An Ecstatic Epicurean

SAN MIGUEL REMEMBERED

Toller Cranston

san_miguel_remembered It was never clear to me as to whether I discovered San Miguel or San Miguel discovered me. That dilemma has played havoc with my mind over a period of 20 years. Each person who resides in San Miguel often has an original narrative as to how they discovered this colonial Mexican town. Twenty years ago, I had been invited to San Miguel by an artist friend of mine. My first impression of San Miguel was because of the mirador or lookout point on the Salida a Queretaro. From this vantage point, one can view the town from above which appeared to be like a misty landscape in a Breugal painting. Multicoloured houses, domed and minaretted cathedrals, twisted cobblestone street, lavender-blossomed jacaranda trees all seemed to melt into the diffused light of the landscape. Lakes, fields and mountains seemed to slip off the horizon. Then and now, it is an enchanted view. My host took me to the 18th century residence of José Mojica, which had been turned into a small luxurious hotel called the Villa Santa Monica. My friend and his wife believed that the Villa Santa Monica was the quintessential location to sip Mexican margaritas before going to the Sierra Nevada Hotel on Hospicio Street to check in for my two-week stay.

IN THE PINK

Susan Mckinney

La Parroquia of San Miguel de Allende

in_the_pink The Parroquia, or parish church, of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, is the centerpiece of this picturesque town of 80,000. The pink sandstone confection towers on the town’s main square appear like a birthday cake for the country itself. And this is fitting: San Miguel is the cradle of the Mexican independence movement and host to millions of national and foreign tourists annually.

Construction of the original church began in 1683, and by 1730 the last of the front towers was completed, solidifying the church’s refined baroque appearance—or so it was thought. In 1880, the bishop of León, Father Diez de Sollano y Dávalos, decided the church needed updating and contracted a local artisan named Ceferino Gutiérrez. Gutierrez drew his inspiration, as legend goes, from picture postcards of Gothic European cathedrals. With no formal drafting skills he scratched his own designs for soaring spires in the dirt then oversaw construction of the neogothic façade that still anchors San Miguel’s colonial downtown.

WHAT IS A CONDO-HOTEL?

Not specified

An interview with Fernando Gonzalez, President of the Riviera Nayarit Hotel Association
& Director of Project & Operations at Marival

what_is_a_condo_hotel Q: For our readers in Canada who might not be familiar with the term, could you briefly explain the concept of a Condo Hotel?

A: A Condo Hotel regime, as one of its principal benefits, guarantees the purchaser that his finished unit will be offered as part of the hotel's inventory and generate income when not in use by the owner. An added-benefit of Marival Residences is that the builder, Alfonso Rizzuto, a Canadian himself, is also the operator of the hotel. The goal is not only to insure the quality of the construction, but to maintain the level of services and amenities expected of a world-class tourist hotel destination.

NO, JUST MEXICO

Jay Koppelman

Driving into downtown Puerto Vallarta on Friday night I couldn’t help but smile as I cranked the 80s station, rolled down the window and howled out towards the ocean, a resounding cry of freedom having only months before ended a four-year relationship, my independence now feasting on this new sea of liberation laid out before me.

AN ECSTATIC EPICUREAN

Heather Wilson

an_ecstatic_epicurean Hailing from Toronto, which boasts many a noteworthy eatery, and fine dining a passion of mine, I have to admit that one of the major reasons I call Puerto Vallarta home is the food!

Ironically, while some assume my life now revolves around tortillas and frijoles, I’m happily enjoying world-class cuisines prepared by top-notch chefs who, like me, have been drawn to this most beautiful part of the planet.

Vallarta’s dining scene is the hottest in Mexico. There are at least a couple dozen restaurants that will absolutely knock your socks off, every detail about the food, wine, service and ambiance exceptional.