It’s been nice this past week being able to get a lot ticked off our lists while the boys were at summer camp. We also realized how much we’ve gotten used to having them around all the time.
By Saturday, we were looking forward to getting out and doing some exploring again together. First up on today’s docket, brunch at a game cafe. Then, a little urban hike to a mirador.
We went to Geek & Coffee with Lori’s parents a few years back.
The place hasn’t changed a bit (apart from the weather). Still shabby-chic with what seems to be a perpetual work-in-progress feel. And the menu isn’t the most inspiring in town (this is, after all, San Miguel de Allende).
But it has a nice family-friendly vibe and the boys seem to like it there.
Though, Lori and I did have one of those “Wow, they’re growing up so fast…” realizations when we arrived and naturally assumed—as they did 2.5 years ago—that they’d flip out when they saw the playground and disappear for the next 30 minutes.
Instead, they excitedly gravitated towards monopoly and didn’t give the playground (which, admittedly is geared towards younger kids) much of a thought at all.
The coffee shop does have the added benefit of being located next door to Fabrica Aurora, a former factory now turned art gallery space and museum. Definitely worth a walk around if you’re in the area.
From here, we followed the arroyo for a bit before heading south, then up, up, and up.
We did this loop walk with Lori’s mom during our last visit. Seems like we’re retracing a lot of our old steps these days. We covered a lot of ground in 2021, so it was only inevitable.
It doesn’t take much elevation gain in SMA to get some great views.
This mirador always seems busy. It’s not far from the Centro, so that part doesn’t surprise me. But parking is extremely limited and the walk up here isn’t the easiest. Still, people come out of the woodwork to visit.
I’ll admit, it’s a pretty nice view and well worth the effort to get here.
We descended back into the Centro via Parque Benito Juarez and the Lavaderos del Chorro.
The Lavaderos del Chorro are Spanish-colonial era washing stations next to a chapel of the same time period. We’ve seen communal laundry areas similar to this in active use in India and parts of Africa, but these seem to have been relegated to ancient history here in Mexico.
Benito Juarez Park was a highlight of the boys’ visit in 2021, and they were excited to return. Within minutes of our first attempt a week ago, it started pouring down. Today, the weather gods are smiling on us…or at least keeping a straight face.
Walking back towards the central plaza via Calle Aldama, we’re treated to the famous and frequently-painted view of the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, complete with requisite burro, of course.
Saturday in the Centro.
Walking south along Zacateros, we spotted this Thai restaurant (Orquidea) down in a dungeon and couldn’t resist. About as authentic as it gets in Mexico, but not Thailand prices, sadly. Still, we got our Thai food fix for a while.
It’s Sunday and time to head back to the RV. The place we were staying (our second Airbnb this week), is those big windows above the restaurant.
Back at the RV park, the Winnie didn’t look any worse for the wear. We started her up and rolled back into her spot, hooked up, and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon at “home”.
Monday morning, we made the short commute back into the city for the start of Week Two of the boys’ summer camp adventures.
This week, they’ll be attending an arts program at El Sindicato Cultural Center. Unlike last week, we’ll have roughly a 40-minute commute each way (bus and walking).
After dropping off the boys, Lori and I strolled on down to a quiet little coffee shop for a productive work morning.
Passing the La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel just after drop-off (above), and just after pickup (below) on the same day.
After we picked up the boys, we immediately headed south to catch the bus to La Comer for a few provisions.
The afternoon didn’t exactly go as planned.
We ended up having to walk the entire thirty minutes there, not seeing a single bus along the way. But we did end up making it into the supermarket just in time to escape an afternoon deluge.
The toy aisle is always overwhelming in these stores, but La Comer’s toy aisle seems a bit more so (might have something to do with all the “promotion” tags).
We used to avoid taking the boys down these aisles, but now it’s virtually impossible. The good thing is they never ask for anything. They just want to look.
Lori and I would still prefer they didn’t have the seeds of so much crap planted in their young and impressionable minds, but it’s better they learn self-control in the age of consumerism from early on, I suppose.
Back at the RV park at Hotel San Ramon, Lori’s enjoyed having her early morning view of the hot air balloons after a week away.
And all of us are enjoying having our outdoor living space back, even if it rains half the day.
Time to head into town for another day of summer camp, rain or shine. They don’t call it rainy season for nothing.
On Thursday, we dropped the kids off and decided to do a little exploring before work, but not before dropping off a big bag of laundry.
Of course, the lady was thirty minutes late opening the lavandaria, and it began to rain while we were waiting.
After 15 minutes of milling about, I went searching for another lavandaria. 10 minutes later, I finally found one. As I was texting Lori the good news, she texted back saying the lady finally arrived.
Lori met me at Cafe La Mancha—our favorite little coffee shop from our 2022 visit—and we squeezed into a seat in the tiny space just out of the rain for a pick-me-up on a gloomy highlands summer morning.
Our daily after-camp snack time in front of the cathedral.
Another stormy afternoon back at the RV.
The RV area at Hotel San Ramon in July resembles something of a graveyard of forgotten vehicles, accentuated by the dreary weather.
One guy we talked to who has been coming here for a decade told us some of these motorhomes and trailers have been here for years. I shutter to think what awaits them inside if and when they ever return.
Taking the bus into town for one final day of summer camp.
Today, Lori and I are taking the morning off to do a little urban hiking. We drop the boys at Sindicato and set off.
San Miguel de Allende is a really interesting place in that, despite being one of Mexico’s most visited destinations and one of the most popular places for foreigners to move to, it takes just minutes to get out of the cobblestone jungle of the Old City and into relatively undeveloped outlying areas.
For how long these areas will remain undeveloped is anyone’s guess.
And that wraps up two weeks of summer camp for the boys. They had a great time making new friends and doing lots of fun things they don’t usually get to do. And SMA ended up being a pretty ideal place to make this summer camp thing happen.
It’s been a fun and eventful [almost] three weeks in and around SMA, but we’re itching to get back on the road and explore some places the four of us haven’t been yet.
Tomorrow, we’re going to try to squeeze in a visit to El Charco de Ingenio (the city’s sprawling botanical garden). Then Sunday, we’ll say “So long” to Guanajuato State and truck on down to Estado de Mexico and the Pueblo Magico of Tepotzotlan.
