Natalie Taylor

There are a number of vivid Spanish sayings about the weather. One of the best known is “febrero loco, marzo otro poco” —February is crazy, and March just a little less so. Then comes April: “abril abrilero, siempre es traicionero” —April, always a traitor. Each speaks to instability, to sudden shifts and false promises. Yet these sayings take on a deeper resonance when set against a dramatic moment in Mexican history: the collapse of the Second Mexican Empire in the spring o

The role of pawnshops If you happen to be walking along Aldama Street (considered one of the prettiest streets in town), take a look at the historical marker on the wall as you approach Cuadrante. The plaque states: “In this house there used to be the Montepio of San Miguel, in it, a group of Insurgents led by Ignacio Aldama, met to organize the first town hall of Mexico.” That short sentence contains a lot of history! The reference is to what took place the day after Septemb

An unlikely friendship that changed the course of history Some people’s lives make a big splash because their actions cause major changes evident to everyone. But there are others, those whose lives seem to scarcely ripple the surface, but who nonetheless alter the course of events. They are the forgotten heroes. Matias Romero Avendaño was born in Oaxaca on February 24, 1837, and died in New York City on December 30, 1898. These two cities, his place of birth and his place of

Who were Leobino Zavala and Margarito Ledesma? On December 27, 1887, Leobino Zavala Camarena was born in Uriangato, about 140 kilometers from San Miguel de Allende. His father was Braulio Zavala, credited with writing the famous song “Allá en el Rancho Grande.” Leobino went to school locally but earned a law degree in 1910 from the University of Guanajuato. He then moved to San Miguel, where he remained for the rest of his life. In San Miguel he practiced his profession, but

A season of joy December is a continuous string of celebrations in Mexico, and also in San Miguel. The Christmas holiday season begins on December 12 with the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe and ends on February 2 nd  with Candelaria—Candlemas. The almost two-month period is marked by gatherings of family and friends, good food, and ancient traditions. For Christians, the main focus is December 24 and the birth of Jesus, an event both joyful and solemn. But there is so much

Mexico began with an uprising against Spanish rule. The War of Independence started in 1810 and lasted 11 years, when the country finally gained independence in 1821. The next one hundred years, however, were a parade of numerous governments—changing from liberal to conservative, from emperors to presidents, the drafting of various constitutions, settling on a federal, republican model. The entire century that began with sovereignty was fraught with bloody wars—both civil and

Archduke Maximilian, the younger brother of Franz Joseph, the emperor of Austria, came to Mexico in 1864 to become the emperor. His hapless three-year reign is a master-class in what not to do. Mexican conservatives formally solicit that Archduke Maximilian become their emperor In the first place, he naively believed the claims that he was “adored” by the Mexican people and that they were excited about having a foreign ruler foisted on them. This misinformation was fed by tho

Eighteen sixty five marked the third year of the “French intervention” in Mexico, the imposition of the second Mexican empire with Archduke Maximilian of Austria as emperor; a puppet ruler installed by Napoleon III of France. It was a well-thought out plan to instill a monarchy in America and Napoleon’s timing was excellent: the United States was involved in its own civil war and took its eyes and efforts away from a foreign invasion of their neighbor to the south. Ever since

In early 1821, after an eleven-year fight for independence, "the Mexican nation" declared itself sovereign and independent of Spain. This...

“Regardless of the size of the city or town where men or women are born, they are ultimately the size of their work, the size of their...

THE ORATORY:  PART 2 As would be expected, most of the works found inside the Oratory church relate to the founder of the order: Philip...

Part I One of the largest religious establishments in San Miguel de Allende is the church of the Oratory, prominent along Insurgentes...

Fire is humanity’s oldest tool and its oldest enemy. No other discovery had a more dramatic effect on humanity than the moment when early...

Among the memorable dates in Mexico is July 9, 1832, the birthdate of Maximillian, who would play a major part in the country’s history. ...

Part II When the Mexican War of Independence began, right here in our town, on September 15, 1810, everything changed overnight. None was...

Part I On the surface, the annual Locos Parade of San Miguel de Allende seems nothing more than people dressing up in outrageous costumes...

Antonio Arreola is, first of all, a surprising musician. That’s because the quality of the music he produces on his violin would warrant...

The Parroquia of San Miguel St Vitus Cathedral of Prague My attachment to San Miguel de Allende is so deep I have a hard time visiting...

The San Miguel Arcangel Parroquia—the emblematic pink church—is the landmark that defines San Miguel de Allende. In 1880 it evolved from...

Benito Juarez is without question most significant as the president who oversaw the transformation of Mexico into a republican...