Jonathan's Guidebook

Bring shoes with sturdy soles -- I wear trail shoes and chaco sandals. Bring layers. The mornings are cool. The afternoons are warm. During rainy season (June to October) bring a rain jacket or an umbrella -- it's dry and sunny most of the day but San Miguel will get late afternoon and evening tropical downpours and thunderstorms.

Walking is the best way to get around and sometimes the fastest. Alternatives to walking include radio taxis and Uber for pickup at the house and city taxis to return from the centro or the supermarkets. If you’re going to a destination outside of town, you can take a radio taxi and arrange a pickup time with the driver for the ride back to the house. Two public bus routes serve Mexiquito — the 2 and the 6. If you are driving, there are no traffic lights or stop signs. Treat intersections in the centro as 4 way stops. And honking your horn is frowned upon.

If you’re are used to life at a fast pace, relax and slow down. Life moves at a slower pace in San Miguel. Please be patient. Although many people in San Miguel speak at least a little English, don’t assume everyone does. Mexico is a Spanish speaking country. Try to learn a few key phrases. Mexicans will appreciate the effort. Por favor (or porfa central Mexico) and gracias - please and thank you go a long way. When entering a place, greet people with buenos días in the morning, buenas tardes from noon to around 7 pm and buenas notches after that.