Amazing Art Sabbatical at Casa de las Animas

Guest: ACounts (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/11

Casa de las Animas was the perfect home for us in San Miguel. We could see the though and love that went into its construction, from the great green details and that amazing floor plan! We felt warm and secure in every room, but the open air courtyard rising up to let the sky into the house was a great touch, and reminiscent of those colonial haciendas that make San Miguel's architecture so interesting to visit. Special note has to go to that 3rd floor azotea, which was even more amazing than the pictures. I came to San Miguel to write, and found that space to be the perfect location. Outdoors, but covered and warm, including great lighting at night. I spent many hours working there, and my family loved to sit and play games there as well. And the deck another flight up had sun earlier in the day and later in the afternoon than any spot I could see in town. A great place to warm up with a cup of coffee to take away the chill of those winter nights. My wife found a Silversmithing studio just a short walk away, and spent 3 days a week in classes there. The bus to La Gruta hot springs leaves a block away several times a day, and some great restaurants and bakeries so close you can smell them. We loved the location. The house was close enough to the center of the action that we could make the walk several times a day. Fresh, warm tortillas five minutes away. The artisan market and fresh vegetable market a few steps further. Everything we needed was so close. But it was also removed from the hustle and noise of the Jardin as well. The location at the end of the dead-end street made getting to know the generous and kind neighbors easy, and made it perfectly safe for my kids to play outside with other children. It was the perfect Spanish immersion program, and they've made some great friends. We hated to leave. Again, thanks for a great month and a half in your San Miguel home. I'll tell all my friends about it for sure, and hope to be back.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Guest: Trudy and Earl Bouligny (St Helena CA)
Date of Stay: 07/23/09 Review Submitted: 07/23/09

Dear John and Javier,A short note to let you know the stay at Number 18 was terrific. We spent a wonderful two weeks in San Miguel exploring, eating out, cruising through the markets and shops and walking everywhere in town– we also made time for day trips to Guanajunato, Dolores Hidalgo and La Gruta. Time up on the top decks of Number 18 for sheer relaxation was great too. Everything about the house worked out very well – thank you, Javier, for solving a brief problem with the internet connection. It was good to meet you in person when you stopped by last Saturday. We topped up one mobile phone to carry with us which was very helpful (it has minutes left to start the next person) - a nice touch!The house was comfortable, well equipped and cheery - we were very impressed with the wonderful iron work up the stairs and the Picasso on the azotea and the lovely open air feeling of the central atrium. Maria came in twice to change beds and towels and keep things in order. Again, thanks for the opportunity to stay in such a great part of SMA – in lovely surroundings,Trudy and Earl Bouligny

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Guest: Sherry Sheng (West Linn, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 12/23/08 Review Submitted: 12/23/08

What a treat it was to spend a month here – convenient location, great layout, and beautiful décor. Fine architectural details set the house apart; we never grew tired of looking at it. We loved the location – a brisk 7-minute walk to the center of town. In addition, being in a cul-de-sac meant quietness. Numerous small shops dot our daily walk, making it a delight in exploring and discovery.Visiting friends put the guest room to test. They loved it and, as we did, marveled at the beauty of the house.Free technology such as Vonage phone and WIFI sure made staying in touch with family and friends easy. We feel fortunate to have chosen this house as our home away from home – the comfort, beauty, and the owner’s hospitality made our visit to San Miguel most memorable.

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Guest: Sole Mingo-Ordonez (Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 10/13/08 Review Submitted: 10/13/08

The house is beautiful and the location is great: close enough to the main plaza but a little removed form all the action for a relaxing time. The azotea is a wonderful and relaxing spot for an evening margarita. Loved having wireless Internet and free phone that allowed me to keep in touch with home and work when I wanted to. Make sure to visit the market for fresh food! The house's indoor/outdoor feeling makes it so unique - I slept most nights with all the doors and windows open and enjoyed the feeling of sleeping under the stars while being so very cozy in my bed. I'm coming back!

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Guest: N/A (Woodstock, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/27/08 Review Submitted: 09/27/08

"Everything was great. The house was very well equipped for cooking in, there were plenty of linens and it was very comfortable. Javier was responsive to any questions we had and had excellent follow up. It actually ended up being a great location for our family and was kid friendly. Nicholas (our 5 1/2 year old) played outside with the local kids every day and the fact that the house was on a dead end made it easy for us as parents to let him play outside without worry. the place was perfect for us and we'd recommend it."

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Guest: Mike198 (Lookout Mtn, TN)
Date of Stay: 07/30/08 Review Submitted: 07/30/08

We loved the house, it is as nice as it looks in the pictures. The kitchen is great, we used the juicer with fresh fruit from the market every day, oj and margaritas!! Capuccino maker was great with the fresh pastries from the bakery. The bedroom and bath are comfortable and clean, we loved the outdoor living room on the third floor, and that all the living space opens to the courtyard. The location was great, a short and flat walk to the Centro. It was perfect, we'll be back!

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Guest: Cossette (Clio, SC)
Date of Stay: 06/26/08 Review Submitted: 06/26/08

We stayed in May and had a wonderful time. Around the corner from a great little bakery, close to the market and a short walk to all other sights. The house is beautiful and very comfortable.

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Guest: Margaret L (Woodstock, NY)
Date of Stay: 06/19/08 Review Submitted: 06/19/08

We love everything about the house. It is simply terrific and so is Maria! Having a fab time and looking at real estate ourselves today.

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Guest: Donna Peckett (-)
Date of Stay: 05/23/08 Review Submitted: 05/23/08

This is a fabulous house, accommodates 4 comfortably. The kitchen is very well-equipped if you like to cook. The azotea is beautiful. We loved the brick ceiling in the master bedroom. Location is close to the large market. It is a very soothing environment.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/20/08 Review Submitted: 05/20/08

Our stay in this beautiful home can be summed up in one word, HEAVENLY. The sound of the courtyard fountain, the ultra-comfy beds, and the open-air setting was incredibly refreshing. We slept late, ate breakfast on the terrace, and had a difficult time leaving the comforts of the house for day trips. Everything was absolutely exceptional from the cleanliness to the decor! The location was perfect- a short walk to shops and restaurants and we always felt very safe. We felt as though we had our own luxury Mexican Villa for the price of an American hotel room. We can't wait to return!!

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