A Peaceful Pocket of San Miguel de Allende!
San Miguel de Allende, Gto, Mexico
While this house sit is posted as beginning July 10, you may arrive the day before as I depart the morning of July 10th. I will be teaching returning late September 16. Be sure to see the reviews left for me by previous sitters. They are at the bottom of this page.
If you have availability, I am open to having you come to meet my animals even earlier, so they will feel trusting of a new person. This is very important so my animals get a sense of well being with my departure. While I do make notes in a binder for you, experience has shown that house sitters sometimes need to be shown where things are and the physical layout of feeding multiple animals rather than written directions. My animals know the routine now, and note the photo of one of the cats curled up inside the suitcase as it is being packed. They are well aware when a trip is happening, "Oh dear, she has the suitcase out, I guess I better hop in it now!"
The two dogs, while different in temperament, are a self-sufficient calf roping team. Walks are allowed, and they are also comfortable on the property itself which is completely fenced. The cats are more dependent upon a human for affection and they too each have their personalities. Petra was a lone kitten who came from the SPA, after being tormented by a group of boys on an empty lot. She is a stoic loner, but an affectionate one. Flora and Mora are brother and sister, left as kittens in a box on a street corner. All three cats are solid grey.
Within San Miguel de Allende, tucked away near the Presa, is a pocket which feels remote, but is within ten minutes to viveros, fruit tiendas, main roads and supermarkets. In a garden of mixed succulents, biznaga, bougainvillea and a sustainable fish pond, is a haven which is my home. Mornings bring birds singing in the cool air, the train, the vacas being herded to graze nearby, and at night, the stars and moon are visible. It feels as if it is worlds away, but is within ten to fifteen minutes to everything else which San Miguel has to offer. It is as exciting to stay at home as it is to go out to the many options that await nearby.
Animals include three grey cats and two honey colored dogs. Taya, has been my dog her entire life, since she was born in the campo thirteen years ago in the permacultura. She is part Zolo and part Guanajuato Mountain Dog; in other words,a campo dog. Petra, the eldest grey cat, has been a family member for twelve years, except for a walkabout of two years, and the brother and sister team of Mora and Flora for about eleven years. I used to call Mora and Flora the hockey team, but everyone has settled down as we grow older. Siestas on the upper terraza are common for all three grey cats.
Three years ago, one very hot afternoon a delivery rang the bell, and I thought the dog outside panting was with the delivery man. No, it was a stray lost dog, overheated and dehydrated, So, I took her a bucket of water, but it was too hot on the street, so, I brought the bucket inside for her to drink in the shade, and the rest is history. Now called the Skallywag, she has brought exuberant joy, a wagging tail, and learned how to live with cats.
The dogs wear team colors of honey gold and the cats all wear grey. The cats alone go upstairs, and have cat doors to go in and out the house. The dogs are on the main floor only and have the run of the fenced property.
Most of the property is garden; palm trees, succulents, biznaga, organos, agave, jacaranda,staghorns, bouganvillea, lavanda, fruit trees, a fire ring, and a sustainable fish pond in the middle. A simple loft home with a wall of windows faces the garden and the large rock formation, Pena la Cruz, is in the foreground view of both the garden and the windows. It is a stone formation which had been a site meaningful to the Otomi who were indigenous to the area. It is still the site of mariachi bands playing and ceremonies at specific times of the year.
A place of tranquil rest, it is a simple loft style house, with the main floor open, a spacious kitchen workspace, , books, wifi and a hammock for afternoon siestas with a book. Off the open main room is a small bedroom with a matrimonial bed, and adjacent is the bathroom.
Up the staircase is a larger bedroom with a queen size bed, adjacent to an upper outdoor terraza with views of the sunset as well as Pena la Cruz, and the moon and stars at night. It is also an outdoor world for the cats, or a shady place to read in the afternoon, full of plants.There are gravity chairs and hammock straps available to rest, and read up there. All of the housesitters have preferred to sleep in the upstairs bedroom, as the airflow can be controlled, and one is close to stepping out to view stars at night or sunrise in the morning.
