We Came to San Miguel de Allende Thinking it was Overrated

[@alalesc3796]

San Miguel de Allende is a beautiful city! I don’t understand why people sometimes say that certain places in Mexico are too touristy like is a bad thing but they go to countries like France, turkey, Spain, Greece, etc… and don’t even mention that and those countries have like two times more tourists than Mexico?

[@OurFreedomYears]

We agree - it really is a beautiful city! 😊

[@joanlynch5271]

I guess that they mean that it's expensive.

[@n0c_n0c]

I am happy to hear you enjoyed my hometown! 👏🏼 just one note, it is not a Cathedral, it is a Parroquia. We love our Parroquia and it is very important for locals that people understand the difference between Parroquia and Cathedral. Anyway, enjoy San Miguel 👏🏼💕

[@JRspeaking]

What is the main difference between the two?

[@n0c_n0c]

@@JRspeaking a Cathedral is where a bishop resides and a Parroquia (parish) is run by a priest. Very important distinction in the Catholic Church, hence for the locals in San Miguel de Allende 😉

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for the info -- good to know the proper name! It's a beautiful Parroquia. 😊

[@nwinburn]

@@OurFreedomYears and that distinction applies everywhere in the world 😉

[@joanlynch5271]

I don't know if it is really that big of a deal. You probably meant that it is a very big beautiful church. No big deal!

[@Flightat50]

Great first day tour! Had to do some catching up with your videos as my husband and I just started our nomad journey a couple weeks ago...in Mexico! We started in CDMX and are currently down the road from you in Queretaro. Of course, great vids of Puerto Escondido (but dang did that look muy caliente!) and this video is very helpful as after our month long here in Queretaro (which I highly recommend!), we'll head to SMA (end of July) for just a few days. We had same reservations about SMA...I'm happy to spend a few days but for the true nomad, immersion experience we are glad we picked Queretaro. Buenes Noches and keep up the awesome videos!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you've caught up with us! Sounds like you're on a similar journey in Mexico. We can give a strong recommend for Guanajuato -- similar to San Miguel but a more local feel.

[@judithgrace9850]

I 💕💕💕💕💕 Querétaro.

[@wcbrigance]

My daughter and I are in our first week of a month stay in San Miguel as well. We have been exploring the neighborhoods outside of the central as well and find them every bit as interesting as the touristy areas. Many Norte Americanos around and this is low season for them. We will keep an eye out for you two while we explore the city.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So wonderful to be on a family trip! Have an amazing time. Hopefully you'll have a chance to check out Guanajuato as well.

[@nabilel-ghoroury]

Glad to hear you're enjoying San Miguel de Allende! It's on my bucket list of places to visit. You're super close to Guanajuato, about 1 hour or so away from where you are. I found Guanajuato to be very charming, off the beaten path for English speaking tourists (at least compared to San Miguel de Allende). I'd recommend a day trip or a weekend there.

[@davidziff2591]

The city of Guanajuato is visually stunning and the presence of a university brings a more intellectual/academic flavor.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We found our way to Guanajuato and loved it! More on that in the next video. It's definitely worth a visit and we would even consider staying for a whole month next time we're in the region.

[@logosray]

We went to Leon, Guanajuato City, and San Miguel. I fell in love with Guanajuato City! I would retire there

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@logosray We also thought Guanajuato was worth a longer stay -- we only went there for one day!

[@dennishassler605]

Guanajuato is a gem, so I'd choose living there, myself. I do like the beach communities, too, and the warm weather doesn't bother me except on the hottest of days.

[@Nyhiker]

So glad you guys made it to San Miguel and like it too. We spent one of our first months in Mexico there last fall so I enjoyed your video very much. We also loved the churros! I’m sure you’ve probably already found it by now but there is a bigger park called Benito Juarez just down the hill from the town center which has quite a bit more space for your furry kids and may have a dog park. Also, don’t miss the very upscale City Market for groceries. They also have a gelato cafe in the store which we really enjoyed. Can’t wait to see what else you discover that we missed. Love your Airbnb too.

[@cobblestone977]

I agree. Parque Benito Juarez for walking the dogs.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We finally found Parque Juarez and it's just perfect for a morning walk with the dogs. And Gillian eventually made her way to City Market for groceries and - wow! - what a selection!

