My husband and I love your videos, Alfie. Your honest perspective is what makes us trust you. We dont get that feeling from other RU-vidrs. You offer a perfect combination of useful and practical info and entertainment. We spend a lot of our vacations in Mexico and are currently on a month-long visit in QRO. We see a residence here in our future. Vallarta is a fun gay time. But we are in love with el Bajio! Keep up the great work! ❤
Thanks for this; I started to feel bad that I ticked off a bunch of people. But, I have to be honest. Beautiful city; it just wasn’t for me. Thanks again!
Based on the videos date, you picked the busiest time of year for tourists visiting. I have found many visitors from other Mexican Cities visiting as well. English isn’t as widely spoken from my experience, although I speak some spanish and learning more everyday. I love San Migel de Allende and very blessed to call it home.❤
I was there twice, once in June and once in February and both times were very touristy. But it is beautiful; I can definitely see the appeal! Glad you’re happy there and learning Spanish! Thanks for watching!
Mexican american here. Love your droll humor. Moved to Queretaro several months ago from Florida and am very satisfied in spite of the horrible traffic (1.3 million people here, duhhh.) I did not experience the usual culture shock inasmuch as I have been eating beans, tortillas and nopales practically since birth and I spent my childhood summers in Vallarta and Guadalajara with family. I have met very few Mexicans who speak English here. This is not a tourist town, although Centro certainly deserves to be seen by visitors. This is a very, very wealthy city, and it shows in certain parts of the city. Gated communities are extremely common (I live in one) and preferred by many Mexicans as there are RULES, and one must pass through gates manned by guys and gals sporting military gear. Queretaro is expensive by Mexican standards, but still much cheaper than EEUU. Queretaro is not a foodie town, although one can find some good, simple food if one looks for it. If one enjoys hiking and the outdoors, there are some magnificent sites to visit beyond the city. Enjoy yourself.
Thank you! My humor can sometimes rub people the wrong way, so glad to hear it! Querétaro will be next video; I very much enjoyed it! I mostly stayed in centro, but experienced the traffic on the drive from the bus station to centro. It was indeed intense! But I really liked Querétaro; I wish I could have explored more outside of centro, but my Covid fatigue actually cut my trip short. Thanks for watching!
Keep up the great work! I really appreciate and agree with your comments at 11:00. Also, it kinda looks like you on the top right corner of the mural at 24:43. Thanks for the great content!!
Always love your videos and your music selections. The song starting at 22.53 is fabulous, thanks! In two weeks this couple (mid 70’s) make another trek to Mexico: CDMX, Puerto Escondido, and once again to Oaxaca. Sí, hablo español, y eso aporta mucho a nuestro viaje. ¡Saludos amigo!
Sir, you have given me the best compliment and made my night! Thank you so much! I spend way too much time picking music, but its my favorite part to edit. I hope you have a wonderful trip! I will be in Oaxaca and the Oaxaca coast next month! First time! Viajar es mejor cuando sabes el idioma!
Just started watching you and because lived in San Miguel a few years ago I decided to watch your video. I like your muscic selections and your realness. I am hispanic and love the Mexican culture and people. Your right though on your take on San Miguel. I was going to retire there, my x-husband from there, and he said he won't live rhere anymore, too may gringos and expensive. His Mom and Dad live there but may move to Querétaro.
i am immigrating to the city in May and have been shocked to see so much open arrogance and yes, racism, particularly in the facebook groups of the "expats". Those that refuse to refer to themselves as immigrants.@@GringoInterrupted
I live here and I rarely see gringos. Mostly Mexican tourists who often have blue eyes and blonde hair. Rarely do I find english speaking workers maybe because I always practice my Spanish. I absolutely love it here.
I was charmed at age 15 when I visited SMA so many decades ago and learned there was an artist colony there. As an old gringa (Italian-Anglo) I want to finish my Master of Fine Arts degree there and live humbly. I too hate pretentious fakery. My Italian nonna (grandma) was brown skinned and never spoke English very well. Euro-Americans often are head/ego centered not corazon based. I have had many past incarnations amongst indigenous people. As a psychotherapist have enjoyed working with Mexican clients. I am retired now and SMA photos enchant me. I wouldn't like to spend much time in Centro. Racism pisses this old woman off. It always has. Muchas gracias amigo. You are a cool looking and charming dude.