The colonia of El Mirador is outside the busy commercial Centro of San Miguel, between Los Frailes and the open water of the Presa, and is surrounded by horse farms, and an established colonia of traditional style homes. The train goes nearby, reminding us that the outside world continues to move even on lazy sunny afternoons when the colibri search for flowers and the bougainvillea silently blooms.There is a local neighborhood tianguis every Saturday up the hill in Los Frailes which offers fresh produce, fresh tamales of every flavor, baked goods, Vietnamese foods, Oaxacan cacao, fresh juices, frozen fish, and music.
Transportation: To those who appreciate a respite from the hustle and bustle, this is a blessing of the last house at the end of the road, and especially for those who have projects of writing, artwork, or computer work. Bus access is available in two directions; one a fifteen minute walk, the other an uphill thirty minute walk to the bus. Taxis and Uber are available. . While close to amenities, the city is a fifteen to thirty minute walk away. Easy access to a major food supermarket, the city bus system, Mercado Sano, the organic market, hot springs, and Centro with restaurants, galleries and the Parroquia. The shorter path of the backroad, is used by walkers, motos, pedestrians, bicycles and ATVs as well as vehicles to get into SMA during the day. It is most convenient for a house sitter to have their own car, but nearby groceries do deliveries. The property is at the end of the road, and the rock formation in the photo is Pena La Cruz, on land sacred to the Otomi. On the other end of the road which circles the base of Pena La Cruz is the Librmiento of San Miguel,so the house is quite close to supermarkets and a hospital. It is just at the end of a cobblestone road which becomes a dirt road.
A gardener works four full days a week, and also waters the terraza the days he works. He is primarily Spanish speaking, but understands some English. I water the interior plants of the house, which include pathos, orchids, and succulents.. There is a washing machine and outdoor clotheslines to dry. The kitchen has a full-size stove with comal and oven, fridge, microwave and convection oven, blender, Nutribullet. The internet is now fiber optics via Megacable.
What I Hope For: Is someone who will appreciate my animals. and be aware of their needs. I do write out information and directions, but the awareness of the house sitter to read the clues is essential for happy animals and plants. I would hope the person(s) who housesit would find joy in tending the animals and indoor plants. A grasp of some Spanish is good for taking care of everyday transactions. Many folks in San Miguel are bilingual, but the more Spanish you have, the smoother life is. . My one request is to no fumar (no smoking); I am allergic to cigarette smoke. Housesitters are expected to purchase their own food, as well as cleaning as one would do in their own house. The offerings in San Miguel are plentiful with open markets, tianguis, and good restaurants. Some markets also make deliveries of food orders.
Previous house sitters have been visual artists who finished illustrating a book, digital nomads, and remote online teachers of languages. Twenty paws await you here to join them for an experience of house-sitting in my home and garden during this season.
My gardener comes four days a week. Mostly it involves watering, both the upper terraza as the entire lower garden. He takes care of the water garrafon delivery,and can make minor repairs such as plumbing, electric, cemento, etc. He is primarily Spanish speaking.
Bills will be prepaid. My vets are nearby, and know all my animals. Phone numbers will be provided, but my gardener is capable of many repairs. Nearby neighbors are mostly Mexican; bilingual or English speaking neighbors down the road. This is an environment in which you can totally remain isolated, read, walk, and remain in nature all day long or go into other parts of San Miguel to enjoy restaurants, stores, tianguis (outdoor markets) and events. Much of the community of San Miguel is bilingual; but once in awhile one can find oneself in a situation where only Spanish is spoken, and then some Spanish is essential. Most have some English and Spanish, and many have other linguas as well.
Previous house sitters have enjoyed going to the tianguis on Tuesdays, the permanent mercado of Ignacio Ramirez, going to the thermal hot springs north of town, exploring the archaeological site of Canada de la Virgen, the Botanical gardens, El Charco, the Artisan's Mercado, There is a Saturday market at Mercado Sano, the organic food market, There is also a local Saturday morning market in Los Frailes up the hill from my house which is more low-key than the larger tianguis and offer produce, eggs, tamales, music, etc.
In the past, I have stayed in contact with house sitters by both email and phone if questions or information is needed.
