center of town)
La Puertecita 152-2250, 152-5011, Fax: 152-5505
Meson de San Antonio 152-0580, Fax: 152-2897
Mansion Virreyes Canal 19, Tel 152-0851, 152-3355, Fax 1523865 virreyes@unisono.net.mx - Lupita front desk
Misión de Los Angeles 152-2099, 152-2155, 152-2207 Fax: 152-2047
Posada Carmina 152-0458, 152-1036
Posada El Mayorazgo 152-1309
Posada Ermita 152-0777, 152-0788
Posada de San Francisco 152-0072, Fax: 152-1466
Posada la Aldea 152-1026, 152-5039
Quinta Loreto 152-0042, 152-3616
Real de Minas 152-2626, Fax:152-1727
Villa El Molino 152-1818
Villa Jacaranda 152-1015, 152-0811, Fax: 152-08-83 (hotel, restaurant & theater) Aldama 52
(Direct from US 1-800-310-9688)
Villa Mirasol Tel. & Fax 152-6685, 152-1564

Casa Engelbretch 152-0120
Departamentos Barranca 152-0575
Gloria Perez Espino 152-0402
Huespedes Feliz Codo 152-0854
Martha Posada Villa 152-0644
Vicente Sanchez Morales 152-1102
Villa Estrella aprts 152-4914
Casa de los Sueños call in USA (312) 640-1457

Academia Hispano Americana 152-0349, 152-4349 Fax:152-23033 (Spanish language classes)
Alicia Bravo Garcia (language classes) 152-2177
Centro Mexicano de Lengua y Cultura de San Miguel T/F 152-0763
Margarette Dawitt & Gerardo Ruiz Painting School 152-6110
La Casa de la Luna (language classes) 152-2312
Instituto de Bellas Artes Nigromante 152-0289

(Fine arts institute, part of the federal Mexican government art institutes—many types of classes)
Instituto Allende (School of arts and language) 152-0190 Fax 152-4538
Universidad del Valle de Mexico 152-6049, 152-6104, Fax 152-7191

For San Miguel de Allende, GTO., from the USA: 011+52+415+tel-7digits)
American Consulate Tel: 152-2357, Fax 152-1588
(emergencies only 152-00-68),after hours assistance 152-0099
Atención (English newspaper) 152-3770
Botanical Garden 152-29-90 Fax 152-4015
Bus Station 152-0084
Bus Lines for passengers
(ETN) (Enlaces Terrestres Nacionales) 152-6407
(Primera Plus) 152-0084, 152-5043
(Herradura de Plata) 152-0725
(Tres Estrellas) 152-2237
Cable Vision TV Provider 152-3442
Canadian Consulate Tel: 152-3025, Fax: 152-6856
Electricity Co. 152-0004, 152-0345
Emergencies (see section below) 152-0911
Fire Station 152-2888, 152-3238
Furniture Maria y Jose's (all beautifully handmade, mostly wood, some wrought iron)
Tel: & Fax 152-2182
Gas Co. (for domestic use) 152-6465
General Hospital of San Miguel (see section below) 152-004
National Anthropological & History Institute 152-2499
Post Office 152-0089
Red Cross (like paramedics) 152-1616, 152-4225, 152-4121
Police (non-transit matters) 152-0022
Police (Transit) 152-0538
Public Library (Bilingual) 152-0293
Public Ministry (like local district attorney/prosecutor) 152-0212
Telegraph Co. 152-0081
Telephone Co.152-0059
Tourism Offices: 152-1747
Universidad del Valle de Mexico 152-6104, 152-6047, 152-6048, 152-6049 Fax: 152-2719

Many restaurants have live music and/or bar service, experimentation is required to find the one you like. There are many different types of food in San Miguel de Allende. You can find Mexican style, American, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Arabian, fast food and others. The soda pop is like what we find in the U.S. plus several more good flavors. You will definitely be pleased with the different choices at your fingertips. From a simple ham sandwich, to paella, to sushi, to tacos, there is something for everyone. There is a full range of restaurant types, price ranges, and styles of food. You also can find the "comida corrida," usually a two-course meal consisting of a soup and then a main plate of chicken or other main course, with rice and some vegetable. There is also a buffet near the center of town where you can eat all you want of several different dishes.