[@davidziff2591]

Parque Zeferino on the other side of town is very large, new and nearly vacant - very, very few people. You could probably let your dog off the leash without anyone noticing or caring. For the really wide-open dog experience go to Parque Landetta just upstream from the botanical gardens. Dogs love it there but it's too far away from Centro to qualify for regular dog walking.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@davidziff2591 Great tips -- thank you!

[@JRspeaking]

Make the short trip to La Comer grocery store (Taxi's are incredibly cheap there and back.) and the new City Market next door. Fantastic supermarket with everything you could want.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great tip! Found the City Market and it's amazing! 😊

[@bonnieharris5916]

Welcome to my beloved San Miguel de Allende. Fair warning July is the typical Mexican holiday month it might be a bit busy in town. If crowds get to much wander around checking out the various neighborhoods and the wonderful murals all over town. Parque Juárez is a good park to walk dogs.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thank you for the warm welcome! We're loving this beautiful city.

[@gregmiller9437]

I am completely a fan of the new AirBnB! Wow! I love the courtyard down below, and definitely the upstairs space! The interior has it all for any lazy days indoors or for you two, editing and researching. I am looking forward to more!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Isn't it great!? We really found that it has a local vibe with all the colour and art. And lots of room for different activities.

[@Abigail-ny1no]

I moved to Beijing from Hangzhou in January and have kind of spaced out on your videos during the process----but now that I am considering a return to the US in 2023, I *love* learning more about the Americas from your travels! This is so exciting, and very useful info!!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Welcome back! 😊 Glad that you're enjoying our latest videos. Good luck with your big move.

[@BestYears2BestPlaces]

Curious to know your China experience😀

[@bmbriefs]

If you're still in town - check out Zeferino park. It is a dog park between 9-10 AM everyday and is a great place to bring your dogs.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great tip - thanks so much! 😊

[@BillDallasLewis]

Great video from Bill the Geek at the Bill Dallas Lewis Channel. I want to visit there and make a video. Thank you much for your fine presentation. Best, Bill

[@OurFreedomYears]

So glad you enjoyed the video! 😊

[@davidziff2591]

When we decided to try retirement in San Miguel, I was concerned about the number of expats - US and Canada. And, there are many here. I didn't realize the opportunities they provide to someone who decides to live here long-term. There's an active theater community, visual artists abound, Mexican and gringo musicians often play together in ensembles, writers, filmmakers,, open mics not to mention the yoga craze and vegetarian/gluten free/vegan thing. There certainly are some who come for the low cost of living (compared to the US) and abundant housekeepers ($5/hour USD pay is high here), but one easily finds a community of vibrant, creative people. Granted, all this is less accessible to and useful for the tourist. On weekends the town's central square has lots and lots of tourists, mostly Mexican, all posing for selfies inf front of the "cathedral" and is alive with several mariachi bands. Some people complain about this but to me it's a lovely, energetic scene. At times you'll see the father of a Mexican family singing to his group backed by a mariachi band. These folks know how to have a good time. Unfortunately,, every year the town seems to be getting more and more tourist oriented (in the bad sense) abounding with boutiques and concept stores (whatever they are) choking out the traditional small mom-and-pop establishments. They're even building a Walmart on the edge of town (don't worry, you won't find it should you visit).

[@g718ny]

Start learning Spanish now since you are planning. Don't be like the lazy entitled people who speak English only. Since youre on KZbin learn the phrases now so that when you get here you can enjoy Mexico way more and explore deeper.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful perspective of San Miguel. Since we were in town for a full month, we had an opportunity to see that there is a vibrant community there for long-term residents to enjoy. And despite the growth of tourism, it does appear that the city has done a good job with maintaining the integrity of the historic centre. It's truly a beautiful city!

[@dennishassler605]

Yes, Guanajuato, too, has a lot of educated people being a university town. I sat on the curb to rest and there was an Indian appearing person next to me - we had a conversation and he a brilliant person and helped me with my pronunciation on a few words - you find amazing people wherever you travel in this world and Mexico is no exception.

[@davidziff2591]

@@dennishassler605 Guanajuato is a charming town and a bit more sophisticated. We had it on our short list of 5 or 6 places in Mexico to retire, along with Oaxaca, Jalapa, Patcuarro, and San Miguel. I think Tony Cohan, who wrote the excellent little book On Mexican Time: A New Life in San Miguel, eventually moved there.

[@officeoperations4838]

But yet your apart of the numbers of expats....