Thank you so much Susan! It is stunningly beautiful, just not really for me. I love your way of expressing the difference between Anglo vs. Mexican culture: “corazón-based”. Also, son of Italian immigrants here! Thanks for watching!
It is truly unfortunate that most (it sounds like) of the folks who have opted to retire there don't make any effort to communicate in Spanish. Minimally, they should know how to say "No hablo espanol. Habla usted ingles?". I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of how a Mexican would be treated if they were back in America. I can't speak for Canada. Although I don't hear it much in Atlanta, where I live, where I was raised in the Midwest, I heard it all the time. "If the Mexicans are going to come to this country, they should learn to speak English!" Having said that, it sounds like folks you overheard brought their sense of entitlement with them to SMdA. They clearly think that they're bringing money to the area and, therefore, their needs should be accommodated. Unbelievable. The sad part is, every time you flash the cost of your meals, I realize that the average Mexican doesn't earn enough to eat at any of those restaurants. Honestly, I could eat the same thing in a restaurant here and pay less. It's kind of gross. On a separate and happier note, I thoroughly enjoyed this video.
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree! When people complain about Mexicans immigrating to the U.S., I don’t think they’re aware of the million U.S. citizens doing the reverse! One of the goals of making these videos is to not only show the beauty of Mexico outside the resorts, but also spread awareness of the number of Americans happily living there!
Most Americans have no clue. By the way, I failed to mention how much I love your sense of humor. It makes me smile. Here's to 2024!@@GringoInterrupted
I live in San Miguel and there are several different types of gringos here. There are gringo families, esp artists, that have lived here for decades with multiple generations and are fully integrated with Mexican life and culture. There are also the crowd that moved here to live cheap or simply drink in the sun. And there are many of us expats (not immigrants because of stage of life, likely retention of a home in the States as well, and likelihood of return to US for last years because of medical needs) who are active in nonprofits here that benefit the locals and who have Mexican friends and live bilingually and biculturally. If you visited during the winter, you likely saw many sunbirds who live differently from the full-time expats and are far less likely to speak Spanish or understand Mexican culture. The full time expats number only half of the 25k number you used. Also, you visited the most touristy part of the city and found it touristy. What is true is that SMA gets far more Mexican visitors than foreigners and that prices are high largely because it contains many, many second homes for wealthy Mexicans from México City, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and León. Visit during a Mexican holiday weekend and you'll be overwhelmed by the number of wealthy Mexican tourists.
Thank you so much for your honest and very entertaining reportages. Love your sarcasm and great sense of humor - and for music. 40 years after having lived and worked in Puebla (VW) we are planning to revisit „my beloved México“ for a short visit in April. Now with our advanced age and minor health issues we would prefer a little more comfort, safety and „staging“ than back then when being your age 😅. My main concern is to pay respect to the Mexican people and to speak their language, at least! So, at the cost of loosing some authenticity we even might enjoy this town. As long as it‘s not the Mexican pavilion at EPCOT, I guess, we‘ll be ok. Take care and good luck!!!!🍀👍
Thank you; so glad you enjoy them! I loved Puebla! Such awesome architecture. Don’t get me wrong, SM is absolutely beautiful and I’m sure you’ll love it! Have a great trip!
Family is from here and i would go every year growing up. Went to art school here as well. I can definitely say its sad how much its changed to caiter to tourists. Its a shell of what i remember it being. But i am so lucky to still be able to visit family here and have grown up knowing the town for over almost 40 years
Hey Alfie! We are currently in Puerto Escondido in the Rinconada neighborhood at Playa Carrizalillo. I know you said you were headed this way. The beaches here, Carrizalillo and Angelito, have been wonderful, at least for us. We are not into the party scene (La Punta). If you come this way, you can get some out-of-this-world chicken at Guerrero Pollo in town. Wearing a shirt here in the water is not a bad idea, as you will fry easily! Safe travels! On our way to Oaxaca, (Not missing Wisconsin in winter!).
