Technology Strikes

In this case, technology has stuck in the Jardin, or garden in front of the Parrocchia, or parish church instead of a basilica.  Although we have a lot of largish churches in Centro plus a goodly number scattered through the neighborhoods, the Parrocchia is our main church.  Luckily, our neighborhood is a subdivision, so no church; the nearest is San Antonio, some ways away so there's not too many early morning cuetes going off on saints' days, birthdays, holidays, et cetera-days.

The Parrocchia is the church of San Miguel (St Michael) for whom the town is named.  An older church (1600s), the more well-known frontispiece is a later addition (1880s), built without plans other than those drawn in the dirt with a stick by the brick mason and self-taught architect who designed it based upon photo postcards of European cathedrals.  [At least that's the story.] It is his interpretation of the neo-Gothic style rather than a imitation of any particular cathedral.  It's quite striking, even if the actual church is more traditional than the stonework in front.  It provides a great backdrop to the Jardin and was quite spectacular during the recent Bicentennial when images were projected upon it to accompanying music.

Unfortunately all you see of the Parrocchia from the webcam is its shadow across the plaza space before it!  When it's not a celebratory weekend (which isn't often), the area is a little drab, showing the church's shadow, the gray stone plaza, the first row of the stylized trimmed trees growing in the Jardin proper, the Allende house (wondered where the 'de Allende' came from? The family home - now a museum - of one of the leaders of the revolution, Ignacio Allende, whose statue is mounted on the corner of the museum), and a street leading downhill away from the Jardin.  Did I mention that we're in the mountains?  It seems that every street either goes up or down.  Homes that are advertised as 'a level walk to the Jardin' are not to be taken at their word.  Everything is relative!

Even the walk from our home in La Lejona into downtown might be considered level, but there's a very gradual up-and-down tilt to it -- until you actually reach Centro, when the change in geography becomes much more serious.  Most other 'level' streets are the same.  And streets leading off the Jardin either go up or down at a more noticeable rate.

It you're trying to orient yourself from the shadow of the Parrocchia, it might help to know that the altar end of the church faces 'liturgical east' -- in other words, not east at all, but south in this case.  So during the winter the sun is behind the church and the shadow of the facade is thrown across the plaza towards the trees in the Jardin.

The street you see disappearing downhill has our favorite place for drinks and munchies: La Azotea (the Rooftop).  Friendly staff, wonderful views (particularly at sunset), tasty treats, and about a half-block away from the Jardin, so if there's something going on, one can easily hear it.  Sometimes too easily!

Oh, and the link to the webcam (courtesy of a local real estate company) is http://www.sanmiguelrealestate.com/live-webcam-san-miguel-de-allende.php

It's probably located atop the restaurant in front of the church property just east of the Parrocchia - or on the north-south street just beyond.  We'll scout around the next time we're downtown and see if we can spot it!