Part 2
The escape is real, the freedom is real, and the new camaraderie is real. Is it euphoria or too much tequila? Yet at the same time, we are all vulnerable to one degree or another, depending on how brave or how much we genuinely integrate into the daily culture or stay within the safety of our Casa walls and venture out ever so gingerly, only when asked to join the happy throng.
Confidence grows, as you find the courage to leave the stereotypes behind. As we congregate at familiar watering holes and rediscover our love of food and conversation leaving everything fast behind. Just wanting to eagerly say "Buenas Dias" passing complete strangers once so foreign, but now meaningful, liberating, and uplifting. Oh hey, if you have a problem with the cobblestones or want to change this or that-ain't happening because they are 500 years of history here, rooted in deep cultural, heritage and it's staying the way it is.
So, if you can't adapt, maybe this isn't the town for you.
One more thing, we've found the medical services and Doctors here to be wonderful, even better than stateside, and the response time to see a specialist is lightning fast and a return text or call back within a day or a few hours. That's how medical relief is dealt with here, the patient is muy importante. **
Then, there is the beauty that surrounds you, stops you dead in your tracks as you are walking you just stop to stare. The un-ignorable architecture that may be hundreds of years old holds your gaze. Or a mysterious doorway that beckons you in, as you wonder what is inside. The endless culinary gastronomy of so many international descriptions and local flavors tempting the tastebuds stimulate your senses So many restaurants, cafes and wineries to experience, overwhelming as you feel you can't keep up. Thankfully our local social pages and countless reveiwers, the Phantom Gourmet among them, help us keep tabs on the next must-indulgent place to try and rave about.
Music is so diverse, in equally as many venues offering Rock, Blues, Cuban, Flamenco,Jazz, and more. A musicians Mecca, luckily for us/you. The cacophony of sounds that surround you, joyous happy indigenous people and elaborate costume parades, fireworks, that for some, sound like the distant explosion in a war zone, but are just signals of celebrations about to begin.
Nighttime rooftop dogs barking, sad in its own cruel way, and the haunting of church bells ringing, all remind you of the ancient town in which you have chosen to live. It has meaning and it feels good in a deeply moving way. The artists and local artisans, the photographers that capture the late night and way too early morning images that take your breath away. These are the things that bring us together yet the same for all of us expats, from Asia, Europe, and North and South America, a melting pot of humanity.
It's our collective new frontier to explore, to get lost in, and pinch ourselves in the joy we have found here. For us personally, we are so grateful for the dear friends we have made, like minded citizens that truly make us happy, the friends who have filled our hearts with love and who help sustain our faith in the decency of human nature, despite the dark underbelly and rumors of cartels and corruption that exist, welcome to world reality.
This is the little Shangri-La we now call home, different and becoming more familiar and comfortable as each day passes. Muchas gracias y con mucho gusto San Miguel de Allende. In the words of Mark Twain, "You can depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus". It reminds us why we decided to live in a foreign land again. Especially because the people of Mexico have taught us humility and to be kind to one another. Explore. Discover. Dream. Our lives to date have seen us in some 161 cities and 59 countries and here we are. We are just saying, from our fair town of SMA and a few seaside visits, one year in, and we're feeling pretty damn lucky, deeply thankful. There is a lot of good joss in SMA and Mexico overall.
Amor,
C & L
*I am because we are", share the happiness, share the happiness.
Thank you Charles for this beautifully descriptive article. I share the same feeling.
**Regarding medical care, I needed to comment. A year ago I was kicked on the left knee by a 1000 lb horse. We What's Apped our Family Doctor, they immediately W.A.'d us back, and within 3 hours I was seeing an incredible Orthopedic Surgeon. All within 3 hours. Everything here is What's App and it is amazingly fast, but it takes the kindness of the office staff to put things together MUY RAPIDO. Thank you for that kindness.