[@roadtriprob8442]

I'm glad you have chosen to follow through with your San Miguel de allende trip , we spent 4 days there in 2018 and loved it and are looking forward to put it on our list of return destinations . We can emphasize with the hill climb , we were also staying high above the main town center not sure we will fo that again. PS there is a nice park called Parque Benito Juarez that would be a great place to walk your pets...

[@OurFreedomYears]

We finally discovered Parque Juarez and it's such a lovely place to walk the dogs. We especially liked it when the artists were selling their work there on the weekends. Hopefully you'll have your return trip to San Miguel soon! 😊

[@dennishassler605]

It's difficult to find open areas to toss balls for the dogs to run free. Often, less occupied beaches can work. I also used a golf course given it wasn't being used by golfers - it is nice to find a place the dogs can run free.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@dennishassler605 Great idea! We're always hunting around for good dog walking spots. Some cities offer more green space than others.

[@TakeTimeToTravel]

That Airbnb is certainly a burst of colour! So nice to see that you chose a place with walls this time :)

[@OurFreedomYears]

And an enclosed bedroom! We were so relieved not to have mosquitos nibbling at us through the night 😂

[@srod]

I saw y’all walking in Roma in CDMX a few days ago. Are you making a video here soon?

[@OurFreedomYears]

That's so great! Yes, we've got a video coming out about Mexico City in the next couple weeks.

[@aldoriosmorales8803]

Hola! I'm from León Guanajuato, Is the largest city in the state, It's really close from San miguel de Allende, you should definitely check it out, it's famous for the Leather and the shoes, has a lot of parks and also has a beautiful historical center but is not as touristy, you should also visit the capital of the state Guanajuato Guanajuato, I think is more beautiful than San Miguel and feels more authentic. Also Guanajuato and León are cheaper than San Miguel. Now I live in Mexico City but I still love my state. Sorry if my grammar is a little off I'm learning English.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We did a day trip to Guanajuato and loved it! You can check it out in this video bit.ly/3C1x9VS

[@PriorityFocused]

Just found your channel and LOVING the content!!! You're making me want to visit San Miguel de Allende!!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Amazing! Welcome to the channel...great that you found us 😊

[@marcotorres4561]

Did she really say that there are no good dog walking parks? I guess when the city was built nearly 500 years ago they didn't have dog walking in mind 😂.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Indeed! 😂

[@manuelericmijangos499]

Exactly. Gringos go to a third-world country expecting to find the conveniences they left back home.

[@victoriaguerin2851]

I'm so glad the chocolate and churros place survived the pandemic and that you found it!

[@OurFreedomYears]

And they're doing well! Still extremely popular.

[@brunocasanova1416]

Awesome video guys LOVE San Miguel de Allende but litle expensive for me and you have to go allí around San Miguel its fantastic

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you enjoyed it! You can see how much we ended up spending in our highlights video bit.ly/3C1x9VS

[@michaelteder]

Check out El Petit Four - I love having breakfast there and the chef/owner studied in Paris and came back to Mexico to open this restaurant/bakery. I love San Miguel :).

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great tip - thank you! Always looking for amazing breakfast spots.

[@pipe0486]

Great video! I hope you get to visit Costa Rica soon, It would be lovely to meet you around here. Quick question: can you please share the RB&B's house name?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you enjoyed it! Maybe we'll get to Costa Rica one day but first we're exploring South America. Here's the Airbnb we stayed at www.airbnb.com/rooms/38928890

[@MR-tn5kv]

I still love SMA. Yes, one should always check things out for themselves

[@OurFreedomYears]

Absolutely! 😊

[@tessbeasley]

I really enjoyed this video! I’m super excited to explore the city in September💃🏼

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you enjoyed it! Enjoy your upcoming trip. 😊

[@ronbatt756]

Love the apartment...especially the rooftop spot. Perfect for relaxing. 😀

[@OurFreedomYears]

We loved that rooftop! Such a great view. 😊

[@nicoledubtoy3105]

Enjoyed your video. May I ask for the name of the AirBnB where you stayed and how would you rate it? I am planning a trip soon but have not yet located one. Thank you in advance.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you enjoyed it! We included a brief review of the apartment in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHmyoKBmiptod7c Here is the listing www.airbnb.com/rooms/38928890 and you can find Gillian's in depth review there.