Abrevadero 152-0097
Antigua Trattoria Italiana 152-3790
Bugambilia 152-0127
Cafe de la Parroquia 152-3161
Cafe Santa Ana 152-7305
Casablanca 152-3269
Casa Paye 152-0429
Char*Rock 152-7373
El Meson de San Jose 152-3848
El Pegaso 152-1351
El Rincon del Quijote (vegetarian) 152-5096, 152-0187
La Adelita Embarazada 152-5151
La Buena Mesa 152-4558
La Buena Vida 152-2211
La Dolce Vita 152-6153
La Princesa 152-1403
La Puertecita 152-2250
La Vendimia 152-2645
Los Arcángeles 152-2745
Mama Mia 152-2063, 152-3679
Ring 152-1988
Pepe Pizza 152-1832
Pueblo Viejo 152-4977
Rincon Español 152-2984
San Miguelito 152-5393, 152-3372
Sierra Nevada 152-7040
Tatsu Sushi 152-6932
Tio Lucas 152-4996
Vegetarian (El Rincon del Quijote) 152-5096, 152-0187

Galeria San Miguel 152-0454, 152-1046
Gruenebaum Studio (appt. only) 152-6536
Josh Kilgerman Gallery 152-0951 Fax 152-1514
La Estrella Galleries 152-3213, 152-3266 Fax 152-2740
Liz y Curiel Studio & Gallery 152-1617
Margarette Dawitt & Gerardo Ruiz Studio 152-6110
Milligan Studio & Gallery 152-6923

BANAMEX (Banco Nacional de Mexico, S.A.)
Account Executive: Miguel Angel Saldaña
Tel: 152-1040, 152-1004, 152-1032, 152-1079, 152-0652 Fax: 152-3732
BANCOMER (Bancomer, S.A.) 152-4952, 152-0145, 152-1062
BANCA SERFIN
(Banca Serfin,S.A.)152-1161, 152-1162, 152-1167, 152-1168, 152-3092
BANCO INVERLAT (Banco Inverlat, S.A.) 152-62-94

Local Ambulance (Red Cross) Hospital de la Fe
152-1616, 152-4225, 152-4121, 152-2233, 152-2329, 152-2320
Air Evacuation (Doctor's prescription required)
Information numbers:
Air Ambulance America
Medical Air Services Association
P. O. Box 4051
001-800-643-9023
Austin, Texas 78765-4051
USA (512) 479-8000
Air Ambulance Commercial Aviation
Fax: (512) 472-8810
2345 NW 43rd
Boca Raton FL
USA 800-331-9422, 305-761-1512

There are more than 75 doctors in San Miguel Allende. The suggested means to reach one is:
1. Call the hospitals for reference (day or night)
2. Call the front desk of the hotel for reference (day or night)
3. See the yellow pages telephone directory
4. See the Medical Directory (Get a copy by calling 152-40-96)
5. See the "Juarde" Directory (Purchase a copy at local stores in San Miguel)

CASA Hospital 152-6181, 152-6121
Centro de Salud Urbano 152-6210
Clinica Materno Infantil (Infant Maternity)152-6122
Cruz Roja Mexicana (Red Cross) 152-1616, 152-4121, 152-4225
General Hospital 152-6015, 152-0045
Hospital de la Fe (newest & biggest in town)- 152-2233, 152-2329
Social Security Hospital 152-0699, 152-0278
(for insured employees) (also for emergencies)
ISSTE (for government employees) 152-5181
Sanatorio de Nuestra Sra. de la Salud 152-0430
(smaller hospital)
Sanatorio Torres de San Miguel 152-2268 (smaller hospital)

Real Estate Barrera y Asociados Hidalgo # 8 Centro, S.M.A Tel: (415) 154-5228, 154-5282, 152-3521
Dotty Vidargas Real Estate Diane Largman & Anne, vidargas@unisono.net.mx member AMPI, 152-0286, 152-6382
Alma Cecilia Ramirez, Cuna de Allende No. 19-A, Tel: 154-4971, Te/Fax 154-4972 , colonialrealestate@excite.com , http://www.unisono.net.mx/colonial , member of AMPI