The long entry courtyard. The bedrooms are to the left, living, dining, right.
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)
Keywords: Traditional Mexican home with the touches of an architect and colorist.
"PARADISE IN MEXICO!" or so says our daughter and only a 3 easy block walk downhill to the Jardin
From the moment I open the door to our house which I share with my husband and family, I feel centered. Our 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. .
Twenty two 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 bathroom 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 daughter 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 brilliant 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 roof deck 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 (4)
- Twin/Single Bed (2)
- 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
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Swimming
- Biking
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Restaurants
- Fitness Center/Gym
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
REGULAR SEASON April - Dec. 15...1-4 persons $700/wk ..$2000/month
REGULAR SEASON April - Dec. 15...5-8 persons $850/wk...$2400/month
HIGH SEASON Dec.16- March 31..1-4 persons $975.00/wk...$2700/mo.
HIGH SEASON Dec.16 -March 31..5-8 persons $1075/wk...$2900/mo.
ADD 6% TAX TO ALL PRICES
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 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
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- The long entry courtyard. The bedrooms are to the left, living, dining, right. - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico - Vacation Rental Real Estate - A Celebration of Sunlight & Color in the Heart of San Miguel!
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- Lunch is usually at this table as the weather is usually almost perfect - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico - Vacation Rental Real Estate - A Celebration of Sunlight & Color in the Heart of San Miguel!
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- Our fountain and stairs to the upper garden. - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico - Vacation Rental Real Estate - A Celebration of Sunlight & Color in the Heart of San Miguel!
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- The living room is the evening gathering place and opens to the dining room.
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- The dining room open to the kitchen
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- Master Bedroom Looking into Turquoise Bedroom
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- The Master Bedroom can open to an adjoining room/great for young families.
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- Second Living Room or a bedroom adjacent to the Master Bedroom.
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- One of the Five bedrooms, with color and folk art.
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- Stairs to garden, also a ramp for access for all to the garden at the right
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- The garden with an always full lime tree and flowers.
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- Sitting area at garden level, ramp and stairs to a sitting room and roof
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- steps and ramp to the roof terrace from the upper garden
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- View down from the covered area of the roof from a comfortable chaise.
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- the long roof terrace with chaises under the roofed area
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- view from roof to the close by main cathedral 3 blocks away.
Traveler Reviews (3)
Authentic
Guest: Rodney
(Houston)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11
Review Submitted: 07/03/11
I have rented this house for over 15 years and have never seen another place in San Miguel that I would rather stay. It is charming, comfortable and peaceful. Traditional home with a fabulous cook. The location is ideal and yes, the roof is my favorite place too!
Owner response:Rodney is a favorite returning guest. He creates elegant dinner parties with all the things in our home that he uses in his own creative way. His mother and other friends join him for wonderful intergenerational visits. My own mother in law came with us until she was ninety.
Recommended for:People with disabilities, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
A BEAUTIFUL CASA
Guest: LINDA
(HOUSTON,TX)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11
Review Submitted: 06/26/11
THIS HOUSE CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF MEXICO, IT IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL,COMFORTABLE,CLOSE TO CENTRO SO I CAN WALK EVERYWHERE. THE VIEW ON THE ROOF IS BREATHTAKING,WHERE I SPEND THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS! I HAVE GONE FOR 18 YRS, THE HOUSE IS PERFECT!
Owner response:Linda has introduced us to a most wonderful travel guide she and her friends hire to take them on one day and overnight trips. We are happy to share her information. She has had women retreats as the house accommodates groups of women well.
Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.
The real thing
Guest: Roger
(New York, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/11
Review Submitted: 05/29/11
I, my wife, and family adore this house, and have stayed here more than a dozen times over the last few years. It feels like home every time we unlock the front door and see the burst of blossoms in the long courtyard, and in the garden way in the back. It combines space and cosiness, color and light, and is wonderfully Mexican with traditional tiles, fountain, bourgainvilla, and best of all, our favorite Mexican housekeeper whose cooking is spectacular and who we now consider a friend. It is the genuine thing, no fake history here. We usually arrive late in the afternoon and after Margaritas on the roof overlooking our favorite town in Mexico, a very short walk down to one of the local cafés. The atmosphere just soaks into our bones and within minutes we are relaxed as can be. We can't reccommend it highly enough, even though some of the floor tiles rattle a bit (which we have grown very fond of).
Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #11073
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