[@jennyandrievna4627]

Wow, such a useful video, thank you! Curious to see what your take on the tourist traffic is midday, and also (if you feel like sharing) about how much you paid for the airbnb. I've been monitoring the AQI in San Miguel and it's got not the best air at times. Curious on your take on that as well. Thanks again. Have a great stay.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great questions! We went to the town centre a few times during the weekends and certainly it was very packed and lively. Occasionally there was some type of parade or celebration. We never noticed any issue with the air quality at all. For costs, we'll be sharing the complete breakdown of everything we spent in our next video on July 17th. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it! 😊

[@dariodiaz5200]

Good you made it to SMDA! Glad to see you two are not longer baking in that oven in Puerto Escondido. Check out the cities around you such as Guanajuato, Queretaro, Puebla, even Taxco would be a great destination. For dog friendly park areas, check out parque Juarez in San Miguel. Have fun and can't wait to see your next video. Cheers

[@OurFreedomYears]

We found Parque Juarez and it was just what we needed! A perfect dog walking park. We were also able to get to Guanajuato and it was amazing. We might have to stay there for a month next time 😊

[@jpsmusicandmore5457]

Great video. I could not subscribe to your budget information but I will keep trying

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hopefully the link works for you eventually. I just tested it and it should work fine.

[@jpsmusicandmore5457]

@@OurFreedomYears It sent me the email confirmation but when I conformed it it said it could not confirm to try again late. Anyway thank you for your help.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@jpsmusicandmore5457 Happy to send to you directly if you email. Check the About page.

[@557Franklin]

Another nice video! For getting up to speed in Latin-American Spanish, (no one really speaks European Spanish on this continent anyway), try "Spanish with Paul". He puts-out a lot of free content and his 10 mini-lessons plus a test at the end are really great. Buena Suerte!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great tip - thank you! Something to look into once I finish with Rosetta Stone.

[@carlosvillegas6113]

The prices on the little market are kind of high for Mexico's standards.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Indeed! Sometimes we pay more for convenience.

[@msthing]

Look at all that color! Looking forward to hearing about the activities that are possible over there

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's been a lot of wandering through the beautiful streets and being amazed at how lovely it is 😂

[@chrismaxfield5484]

Just down the street from where you are in Centro is La Aldea park...for dog walking

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! We also enjoyed Parque Benito Juárez with our dogs.

[@elesjuanpi7041]

Tbh, it is a bit overrated. The town has great places to visit, and is a unique attraction for tourists who haven’t go to other old towns. For instance, Guanajuato, GTO has better attractions. But isn’t a bad choice to visit San Miguel, enjoy!

[@OurFreedomYears]

We were happy to have visited and also happy to have fit in our day trip to Guanajuato. Lots of greats sights to see as first time visitors. 😊

[@VianneyStrick]

Could I ask what microphone you use? The sound is great!😀

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! Sometimes we use the DJI Pocket 2 camera with its wireless lav mic. When we are both on camera we use a generic wired lav mic. And often we just use the internal mic of our Samsung phone, which has pretty decent sound as long as there is no traffic around.

[@g718ny]

Im guessing you might be on vacation or new to mexico because you accent sounds freshly like an American or Canadian. San Miguel De Allende is nice but if you know Spanish you can see way more because without Spanish you can't really say you know Mexico

[@OurFreedomYears]

We're spending the summer in Mexico and then heading off to our next destination. We always try to learn a little of the local language wherever we go, which turned out to be quite essential here in Mexico. 😊

[@travellingwithcrowsfeet]

Hello to you both 😀. Good choic on the destination and also the accommodation, we sense just a tad more flexibility in your choices, which will only benefit you all. All the best 👍🏼

[@OurFreedomYears]

We're always learning and trying something new and learning even more 😂

[@bananapatch9118]

We will eventually check it out but doubt it is for us. We speak Spanish, have lived abroad before, and don’t want to be surrounded by expats. Plus, it is pricey by Mexican standards. We want more of a Mexican retirement, rather than USA light. We crossed SMDA and Lake Chapala off our list pretty much. But, we will eventually visit.

[@OurFreedomYears]

You might consider Guanajuato instead of San Miguel. It has all the same historic charm but we found it to be more local and authentic with prices to match.

[@bananapatch9118]

@@OurFreedomYears Guanajuato is on our short list for sure. I think we may start in San Cristobal de las Casas, as the cool temps are a big draw for us.