If you have availability, I am open to having you come to meet my animals even earlier, so they will feel trusting of a new person. This is very important so my animals get a sense of well being with my departure. While I do make notes in a binder for you, experience has shown that house sitters sometimes need to be shown where things are and the physical layout of feeding multiple animals rather than written directions. My animals know the routine now, and note the photo of one of the cats curled up inside the suitcase as it is being packed. They are well aware when a trip is happening, "Oh dear, she has the suitcase out, I guess I better hop in it now!"
The two dogs, while different in temperament, are a self-sufficient calf roping team. Walks are allowed, and they are also comfortable on the property itself which is completely fenced. The cats are more dependent upon a human for affection and they too each have their personalities. Petra was a lone kitten who came from the SPA, after being tormented by a group of boys on an empty lot. She is a stoic loner, but an affectionate one. Flora and Mora are brother and sister, left as kittens in a box on a street corner. All three cats are solid grey.
Within San Miguel de Allende, tucked away near the Presa, is a pocket which feels remote, but is within ten minutes to viveros, fruit tiendas, main roads and supermarkets. In a garden of mixed succulents, biznaga, bougainvillea and a sustainable fish pond, is a haven which is my home. Mornings bring birds singing in the cool air, the train, the vacas being herded to graze nearby, and at night, the stars and moon are visible. It feels as if it is worlds away, but is within ten to fifteen minutes to everything else which San Miguel has to offer. It is as exciting to stay at home as it is to go out to the many options that await nearby.
Animals include three grey cats and two honey colored dogs. Taya, has been my dog her entire life, since she was born in the campo thirteen years ago in the permacultura. She is part Zolo and part Guanajuato Mountain Dog; in other words,a campo dog. Petra, the eldest grey cat, has been a family member for twelve years, except for a walkabout of two years, and the brother and sister team of Mora and Flora for about eleven years. I used to call Mora and Flora the hockey team, but everyone has settled down as we grow older. Siestas on the upper terraza are common for all three grey cats.
Three years ago, one very hot afternoon a delivery rang the bell, and I thought the dog outside panting was with the delivery man. No, it was a stray lost dog, overheated and dehydrated, So, I took her a bucket of water, but it was too hot on the street, so, I brought the bucket inside for her to drink in the shade, and the rest is history. Now called the Skallywag, she has brought exuberant joy, a wagging tail, and learned how to live with cats.
The dogs wear team colors of honey gold and the cats all wear grey. The cats alone go upstairs, and have cat doors to go in and out the house. The dogs are on the main floor only and have the run of the fenced property.
Most of the property is garden; palm trees, succulents, biznaga, organos, agave, jacaranda,staghorns, bouganvillea, lavanda, fruit trees, a fire ring, and a sustainable fish pond in the middle. A simple loft home with a wall of windows faces the garden and the large rock formation, Pena la Cruz, is in the foreground view of both the garden and the windows. It is a stone formation which had been a site meaningful to the Otomi who were indigenous to the area. It is still the site of mariachi bands playing and ceremonies at specific times of the year.
A place of tranquil rest, it is a simple loft style house, with the main floor open, a spacious kitchen workspace, , books, wifi and a hammock for afternoon siestas with a book. Off the open main room is a small bedroom with a matrimonial bed, and adjacent is the bathroom.
Up the staircase is a larger bedroom with a queen size bed, adjacent to an upper outdoor terraza with views of the sunset as well as Pena la Cruz, and the moon and stars at night. It is also an outdoor world for the cats, or a shady place to read in the afternoon, full of plants.There are gravity chairs and hammock straps available to rest, and read up there. All of the housesitters have preferred to sleep in the upstairs bedroom, as the airflow can be controlled, and one is close to stepping out to view stars at night or sunrise in the morning.
The colonia of El Mirador is outside the busy commercial Centro of San Miguel, between Los Frailes and the open water of the Presa, and is surrounded by horse farms, and an established colonia of traditional style homes. The train goes nearby, reminding us that the outside world continues to move even on lazy sunny afternoons when the colibri search for flowers and the bougainvillea silently blooms.There is a local neighborhood tianguis every Saturday up the hill in Los Frailes which offers fresh produce, fresh tamales of every flavor, baked goods, Vietnamese foods, Oaxacan cacao, fresh juices, frozen fish, and music.