Definitely agree with you on that. There’s a well known artist from Spain who gained more popularity in Mexico for signing with Mariachi and tons of Mexican anthems. She was in California at a Mexican restaurant where the cook happens to be Mexican and so the servers etc. Her name is Natalia Jiménez and is a huge figure in the Latino Industry. Well, at the restaurant she was at she took a call from her daughter in Miami and started a conversation in Spanish with her when she was asked to leave the restaurant simply because she was speaking Spanish and because the fat ladies next to her told the manager they couldn’t stand her. So Natalia left and returned at a different date with serenatas for the whole restaurant with Mariachi and told her fans to never visit such place. Incredible that still happens, if that happens in California the most Mexican state in the USA don’t wonder what could happen in Virginia, Tennessee Virginia, Arkansas and Alabama. Probably we would get killed lol 😅 You reminded me Texans that look Mexican but you know they are only Texans when they look at us with such a disgust and hatred when they see us in Texas speaking Spanish lol 😂
My advice to you Sir is go back to Guanajuato ..... All you did is complain about the Gringos in SMA. Perhaps you might look up the history of the town first and you would have discovered that a Gringo in the late 40's early 50's was responsible for it's rebirth from a Ghost town after the silver mines dried up ! Don't come here and be so bloody negative . Everyone gets along beautifully here Mexican and Gringo alike !
Visited this city about four years ago. Loved its people, very nice and friendly. Sadly there were moments I felt like I was in foreign land in my own country and even got discriminated against by a shop vendor just because I didn’t looked like a gringo or whitexican. I just thought that was sad
When I went to San Miguel de Allende de Allende, I was so desperate in Var so much of the United States I wanted to decipher what they were saying and don't take it as an offense, I am Mexican and I write this through the translator, greetings
I am a Gringo and a Permanent Resident of Mexico (green card) and I speak fluent Spanish which of course the locals really appreciate. Curious are You Hispanic and that is the reason You speak Spanish?
No, not Hispanic. Learned in school and from practicing with the many Mexicans working for my father when I was a kid (my family owned a restaurant). My parents spoke Italian growing up, so Spanish came easier to me. I wouldn’t consider myself fluent though.
Came across this video and enjoyed your commentary! Some of your comments had me shaking my head and laughing at the same time. Lol. I agree with you on alot of points. Its very beautiful but too many old entitled foreigners for me. I'd visit for a few hours and that would be enough. Too bougie . Glad I'll be moving to a state in Mexico that does not cater to foreigners and i'll be immersed with the locals.
Thank you so much! This was definitely my most “controversial” video; but I had to be honest. Where did you decide to settle if you don’t mind me asking?
@GringoInterrupted we haven't gotten there yet but it's most likely going to be veracruz. My husband is from Mexico city and he has primos there. I really liked the vibe there. Now you got this African American woman binge watching your videos you are awesome!
Really enjoying your reviews! I had a couple of acquaintances who lived in San Miguel de Allende for 5 years and never spoke a word of Spanish. So strange. Como es eso posible? After this video I will visit SMA although I know that I won't be living there. I very much want to see the mural art. PS Your humor makes me laugh out loud!
Thank you!!! San Miguel is definitely worth visiting; it’s absolutely gorgeous! But as I said, not my cup of tea to live in. I hope you enjoy it and thanks so much for watching!
In Miami a lot of people only speak Spanish and make no attempt to speak English. So what? Without the tourists and the Expats , the economy of SanMiguel de Allende would not be thriving. Don’t judge people by the language they speak. Good Lord you are negative.
I was there last week. Your opinion is spot on. Beautiful place but lacks the authenticity of what Mexico is. You can find it, just got to travel outside of the high priced touristy areas.
Yea, I would have liked to have explored more outside centro. The market and Guadeloupe area felt more down to earth. Thank you and thanks for watching !
Hola..I am currently living in Mazatlan. I am looking to travel to the Highlands in the summer and have been enjoying your videos. I have been in Mexico since May and lived in La Paz for 5 months before taking the ferry over here to MZT. SMA looks a bit too pricey and less authentic. I would like to visit sometime next summer when I will be in the Lake Chapala area or Guadalajara but I think I could only afford a weekend. I dont need fancy schmancy places. I love going to local small restuarants that offer great food and hosptiality and I know I am helping to support them. Take care and thanks for what you do. PS I am working on Spanish and could be doing better but I never expect anyone to know English. I am going to take some lessons. I am an immigrant in the great country of Mexico and I am grateful for their hosptialtity. I respecrt their culture as a guest. I also do not like the term "ex pat".