Can't wait for your 'cost of living' video at the end of the month... the last time ~$2.5k was a bit pricey for Mexico...

[@OurFreedomYears]

Indeed! Likely you'll find San Miguel similarly pricey. It's what happens with those expensive Airbnb rentals.

[@manuelericmijangos499]

If you choose to live in a tourist/expat bubble, that's what you're going to spend.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@manuelericmijangos499 It's true!

[@fosterfoster1218]

Regarding groceries from a large grocery store, have you tried having them delivered from, say, La Comer or Soriana? I find that service very useful in Mexico in towns that have it.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We haven't tried a delivery service yet but definitely worth looking into -- thanks for the tip!

[@timelston4260]

I saw Bob's Red Mill products on the shelves and had to do a double-take. Super bonanza!

[@OurFreedomYears]

We were really impressed...we couldn't believe the wide range of products in a random neighbourhood store!

[@teresatrigiani7838]

I respect anyone working on their Spanish.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much 😊

[@sbkpilot1]

Since you liked San Miguel you will also like Antigua in Guatemala :) Another beautiful historic town not to be missed!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great suggestion! One to add to the list for future travels. 😊

[@lindymcclellan1540]

Bonanza market is where everyone finds hard to find gringo food like pork & beans! Much cheaper markets available, try Artisans Market off Relox. Also colorful with tiles because you are right near Delores Hidalgo, worth a visit! It is where the tiles are made, and has a gracious jardín where SMA folks go for a visit and Ice Cream. SMA’s central jardín has a Parroquia, in the Catholic Church that is not a cathedral.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So many great tips here - thanks! Lots of hidden gems to discover in San Miguel.

[@markdarnell614]

"Cinna-Mexican?" Oh, Please...REALLY? - and I hope you made it to Parque (that's PARK) Juarez, which is not only gorgeous, and more rustic than the Gazebo park in Centro - It is PERFECT for walking your Dogs! Sorry - that "Cinna-Mexican" thing just really triggered me! - and Yeah ...SMA is a bit of a tourist trap! Guanajuato is more the "Real" Deal!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Agreed! We really enjoyed our time in Guanajuato and have recommended it to others.

[@timabrahamsen7427]

Parque Juarez has has green space for the pups and is a really nice park. Just walk down Aldama and it will take you directly to it. Bonanza is great for specialty items but not the best for price conscious bulk shopping. For that shop any of the great Mercados. Also some great affordable local restaurants on the Ancha.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So many great tips here - thanks! We finally made our way to Parque Juarez and found it was just perfect for a morning walk with the dogs.

[@clarics6804]

Gorgeous video… happy that you loved it. I live very close and I’m never tired of San Miguel (or San Mike as we love to call it) Just one thing. “La Parroquia de San Miguel” is not a Cathedral, it’s a Parish. Greetings!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad to hear that a local enjoyed it! 😊 Thanks for the tip about the Parroquia.

[@ejohnson3131]

WTF? Nobody calls it San Mike! Eww gross, just NO!!!

[@VianneyStrick]

I just had my wedding there 🥰

[@OurFreedomYears]

Such a romantic place to get married - congratulations! 😊

[@junzhang2087]

We are going to Turkey this fall. Do you think Turkey is underrated? Best value?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Turkey offers outstanding value and has so much to discover, between Istanbul and the coast and Cappadocia and all the other gems. We highly recommend it!

[@marthaliner8166]

Love Super Bonanza! Have so much fun while you’re here!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thank you! It's such a beautiful city -- we're happy to be here.

[@orlymarq6238]

Hi, would you tell us how much was the apartment? How much you spend overall? I love your dogs! They are adorable. Good luck! Take care girls.

[@kimp2002]

They will go through costs in a future video 🙂

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much - we think they're adorable too! Our cost video will be available on July 17. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it. 😊

[@mariarosales553]

We love it there!!! 😍

[@OurFreedomYears]

Such a beautiful town -- easy to love! 😊

[@josepadilla7052]

Hope you get the chance to visit Guanajuato city which is not far and personally more beautiful than San Miguel, but lots of hills, alleyways, underground streets, and history. But SA is popular for a reason too. Enjoy. Hasta pronto!✌

[@OurFreedomYears]

We did make our way to Guanajuato and just loved it! We also thought it was quite beautiful with a really local vibe.

