Location: Centro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Central Mexico, Mexico (3.5 hours to Mexico City, 1.5 hours to Leon/Bajio Airport)
Accommodations: House, 5 Bedrooms + Sunroom, 2 Baths (Sleeps 8)
"PARADISE IN MEXICO!" or so says our daughter and only a 3 easy block walk downhill to the Jardin.
This is from a renter celebrating her fourteenth summer of renting our home. "We had such a wonderful time, each year is better than the one before....the house looked marvelous, never were the gardens more beautiful....so impressive....I love your home and for one month a year, I can pretend it's mine! " Linda L Houston, Tx.
From the moment I open the door to our house which I share with my husband and family, I feel centered. This home is about joy, light, and color. It is located just 3 blocks from the center of San Miguel, uphill from the cathedral, jardin and market with wonderful views of the city. .
Nineteen years ago when we first saw this house, occupied by the refrigerator repairman, there was a giant sow nursing her piglets in what is now our laundry space. Fortunately we also saw that the plan and light orientation were perfect. When we came back for the closing several months later, the ceilings that had been propped up by wood poles at the corners, were now on the floor of each room. A year later, with a lot of rubble removed, our house was somewhat ready.
My husband, an architect who built schools in Columbia during his Peace Corps years, along with myself, put the house back together, nurtured the existing trees, planted more bougainvillea and a garden, added skylights to each colorful room and decorated with simple furniture and textiles from Mexico.
After our first vacation where I had to cook, we hired Juana, who is a fabulous cook of typical Mexican comidas, a wonderful vegetarian cook (our proclivities), keeper of the house and a wonderful spirit who will listen patiently to bad Spanish (mine) or anybody willing to try.
We have five bedrooms on the first floor, although we usually only use four and keep the fifth for a study or second living room (works for children). The bedrooms open directly to the patio (no corridors) in the true Mexican tradition and thus provide privacy for each room.
Between the master bedroom and another bedroom there is a split bathroom, one room with a toilet and lavatory, the other a tub shower and lavatory. The second bathroom, quite large, has its access from the courtyard and contains a large shower along with toilet and lavatory.
The stars at night are huge and an added treat if you go to the bathroon in the night. When looking at the entry photo, note that the bedrooms and bathrooms are all to the left while the living room, dining room, kitchen, and pantry are to the right.
There is a fountain, a large and venerable olive tree, table and chairs for eating in the patio. From there stairs lead up half a level to a garden with a fruitful lime tree, a patch of grass for sunbathing or reading, as well as a table and chairs. You may also get to the garden by a meandering garden ramp for anyone who doesn't do stairs.
From the garden there are a few more stairs and a ramp to an upstairs bedroom/sitting room and a very large flat roof. Our daugther when younger, would roller skate there but not before 9 a.m.Here is a good view of the street activity and over the roof tops of town and at dusk, the birds fly in overhead to find their evening sleeping quarters in the trees by the jardin and cathedral. Then about margarita sipping time come the brillant sunsets and night sky. Often the cathedral is lighted at night as well as a number of the many other churches of San Miguel.
My favorite thing to do is watch the light in the morning which first freshens and warms, flattens at midday, intensifies in the afternoon, and backlights toward dusk. This house is just wonderful. It is only three blocks to the Jardin in the center of town, or to the main market, an easy walk.
One of our renters recently wrote" We loved your house. You are so right that it is full of soul. Guests who arrived at night just gasped at the sight of the lanterns illuminating the courtyard..then we would take them up to the roofdeck to see that glorious unfolding of the night sky. It is wonderful the way every room has folk art and fabrics..very much a loved home, rather than a "rental"." Marion F. of Sarasota, Fla.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Gas Fireplace
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- CD Player
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- Lanai
- View/Location
- Mountain View
- Communications
- Telephone
- Broadband Internet: with your own computer
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): with your own computer
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations): There is a ramp all the way to the roof
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations): There is a ramp all the way to the roof. A bump down getting from the street to the entry
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Biking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Jan 4-Dec.15 1-4 persons $800/wk .. $2450/month
5-8 persons $900/wk... $2700/month
Dec.16-Jan 4 $1200.00/wk: $2200/2 wks $3000/month all Dec.
1-8 persons
*** ADD 7 1/2 San Miguel SALES TAX TO ALL PRICES.
SPECIAL NOVEMBER '09, JANUARY '10 $750/WEEK GRATUITIES INCL.
LONG TERM (6 months or more) $2200.00/month
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Burros still come by our street with their owners carrying wood and garden manure for sale. The fountain at the end of our street seems to be a good resting spot for the burrors and their owners.
Why the Owner Chose Centro
When we first were looking for property, we wanted to be in the el centro area, an easy wish at the time as San Miguel had not grown so very much. We also did not want to go any higher on a street than we could push a wheelchair as our son, now grown up and independent, was born with cerebral palsy. So when people ask us about the walk up 3 blocks, I tell them that up until our son turned 24, we pushed a wheelchair up to the house.
My husband, an architect, first looked at the direction of the light and visited the house at different times during the day to see how the light played in the house and garden. The light is wonderful!
The Unique Benefits of this House
For us, the benefit is just being there in the heart of San Miguel and in our home which is so visually pleasing to us. Whether we are just sitting around on the black and white tiled entry benches with a geranium on either side having a coffee, or in the garden with our lime tree and flowers intertwined in trees, or up on the roof, we just seem to be happy there. I feel centered. The house also flows with the early morning light to nightfall; being outside in the house is what the house is about. At night, the roof is an incredible place to overlook the sparkle of San Miguel, and the stars. Then we all go into the dining room and living room... all connected space to talk or play Scrabble or other games. Then it feels cozy. The kitchen for Margaritas and leftovers from the usual wonderful lunch prepared by Juana, our cook, is adjacent.
Property Photos
- The Entry Courtyard : Five bedrooms are to the left. - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico - Vacation Rental Real Estate - A Celebration of Sunlight & Color in the Heart of San Miguel!
- View of Lunch Patio to the right, Olive Tree & Stairs to Upper Garden & Roof - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico - Vacation Rental Real Estate - A Celebration of Sunlight & Color in the Heart of San Miguel!
- The garden level, above the entry level. - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico - Vacation Rental Real Estate - A Celebration of Sunlight & Color in the Heart of San Miguel!
- View from Dining Room to Kitchen
- living room/ very cozy at night
- Master Bedroom Looking into Turquoise Bedroom
- Master Bedroom entry detail/we changed decor a little; also doors to bathrooms
- The Turquoise Bedroom
- study or bedroom
- steps and ramp to the roof terrace from the upper garden
- the roof terrace with 2 chaises under the roofed area
- view from roof to town and main cathedral
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #11073
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This listing was first published here in 2002.
Date last modified - October 07, 2009