Thanks, I’m so glad you enjoy them! Lake Chapala is a nice choice; Ajijic was super cute, quiet and although there are many gringos; much more “down to earth” than San Miguel. I have videos on Guadalajara and Ajijic also. How do you like Mazatlán? I have never been.
I'm loving Mazatlán. ❤️ I live in Centro near Plaza Machado. So much to see and do, great restaurants, and my favorite is the malécon. Stunning views. I'm really looking forward to Carnaval next month. I feel very lucky to be living here in this wonderful city.
Sad to say because of the many inaccuracies given in this video, I don't have any reason to leave a 'Thumbs Up' (as I usually have done), but totally the opposite. I will refrain from leaving you a 'thumbs-down' and instead I will leave this comment for you to read. There's a reason why San Miguel has been named many years over (by Conde-Nast) as 'the most beautiful small city in the World', as well as been declared as 'Cultural Patrimony of Humanity' by UNESCO. Thankfully the 'fanciness' and 'over-the-top' attitude of the town will continue financing its preservation into the future. Cheers
I assumed I might ruffle some feathers with this one, but I have to give my honest opinion about the places I visit, even if I might lose some people. I recognize your name from previous comments, so I’m sorry to see you didn’t like this one. SM is great, just not really my cup of tea. Thanks for watching anyway!
@@GringoInterruptedit was meant for carriebtc, I like your videos, informative and funny. Take care bro, btw I'm from México City and the respect and love you show for México deserves a " muchas gracias, bienvenido siempre".
The $28 USD for the salad, two tacos and iced tea was that a very very expensive restaurant? that seems extremely expensive, practically the same price one would expect for a costly lunch in the US
EXCELENT!!!!! GET OUT. MOVE TO MEXICO. SENDING WARMTH FROM QUERETARO. Happy I moved to Queretaro in 2021 at 79 for 70% less expensive and safer. PRAYERS sent to my 1942 birth city CHICAGO from Queretaro since 2021. I know that cold weather big time. Thank God for the safety and warmth of this city. RIP. DO NOT ALLOW THE INVADERS TO DESTROY YOU.
11:00 this annoyed me a little bit. There's many jobs in many cities in Texas, Florida, New Mexico, California , Arizona, etc. that REQUIRE Spanish speaking abilities for employment. I don't see anyone screaming about it. There are millions of Latino's in the U.S. but at the end of the day, who cares?..
Yes, you’re right and many cities in the US are unofficially bilingual. However, there’s a difference here friend. Due to the enormous influx of foreign retirees, Mexicans are being displaced from their own cities due to high rents and high cost of living. Foreign immigrants can, and do, pay more causing this gentrification that it negatively affects ordinary people. Foreigners are buying up property left and right. And people in the US complain about Spanish speaking all the time, often saying if you come here, learn English.
I heard on the national news, in the US that 1.6 million registered Americans live in Mexico, but they said the number is probably higher because not everyone is registered. Mexico is a great to live if you have money, but if you are a poor migrant, America is a better place to live, because the US gives them a lot of free things.
I cant really speak on the migrant situation in the U.S. but I know there are many migrants who also stay in Mexico (often to the displeasure of some Mexican citizens). But yes, tons of Americans happily living in Mexico. And I can see why; such an amazing country!
Gotta love how you don't see the irony of coming to SMA as a gringo tourist THEN complaining , quite smugly , about there being too many gringos .... Oy Vey !!!! Of all the cities and towns in Mexico SMA is beautifully unique . It's been created and recreated over a LONG time to become that . Mexico offers 1,000 's of other locations you might enjoy more and find less to complain about ... I'm just saying
I enjoyed San Miguel; it’s beautiful, as I said multiple times in the video. As far as Mexican towns (of which I have visited many) it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s a great place for what it is, but I prefer a more authentic feel. I’ve visited twice actually, once in June and once in February. Both times, it was the same: Gringolandia. Sorry to have upset you, but I was giving my honest opinion. Thanks for watching anyway!
That would terrible for the economy; especially for tourism on the beaches. I have no issue with a bunch of gringos living/retiring/wintering in Mexico; I may be one someday. But I want to feel like I’m in Mexico, use my Spanish and participate in the culture. I’m not interested in an “expat” enclave.
If you spend more than 180 days in a year in México, you need a visa. It's largely about proving that you have the means to support yourself and contribuye to the economy.