[@josepadilla7052]

@@OurFreedomYears nice to hear. Yeah. It's more of a Mexican destination usually. And in October during the Cervantino festival its a cultural party all over.

[@thereselandefeld5065]

I love this video!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@miguellorca2382]

Ladies in case u dint know where the chocolate came from here is a history lesson the chocolate is native to Mexico 🇲🇽!!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Yes, of course! And we're so excited to try more while we're here.

[@parisindenver]

Thanks!

[@OurFreedomYears]

This is so thoughtful - thanks so much!

[@aaronung9472]

Love the video

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much 😊

[@Moorea2008]

¡Provecho! (Those churros looked scrumptious). Even though I hope never to return to Mexico again, I love your videos because you have a similar lifestyle and preferences to me. Keep up the good work!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad we can give you a virtual trip in Mexico! 😊

[@63saruman]

Mexican here, but sorry, SMA is overrated: lots of more authentic, more affordable small cities all around Mexico.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So true -- there's a lot more to discover in this part of Mexico beyond San Miguel.

[@rickhiggins]

Monochromatic white-washed apartment that is not. LOL! Looks like a wonderful place, I just added a new place to the list.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Yup, we went with something completely different this time round! 😂

[@carlosvillegas6113]

I think you guys preffered Spain over Mexico.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Actually we are having an amazing summer here in Mexico. It's been a really full range of experiences so far. Next up we'll be sharing Mexico City. 😊

[@thomasjoyce6297]

How much money for the Airbnb?

[@OurFreedomYears]

We'll be sharing a full breakdown of our costs in our next video on July 17th. You can subscribe so you don't miss it 😊

[@dennishassler605]

I've toured Mexico and many fairly large towns can be very primitive like there's no market for comfort - one city I stayed in with four teenagers had a coffee shop across the street but they only were open from 12 noon onward - I made my own coffee with a grinder. Many smaller towns lack infrastructure for tourists, but the towns are all charming and friendly. There can be another town several miles away that has everything like movie theaters and all the banks, etc., nice restaurants, etc. Often, they really enjoy visitors in the "primitive" towns, because tourists usually don't go there and they are complimented by your interest. - heck, my care was in for a major repair in one town so we were walking around a few days - one gentleman expressed his thanks by coming over and hugging me - that made me laugh, he was looking for a way to express himself and likely didn't know a lot of English. The best thing about traveling in Mexico are the amazing people.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Absolutely agree - the warm welcome in Mexico is really what makes it a wonderful country to visit 😊

[@antiguacapilla]

Welcome to San Miguel!! As roaming nomads, your biggest mistake was coming in the first place, because you’re not going to want to leave. Enjoy tryout time here!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Indeed! It seems like a lot of people visit and never want to leave. 😊

[@eduardoE5252]

Belleza de Lugar

[@OurFreedomYears]

😊

[@joanlynch5271]

I love Duolingo too. It's the best!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

We found it useful for learning some basic vocabulary...just enough to get started from zero!

[@tinaymantanona]

I’m really enjoying your channel! Did it take you two a while to discover that a good pace for you was a different city every month?

[@OurFreedomYears]

We did a lot of fast traveling back when we working so we knew we wanted a different pace of travel for this chapter of life. So far we're really enjoying it.

[@Joseph-xt2qg]

Love your energy! Great overview of the city - thanks!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@dennishassler605]

I didn't like San Miguel - dirty central market and narrow streets - it's nice, but not that nice. I preferred Guanajuato.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We did a day trip out to Guanajuato and loved it! 😊

[@dennishassler605]

It's a wonderful place especially during hot summer season - some live in Puerto Vallarta, but summer in Guanajuato. There's cartel activity in nearby cities reported, so keep informed, too.

[@GoWithLess]

Yay, your first impression is a good one!! For all the beauty in SMA, my favorite thing of all is how easy it is to meet new friends. We have made good friends there so we’re heading back for 3 months this fall. Also, there are always GWLers in town if you’re up for socializing. Enjoy one of my favorite places!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

We can definitely see why you love it so much...beautiful buildings, perfect temperatures, so many restaurants. Something fun...we kept seeing Tim's restaurant reviews on Google Maps! 😂

[@GoWithLess]

@@OurFreedomYears That's funny!! He's obsessed with adding photos to Google. I think he has more than 12 million views. Crazy!

