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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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thanks for your kind words all - keep it up ... I love the encouragement (((:
So, another day and the adventure continues. First order of business was to move to Quinta Loreto:
Today our adventures took us to Ototonilco. It was such a surprise and a disappointment at the same time. Why? The Indians beg and sell outside
the church. The selling I love, the begging breaks my heart.
The church (Santuario) is beyond anything one can imagine except the Cathedrals in Rome. But, oddly enough, there is not one thing to see or do
besides the see the church. Not one hotel, not one restaurant, When we went to see what is supposed to be the largest tree on Earth called Arbol de
Tuly, it was a long ride and when we got there, just like today, the tree was indescribably huge and a site. Atotonilco, for me, was the same. But
enough of this .... look at how gorgeous the paintings are:
If you look carefully at the third step, notice that it is very worn from all the visitors over the years.
pure gold:
These are painted onto the front doors- on the left is is Jesus arguing with the doctors and on the right is St. John:
Patience shows a person getting ready to hit another one- Peace, right?
I bought some of these for the kids:
and I bought them from Maria:
This is me praying for everyone's souls:
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churro
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Posts: 195
Registered: 5-6-2013
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Nice Photos! Keep 'Em coming!
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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Such fun times. We were also surprised that there was no hotel or restaurant out there, but it was still well worth visiting!
Thanks for sharing all the photos! They make me really want to go back soon.
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Paula
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Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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I'm really enjoying your travels, Blanca, great pictures, great info on hotels, sights and food. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Welcome back! Lets touch bases tomorrow! On the agenda is toy museum, allende museum and ???
But finishing up today, June 30, 2014 with Blanca one year older ((((:
The second adventure was going to La Gruta. We drove and got lost, for whatever reason, we looked and looked and could not see the entrance. Found it
on try three. So .... not as relaxing a beginning as it should have been.
The grounds are breathtakingly beautiful and almost an oasis with the exuberance of lush plants!
If we could go back in time, I would have insisted on taking a cab out for $12 dollars or $140 pesos, have the driver wait while you take 20 minutes
to look at Atotonilco and then have him return to San Miguel and drop you off at La Gruta, which is on the way. Then spend the day at La Gruta,
relaxing and dining at their restaurant. I was told there are many buses heading back for 15 pesos, you simply flag them down
Enough blabla - check it out:
THE ROAD IS WAY TO THE RIGHT OF THIS SIGN:
PAYING UP
WALKWAYS:
MY LUNCH:
LES'S ENMOLADO CHICKEN:
WE GOT TO WATCH THE FRANCE VS. NIGERIA GAME:
THE BIG POOL:
THE SMALLER HOTTER TUB IN THE BACK:
THE SPA MASSAGE ROOM:
BAR/GAMEROOM:
Upon returning, we went for a walk and visited the cultural center:
The murals were amazing:
The architecture very reminiscent of Europe:
This door is right off the Plaza Allende, part of the Banamex Museum bldg:
So, we came back to the hotel, relaxed a bit and then we went hunting for dinner, finally deciding on Mamma Mia since so many recommended it. It was
so fun! Live Cuban band (we bought their CD), nice ambiance and delicious food! Had a Baja red wine that was smoooooooth. And that ends our day
today. Time for bed!
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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BTW, I spent the downpour getting a pedicure from a woman who has worked for the same family for 44 years. She was just amazing. Highly recommend
her, she is across the street from the Banamex Museum, in the courtyard of a hotel, far right corner.
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elgatoloco
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Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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Happy Birthday. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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Yawn ... baja?
try Mexconnect or other mainland sites
[Edited on 7-1-2014 by gnukid]
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mmacdonald1026
Newbie
Posts: 7
Registered: 6-22-2014
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Mexico
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Thank you so much for sharing your trip to San Miguel de Allende. I have been planning to move there from Rosarito after a documentary I viewed. But
with your photo's and enthusiasm and verification that all the perks are true, its a sure thing that I willl be living there next, close to the center
as I am obsessed with the arhitecture and do not drive. Beautiful Share....
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Welcome mm
You brought up a valid point: one could easily live here without ever getting in a car. Everything is easy access, really easy access by bus or car
and mostly on foot. Walking is the best option, I am glad we walk the dunes in La Bocana or I would be suffering bigtime. We walk a LOT here, it is
all gentle hills but hills just the same.
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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Happy Birthday, Blanca!
Great photos, Blanca. Such wonderful memories. The Bellas Artes (and The Instituto) is where I took many art classes. You probably noticed that it is
located in a convent. While the quad is now a school, the convent still exists in part of it. The nuns wear purple and white habits. Daily, they ring
the bell that you can see from the quad. Once in awhile they get playful and can be seen swinging from the rope.
