PICTURED SITES ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS TEXT.
Vantage describes Mexico as a surprisingly complex nation of many cultures, ancient civilizations, and friendly people which we explored ranging from charming Spanish-colonial towns with cobbled plazas and vast complexes of pre-Columbian ruins to sophisticated cities full of culture, baroque architecture and the arts. We learned of the people's traditions through music and dance performances and museum visits.
An index of articles related to this trip can be seen at our home page: http://www.worldisround.com/home/jdtan/index.html
If you have any questions, email them to me at jdtanner@a5.com rather than including them in your remarks at the bottom of the photo page.
San Miguel de Allende was named for a revolutionary hero who helped free Mexico from Spain. It has a free-spirited and colorful atmosphere with its bohemian reputation attracting foreigners since the 1940's. Many former Americans and expatriates from other countries have winter or permanent homes here.
The city was declared a national monument in the mid-1920's by the Mexican government. Eighteenth-century mansions, fountains, monuments, and churches are reminders of the city's illustrious and sometimes notorious past. It gained fame as an art colony in the early 1950's. Its comfortable climate and beautiful setting make it quite appealing. Its location at more than a mile high takes a little adjustment time when exploring the city.
Our lodging for two nights, La Puertecita Boutique Hotel, was quite unusual as can be seen in the photos. Not all rooms were suites like mine, and each room had its special name (Yellow Waterfall was mine) and unique decorations. The personality of the hotel is taken from its unique setting in a private park among gardens, waterfalls, and flowering trees. The site overlooks the city of 80,000 from the prestigious Atascadero residential area. Rated among the top 100 hotels in the world by The Times of London, and recipient of the Triple A Four Diamond Award for eight years, the hotel is much more than just a hotel. It is a mini-resort with only 33 rooms and suites, two swimming pools, Jacuzzi and water luge,fitness and business center, library and music room, and corporate membership in a nearby golf and tennis club. Its restaurant serves traditional Mexican specialties and is rated among the best in the area by American Express's "Food and Wine" magazine.
Although I do not have all the details related to ownership of the hotel and its current operation, the man responsible for development of the hotel, John S. Kay, came from Hawaii to San Miguel in the mid-1990's with his Mexican-born wife, Claudia, to retire. While they were looking for a small house, a real estate agent showed them the opulent residence of the former mayor "just for fun." The Kays found its extensive gardens lovely, as were the rooms with hand-painted tiles and unusual ceilings of distinctive, locally-crafted domed brick. Although it was too big for the couple, they could see that it would make a great hotel, and their proposed retirement ended before it began.
The gardens of La Puertecita featured bronze sculptures by Kay, who claimed that until he came to San Miguel he wasn't interested or talented in the arts.
John S. Kay died in 2002, and I do not know the rest of the story about any additional involvement by Mr. Kay's wife or any of his many children.
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