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

I love your apartment.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! It really delivers on the Mexican vibe that we were hoping for. 😊

[@judithgrace9850]

I always interact with the locals. Querétaro works for me. $75k for all USA citizens 18 on up to leave this deadly and expensive country. Great video. Love 💘💘💘💘💘 Love your channel. 😘 Please move to a safer and less expensive country, if you are on a pension, and can work online from anywhere. I did at 79 We need to provide studio apartments for the homeless.,$75K for all Americans 18 and up. Much respect from Chicago. And retired in Querétaro México. Send all criminals to war zones with play guns. Sterilization from birth.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much for watching - glad you enjoyed the video! 😊

[@missmayflower]

That’s really unfortunate placement of that bicycle graphic.

[@OurFreedomYears]

😊

[@dennishassler605]

I always feel safe in Mexico, but remember that the young people find it very, very difficult to get pesos, so some get desperate. I took my dog out at 3AM, because she seemed restless and needed to go out. She ran down the street, but a tall lanky kid approached me to ask for pesos. I pointed down the street and told him to leave, but he produced a rock and threatened me. We were to the point where I'd be rolling on the sidewalk with this kid, BUT my 7 mos. old dog returned, sat next to me with ears perked up and, suddenly, turned aggressive and chased the kid two blocks away nipping at his feet the whole time. This surprised me, but thank God the dog was protective. The next evening when I walked out late, I took my machete with me - well, I had a friend working the bar and it was lonely late at night - there were two friends there. When they talked security, I pulled my machete out and swung it in the air to their surprise.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Wow - quite the adventures! We always play it safe and avoid going out at night whenever possible.

[@mariamar2114]

how can you think of going out at 3 in the morning, too much confidence, how good your dog smelled danger and knew how to act. don't do it again

[@dennishassler605]

It is safe in Mex. but you need to be street wise and avoid potential problems. I'm healthy and don't mind going out late in decent neighborhoods. If you are in a tourist area, there's sometimes those that are looking for opportunities - stay alert and be cautious.

[@Peter-xq9tz]

Were you drunk?

[@lucinabaeza3569]

I am sad because everything is more expensive.

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's true...it's become a very expensive city for locals.

[@carlosacfc]

It is not a Cathedral it is a parish church 🤔. But good video.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! It's good for us to know the proper naming.

[@jonathanjourneys]

New subscriber here! Loved your content! We moved to Queretaro from the UK last September and we love it. My partner and I went to SMA a few weeks ago for a wedding! Got inspired for our future wedding!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Welcome to the channel - so great that you found us! 😊 San Miguel seems like an incredibly romantic place for a wedding. Good luck with all your planning.

[@bgoldenproductions8375]

hello! i am the owner of the AirBnB in this video but i am a DJ and have a Event Production company focused on AV and music/perfomrance bookings -- if you need any support for your wedding let me know! bgoldenproductions.com/

[@johnweems5096]

For dogs Juárez park or Guadiana park

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for the tip! We found our way to Parque Juarez -- so lovely for a morning walk!

[@JDRVGS]

I love it there, such a beatufiul place! You should try to link with some locals, they´ll show you whats left of real san miguel, its mostly on the edge of downtown and you should try walking your dogs in parque juarez, great video. PS: Love your energy

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed the video! We found Parque Juarez and loved it!

[@kingcormack8004]

Why would you post a video after being somewhere only one day? There are a gazillion SMA videos that do better than this.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for watching. Our regular viewers enjoy hearing our first impressions about each of our destinations. 😊

[@elgueyquemaneja]

coool !!!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! 😊

[@cdakskid]

Regarding people's aversion to "touristy" areas: It will always be very difficult to find a beautiful place with all types of interesting things to see and places to go without it attracting substantial tourism. After all, isn't that why you decided to go there? It's just a necessary evil. That being said, even though there are a lot of tourists and expats in San Miguel de Allende compared to many other places in Mexico, I'd still say 95% of people there are Mexican. I thought it would be almost all expats, from what I was hearing. I think it would be a great place to live.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So true! That's why we usually go to popular places in the off-season. Ideally we'll get to see all the sights without all the crowds.

