12th September 2016
After one last look at the central square it is time the leave Mexico City and see what else Mexico has to offer. Good to its word Hotel Historico Central pays for a taxi to get us to the bus terminal. Booking.com came up trumps with the gem of a hotel we found in Mexico City close to all the attractions and the best hotel breakfast we have had in a long time.
As we sat at the bus terminal we realise just how few “foreign” faces we see, well just the two of us! As we remembered from our last trip to the Americas the buses are a good comfortable way to travel from A to B. We queue up to receive our free sandwich, biscuit and drink for the journey and are soon settled into our spacious reclining seats with a movie already showing on the tv screen.
Before long we leave the sprawling concrete metropolis of the city behind us and the scenery changes to green fields and trees, quite a contrast. The bus speeds on its way only stopping to queue at toll booths or slowing for speed bumps as we pass through small settlements. The terrain is surprisingly flat and we can see for miles, just fields of crops such as maize and even a vineyard.
Four hours later we arrive at San Miguel de Allende, our home for the next few days. The bus drops us at the bus station a few miles from the centre of town. A trip to the tourist information booth and my best Spanish confirms that it is either a bus to Centro for the equivalent of 20p each or a taxi for £2. As the remaining 28 passengers from the bus seem to be queued at the taxi rank for the one cab in town it was a no brainer.
Loaded up with our backpackers we alighted the bus. Sitting was an issue as the local bus was not much bigger than a minibus and built for Mexicans who all seem to be shorter than I am. I squeezed into the front seat next to a none to pleased looking local and balanced my backpack on my knees so as not to block the aisle. Dave was not so lucky and eventually fought his way to an empty seat at the back. Centro was the end of the line so there was no getting lost as the bus trundled its way over the cobbled streets. A far better experience than a taxi.
As ever we got a few odd looks as we loaded up and headed off on foot to our hotel. The cobbled streets and colourful Spanish influenced architecture was a stark contrast to Mexico City as was the sheer number of American tourists. In the evening the town square is bustling with tourists and tat sellers. I would say that even the tat was good quality and they do take no for an answer first time.
We spend a hour before dinner meandering around the old centre of town trying for that unusual picture as well as capturing its charm. It is full of churches and colourful old buildings on its cobbled streets. As the sun goes down the light is good for photos and we just soak in the atmosphere.
As this place is popular for American expats and tourists it is more expensive than Mexico City and it is more difficult to find a local non tourist restaurant. For dinner we head away from the centre and although we find a local looking place to eat we cannot avoid the loud Americans on the next table as we sat out under the trees. We feel we will enjoy our time in San Miguel de Allende and are surprised at just how opposite it is to Mexico City.