San Miguel de Allende

Tag Archives: San Miguel de Allende

Too Many Sunsets? Never.

Stunning

Now, the best thing about my recent Mexican experience was going to The Mayan Baths. This is where I spent the last day of the Mayan Calendar. This is where I was potentially spending my last days on earth. And you know what? I was perfectly fine saying good-bye to the world looking at this view.

This place is amazing. If you are lucky enough to get here, to go here, you win. The caves are the brainchild of an extremely creative and inspired man. It’s an underground grotto that has passageways and chest deep pools filled with water from a natural hot spring and it’s overlooking the Mexican countryside. It’s designed so that every year on the Winter Solstice, the sun sets right down the center of the bath’s water filled passageway and can be viewed from the back of the cave’s main dome. Also known as, absolutely stunning, a memory you’ll have forever, an experience you’ve never had before and something to tell people about for the rest of your lives. You know, something like that.

You can also get a massage, have a drink (with a full bar at your disposal) and food (usually cooked with fresh fish caught that morning from fish ponds also located on the property.) Finally, you can cozy up with a toasty bathrobe and towel warmed on a uniquely designed pyramid heater located in the main lobby. Another little plus is they pass out dark glass rectangles when the sun is setting so you can look directly at it without your eyes exploding, nice touch.

Sipping some great tequila, while bathing in perfectly warm water in a candle lit cave while watching a magnificent Mexican sunset will be one of the highlights of your life. I mean, the place has been blessed by Buddhist Monks so you’re bound to feel some magic happening. Good luck trying to find something more amazing. Yeah, good luck.

*These photos were taken at different stages of sunset over different days –

Walking down into the caves

Underground walkway to going down to the pools

Looking up in the main lobby

Main lobby in the caves w/ the pyramid heater

Pool View of the main lobby w/ the pyramid heater in the center

Main dome

Sunset view from the main dome

Wading from the main dome down to the outside pool

Wading out to the outermost pool

We pass this along the way

Still wading out

Almost there

Outward view from the caves

Almost down

Outermost pool

View from infinity ledge of outermost pool

View from the infinity edge of outermost pool

View from the infinity ledge of outermost pool

Looking past the infinity edge at the outermost pool

View from infinity ledge at outermost pool

Turning to go back inside from the outermost pool

Wading back in from the outermost pool toward the main dome

Main dome

Main dome, you can see the arch where the sun is shining through on the back wall

Inside the main dome taking a picture out

Better Than Disney World

23 Jan

La Parroquia – the first Cinderella’s Castle

This year I tried my hand at an exotic-type getaway for the holidays. More like a mini-family reunion that happened to be somewhere foreign. There were no last-minute Target trips, candy canes or even a Christmas Eve slumber in my childhood bed. My boyfriend and I, along with the rest of my family on my mom’s side, visited my uncle who lives down in San Miguel de Allende. A magical colonial city in the mountains of central Mexico about 3 1/2 hours NNW of Mexico City.

This is such an extraordinary town; it’s special. It’s well known for being an artist’s community and has attracted many creative types and ex-pats over the years. It doesn’t hurt that it’s idyllic main church, La Parroquia, looks like a better version of Cinderella’s castle. It’s a town that’s modern while still being quaint, with its cobblestone streets and plenty of restaurants, bars, shopping and culture. You can read more about its history here –

My trip was filled with more breathtaking sunsets than most see in a lifetime, a group ATV ride to ancient pyramids, more great tequila than should be drank, and an absolutely awesome family that I’m really glad is mine. But one of the most phenomenal parts about my trip was something that took place about 10min outside of the city. A trip to the Mayan Baths – coming soon in the next post…

Don’t let the over-sensationalized news freak you out. Mexico is much more awesome than most people give it credit for. There are some very safe cities in Mexico; as long as you travel smartly (like you should everywhere you go) you can have a sensational and enlightening trip south of the border.