SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE TOUR
August 9-15, 2012

Everyone’s favorite Mexican hill town, San Miguel de Allende is at the heart of Mexico's Colonial Circle,a wealth of Spanish colonial history and architecture. The jewel is nestled in the mountains (altitude 6100 feet) northwest of Mexico City,about a 90-minute driveeast of the Guanajuato-Leon airport.

Exceptionally beautiful, the Mexican National Treasure radiates Spanish heritage. The zócalo, or town square (here called the Jardín) is the focal point; the Parroquia parish church anchors its south side and dominates the landscape for miles with gothic spires. The sophisticated town takes prideas a cultural mecca of internationally recognized art institutions, artists andtheir studios, music and language schools plus plenty of regional restaurants. Antique stores, galleries, craft and folk art shops abound, a mere cobblestone street away from one another.

Our group of food lovers stay in a lovinglyrestored Spanish Colonial home, now B&B, with handsomegardens, mere blocks off the Jardín, right in thecenter of town. Private nooks and crannies are scattered throughout the largeproperty and encourage quiet relaxation or a place to enjoy wireless Internet.Charming, generously-sized rooms are welcoming after a day of touring, shoppingand cooking. Every morning a delectable, full Mexican breakfast is served, starring organicproduce from the B&B’s garden. The large, comfortable kitchen is like a warm magnet, andwill surely be our natural gathering spot.

I'll teach two cooking classes in San Miguel, one in a private home and the other at a handsome countryside kitchen. One day we’ll visit Guanajuato, the state’s captivating capital and another Colonial Circle gem plus university town that adamantly maintains a Mexican lifestyle. Once Mexico’s most prominent silver mining city, Guanajuato is known for silver jewelry, famous potters, subterranean roadways (old silver tunnels), enticingarchitecture, a lively zócalo and romantic, twisting alleyways.We will also shop in Dolores Hildago where the Mexican Revolution began. Thetown is well known today for hand painted Talavera pottery factories—and—exoticice cream flavors.

Local cheeses of Guanajuato state are delicious, and varied! We'll have a fun tasting party complimented by Mexico's wines. I’ll also lead a tour of San Miguel’s weekly, huge, open-air marketplace where we’ll scout regional produce and local specialties. We’ll visit a local cheese factory making artisan cheeses and bring back plenty for tastes. Diningat traditional restaurants and favorite casual spots for authentic foods—such as the best carnitas on the planet—are a given! We will visit private homes in San Miguel de Allende and tour an amazing private folk art museum in the countryside. San Miguel de Allende is known as a shopper’sparadise, so there will be time set aside in our busy schedule for exploring some of the most exciting stores in the country.

$2500. Per person, based on double occupancy.
Plus $400 single supplement.
Does not include airfare, alcohol (except beer, and at specially noted events) and van/taxi to/from airport. Includes 7 days, 6 nights B&B (double occupancy), ALL meals when taken with the group, plus tastings, demos, tours, museum/site entrance fees and local tour transportation.
¡SALUD!
Enjoy traveling with a small group of food-loving participants.
Registration deadline is June 1, 2012

Space is limited. To register for a tour, a $500 deposit is required to reserve your space. Send a check (made out to Nancy Zaslavsky) with a completed application to the address on the application. Payment in full is required 40 days prior to the start of the tour.

» download TOUR APPLICATION
» download PRINTABLE copy of San Miguel tour