Once I attended a concert by The Kronos Quartet, right there in the center of the quad. What a great setting.
The Instituto is the main art school in San Miguel. It is accredited by a major university in The U.S, (I believe it is The University of Minnesota
but I am not sure...can't remember). The Instituto was the main draw for students, teachers and retirees during the early '80s while I was there.
I am so sorry you didn't have enough time to find the musicians I mentioned in my post on your other San Miguel de Allende string. San Miguel had a
profound effect on my life. I will re-post my post of that string because I don't think many people read it; it was toward the tail end of that
string:
I lived there for several years in the early '80s. Had a studio gallery with my then woman, Glenna Rabasa, a great oil painter and sculptor. I did
stained and fused glass. (We later moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and opened the Hardwick/Rabasa Gallery right behind The Oldest House and The Oldest
Church, across the street from The Pink Adobe Restaurant).
In San Miguel, we had a home on the property called "Happy Valley". Even the locals called it that, in English. The property was beautiful! It ran
uphill, was tree covered and had pathways that wended their way throughout. It was the setting for many group shows with local artists, both Mexican
and Gringo. The work hung from trees and dotted the paths.
The home was a beautiful old adobe tannery. All of the rooms were connected and descended downhill. None of the rooms had doorways in between. You had
to go out one and descend or ascend to enter the next one. At the very bottom was the bathroom complete with toilet and shower. It was formerly a
chapel and still has the cross above the entrance; talk about a religious experience...
I was also the trumpet player and doubled on Latin Percussion, in a band called "Los Downbeats". We played Straight Ahead Jazz and Salsa. The patrons
danced on the big Refectory tables. Oh, that woman in the red dress  .... This
was at Mama Mia's which Geoff mentioned earlier.
Look up the saxophone player, Salamon. Also, find Bobby Kapp, a drummer and singer. They were in the band and are still playing there in town. Tell
them "Hello" for me. Say hello to Carlos and Blanca, the owners, if they are still there. Also say hello to Luis Gazca, a very good trumpet player who
now lives and performs in SMA. I knew him in San Francisco in the '60s and later in Mulege a few years ago. Caution; he will talk your head off. 
Doc Severinsen, bandleader of The Johnny Carson Show(whom I do not know) is now living there too.
Of course, sit in The Jardine (the central plaza) and listen to the cacophony of all the birds, traffic, church bells and people.
I was last there 10 years ago, so my information is dated.
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gallesram
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Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
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Blanca you really have a knack for this; I think you could go to Bakersfield and provide a trip report and I'd still read it avidly! Nice job.
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Now that is funny! Never been to Bakersfield.....you just never know....I might one day.
This town has so much going for it. Perfect for artsy folk. Perfect for musicians. Perfect for sculptors. Perfect for architects. And today I went to
the botanical garden and wow....just wow.
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
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Love the photos...and I swear the floor tiles in the Quinta Loreto are the same ones that were there in 1974...which was the last time I was
there...you're making me think about a return trip!
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vandenberg
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Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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Since you can't be in this area without visiting Guanajuato and Dolores Hidalgo, make sure you take the road from Guanajuato to Dolores Hidalgo, an
absolute delight.
And on the way visit the village of Santa Rosa with a great restaurant and a great ceramic factory, right of the highway.
Have a housefull of their stuff.
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Vandenberg, forgive but we can't do it.....tomorrow, we head for Taxco and it is a 6 hour drive. And knowing Les's and my luck on this teip
(remember La Gruta?), I ain't gonna push it!
What a wonderful family you guys are, soulpatch! We are, it turns out, from the exact same neighborhood in San Diego and he is friends with my
sister and her husband. You can't beat that!
I am devastated that my ipad battery died right before we went to meet up .... Gotta wait til soulpatch posts it!
Today was a stupendous day and I have lots of pics to download.....problem is that photobucket is full, too full. I will try to work around that. The
day included museums and botanical gardens and rooftop eatery at a five star hotel and lastly, meeting up with soulpatch, his wife, kids and amigos.
All in all, especially since there were thunderclouds but no rain, a stupendous day.
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DianaT
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Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Well, Blanca ---
Vandenberg is correct which means you just have to plan another trip to that area! So many wonderful places.
Soulpatch has picked one of the greatest places in Mexico to settle in --- at least for now.
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Feathers
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Posts: 447
Registered: 9-14-2009
Location: La Bocana
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Mood: Happy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Never been to Bakersfield...... |
lol… Bakersfield is the unofficial armpit of California. Just sayin'. 
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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I was just kidding! While I haven't spent any time there, for sure I have gone thru it many times .... but it was a funny line that I could make it
smell roses there (((:
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Feathers
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Never been to Bakersfield...... |
lol… Bakersfield is the unofficial armpit of California. Just sayin'.
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not according to TW and buck owens! 
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