Transportation: To those who appreciate a respite from the hustle and bustle, this is a blessing of the last house at the end of the road, and especially for those who have projects of writing, artwork, or computer work. Bus access is available in two directions; one a fifteen minute walk, the other an uphill thirty minute walk to the bus. Taxis and Uber are available. . While close to amenities, the city is a fifteen to thirty minute walk away. Easy access to a major food supermarket, the city bus system, Mercado Sano, the organic market, hot springs, and Centro with restaurants, galleries and the Parroquia. The shorter path of the backroad, is used by walkers, motos, pedestrians, bicycles and ATVs as well as vehicles to get into SMA during the day. It is most convenient for a house sitter to have their own car, but nearby groceries do deliveries. The property is at the end of the road, and the rock formation in the photo is Pena La Cruz, on land sacred to the Otomi. On the other end of the road which circles the base of Pena La Cruz is the Librmiento of San Miguel,so the house is quite close to supermarkets and a hospital. It is just at the end of a cobblestone road which becomes a dirt road.
A gardener works four full days a week, and also waters the terraza the days he works. He is primarily Spanish speaking, but understands some English. I water the interior plants of the house, which include pathos, orchids, and succulents.. There is a washing machine and outdoor clotheslines to dry. The kitchen has a full-size stove with comal and oven, fridge, microwave and convection oven, blender, Nutribullet. The internet is now fiber optics via Megacable.
What I Hope For: Is someone who will appreciate my animals. and be aware of their needs. I do write out information and directions, but the awareness of the house sitter to read the clues is essential for happy animals and plants. I would hope the person(s) who housesit would find joy in tending the animals and indoor plants. A grasp of some Spanish is good for taking care of everyday transactions. Many folks in San Miguel are bilingual, but the more Spanish you have, the smoother life is. . My one request is to no fumar (no smoking); I am allergic to cigarette smoke. Housesitters are expected to purchase their own food, as well as cleaning as one would do in their own house. The offerings in San Miguel are plentiful with open markets, tianguis, and good restaurants. Some markets also make deliveries of food orders.
Previous house sitters have been visual artists who finished illustrating a book, digital nomads, and remote online teachers of languages. Twenty paws await you here to join them for an experience of house-sitting in my home and garden during this season.
Responsibilities
Enjoy all the animals, providing them with clean water and food and attention. Walking the dogs is not a requirement, but you are welcome to do so , and they will love it, either together or one at a time. There are good roads to walk in this colonia. One could spend all day, every day, just walking.My gardener comes four days a week. Mostly it involves watering, both the upper terraza as the entire lower garden. He takes care of the water garrafon delivery,and can make minor repairs such as plumbing, electric, cemento, etc. He is primarily Spanish speaking.
Bills will be prepaid. My vets are nearby, and know all my animals. Phone numbers will be provided, but my gardener is capable of many repairs. Nearby neighbors are mostly Mexican; bilingual or English speaking neighbors down the road. This is an environment in which you can totally remain isolated, read, walk, and remain in nature all day long or go into other parts of San Miguel to enjoy restaurants, stores, tianguis (outdoor markets) and events. Much of the community of San Miguel is bilingual; but once in awhile one can find oneself in a situation where only Spanish is spoken, and then some Spanish is essential. Most have some English and Spanish, and many have other linguas as well.
Previous house sitters have enjoyed going to the tianguis on Tuesdays, the permanent mercado of Ignacio Ramirez, going to the thermal hot springs north of town, exploring the archaeological site of Canada de la Virgen, the Botanical gardens, El Charco, the Artisan's Mercado, There is a Saturday market at Mercado Sano, the organic food market, There is also a local Saturday morning market in Los Frailes up the hill from my house which is more low-key than the larger tianguis and offer produce, eggs, tamales, music, etc.
In the past, I have stayed in contact with house sitters by both email and phone if questions or information is needed.
Photos
(Click an image to enlarge it)