[@account4286]

San Miguel is a beautiful city like no other and yes there might be some expats but they're still being a minority so the authenticity of the city is due to the arquitecture, the artesanies and all the beauty of Mexico(that was not built or created by expats and tourists) so the visit is worth it, if u liked San Miguel, then u should visit the city of Guanajuato too and Taxco in the state of Guerrero, those are very antique and unique cities aswell, enjoy.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We're so happy that we decided to stay here for a month -- it's truly such a beautiful city. And we did have an opportunity to check out Guanajuato as well. Another great city...hopefully we'll get back there for a longer stay one day.

[@bruce1897]

You’ve missed the best. All of the foodie best mom and pop restaurants were wiped out by the pandemic. Short sleeves at 8:30 am. You’re visiting in spring or summer. Yes the best and cheapest food is gone. Just so you know. Mom and pop everything is gone so the vibe is more commercial People in town have deep pockets. Less back packers more wealthy American retirees changes the flavour. St. Augustine’s for Churos only choice. No street churos. Happy trails. Great shooting. Who’s the filmmaker.

[@johnweems5096]

Sorry, I disagree, Tio Lucas, Paprika, mare nostrum, La frontera and mo kaffe all family or privately owned

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's too bad that so many of the smaller restaurants have disappeared. Certainly we always enjoy finding those authentic family restaurants wherever we go. Gillian does most of the shooting so credit goes to her! 😊

[@nachohernandez9491]

A dog park? I love dogs but come on...

[@OurFreedomYears]

😊

[@acajudi100]

I left the USA at 79 to Queretaro, Mexico, because USA became too deadly and expensive. I was not going to pay my entire pension for an apartment, that

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hopefully you've since made some good memories in Queretaro 😊

[@cruzalejandro2915]

You never used the kichen 🤣🤣

[@OurFreedomYears]

Oh yes, we used the kitchen every day 😊

[@teresita4791]

IT IS BEATIFUL

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! 😊

[@joepohlen1662]

Nobody goes there, it's too popular :)

[@OurFreedomYears]

It is very popular indeed! 😊

[@tonygomez620]

Its a 15 century city,Of course dog parks are not something ur not gonna see..

[@OurFreedomYears]

Of course! 😂

[@robLV]

Cliché=looking for an off the beaten path destination not overrun with unremarkable tourists while overrunning it as unremarkable tourists. What everyone says and no one does.

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's the dream...very hard to achieve!

[@digital1937]

San Miguel de Allende is the city of masked people? Most cities and countries no longer require them?

[@OurFreedomYears]

We're finding that about half of people are wearing masks in San Miguel and also Mexico City.

[@gif24gt60]

I found the grocery food costs in Mexico weren't significantly cheaper than in the U.S.

[@bonnieharris5916]

Yes, but if you shop in the peoples markets it is significantly cheaper. Grocery stores are way high end in my opinion. I can buy fruit and vegetables from the Tuesday or .Sunday markets for the month for what would cost me a week at the grocery stores.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We found it all depends where you're shopping and what you're buying. For our own shopping , we found that it is cheaper than the US but not by as much as you'd think!

[@lucinabaeza3569]

San Miguel de Allende ciudad de turismo y residencia para los retirados en especial de los estadunidences, redultado todo mas caro cada dia, imposible de seguir el ritmo de vida para los que somos ciudadanos de San Miguel de Allende, creo que en un futuro será otra Venecia en donde nos veremos forzados a huir de nuestra propia ciudad ,no podemos competir con esa gente, muchos dirán el turismo trae dinero y opurtunidades de trabajo , eso es una total mentira ,las compañias hoteleras y centro de turismo tienen a ocupar gente de otro lado, me consta y no es mentira el logo tipo de los lugareños es bajito de estatura y morenos no cumplen con los estandeares de un puesto turistico, a lo mas que puedan aspirar es a un puesto callejero o trabajar en los talleres de artesanias y si bien le va ser empleados de una casa de estadunidences ,señores , el turismo es una cosa pero el buscar vivir aquí nos hace la vida super difcil para los que contamos con un salario en pesos y eso a sumarle la corruption del gobierno que les otorgan todas la facilidades para lo que deseen ,pues no mas no.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Hopefully San Miguel won't become another Venice and the locals will be able to take part in the tourism boom.

[@KatieHenry-o1p]

Migrants not Expats! 😂😂😂

[@victorcastrellon4880]

Your Spanish is very good. Here one more lesson for you. Dos coronas por favor. Bien frias

[@OurFreedomYears]

Excellent! Something to add to my repertoire 😂